Article taken from: Age Concern The Link online – November 2016
Age Concern Fakenham has been in touch to tell us about the difference that their new minibus has made to older people in their area:
“It’s well over a year since Age Concern Fakenham took delivery of its new VW MiniBus.
The arrival of the bus has changed our working pattern dramatically – it soon became clear that we needed more drivers and helpers and we achieved this quite quickly, taking on four new drivers and one new helper.
We are now in a position to offer day trips out to Sandringham, Norwich, boat trips out on the Broads, Garden centres, Heacham Lavender fields, to name a few. The care homes in Fakenham and older people’s groups are the main users. We have also started a new shopping round and this is proving very popular.
In one year, we have covered over 20,000 miles, carried 3,670 passengers and taken 163 passengers for doctor appointments or prescriptions. One of our latest trips was to Wells Harbour for the yearly blessing of the boat and its crew. We took two bus loads and were rewarded with the best view of the service and afterwards enjoyed fish and chips all round, followed by ice cream. We also presented a cheque to the harbour master for £100.00 which was the collection from the passengers. All of this would not have been possible without the Cornford Trust grant from Age UK which has made so much difference to the older people of Fakenham and surrounding District. So from all of us up here in Norfolk a big THANK YOU”!
We are always really pleased to hear your good news stories so if you have a story that you would like to share in a future edition of Link online, please e-mail us at friends@ageuk.org.uk
Age Concern Fakenham Area Minibus 