Volunteer Action (VA) is a charity based in Oundle devoted to providing local people with a personal service enabling them to remain independent. Through transport and companionship, elderly, unwell or otherwise disadvantaged people can continue to get out into the community instead of being trapped in social isolation.

Volunteer Action was formed when two organisations, East Northants Volunteer Transport and Hand In Hand, came together in 1996. The service has been running ever since and now has over 550 people relying on it to provide the help they need. VA is run by volunteer drivers, often retired people themselves, who cover over 60,000 miles a year in order to provide a friendly door to door Community Car Service for people with no other reasonable means of transport. These volunteers, who currently have over 150 years of service between them, give up their time to help others.

To aid its cause, the charity benefits from a number of fundraising schemes such as Oundle School Charity Ventures, which produced the enormously popular Oundle Monopoly Board. Over 1000 sets have been sold to date, with all the profits from this unique idea going towards the Volunteer Action Charity. Another event which has been organised to aid the VA charity is a performance by the London Welsh Male Voice Choir. The choir is of international acclaim and the organisers have generously agreed to donate half of the profits to VA.

The service considerably improves the quality of life of those who use it, and has become extremely important in many people’s lives. One person who has used VA commented on how it had helped her: “I live alone and am disabled but thanks to Volunteer Action, I can get to the shops and have met some lovely people who have become friends. The Volunteer Action works in so many ways and I thank them all”

A new initiative called the “Oundle Befriending Scheme” has recently been set up. This joint venture between the VA and the local churches aims to offer an even more personal one to one support for the elderly over a longer period of time, by visiting them in their homes.

VA is always looking for new volunteers. If you have a few hours to spare and would like to help out, please contact Nancy Taylor on 01832 275433.

Anyone who lives in the local area, and qualifies for the service can use it by making a booking on the phone (01832 275433). A journey costs approximately 40p per mile with a minimum charge of £2.50, and can be paid in the form of either cash or transport tokens.