Red Zebra Community Solutions is a non-profit making charity, and the Volunteer Car Service is provided by volunteers who give their time freely. They use their own cars and are DBS checked and referenced.

 The service is for people aged over 55 who for whatever reason may find it difficult to use public transport either through age or a need for special assistance but who are able to get in and out of a car independently.

 The main priority of the service is to help people get to essential appointments such as Health Centres, Hospitals, Dentists, Chiropodists, Day Centres, and opportunities for social inclusion. We are unable to facilitate shopping trips.

We offer a return journey and you will not be charged for waiting time, which is up to a maximum of 2 hours. Longer than this, e.g. taking you to an appointment in the morning and returning to collect you in the afternoon, will mean a double charge.

How much does it cost?

To use the service you must first pay an annual membership fee of £20 per person (£25 per couple). Our membership runs from January to December each year. If you join the service between 1st July and 31st December the fee will be halved. A completed membership form and a cheque can be sent to

Red Zebra Community Solutions

Unit 2B, 1 Thanet Way

Whistable

Kent

CT5 3QZ

When you book a journey there is a charge of 45p per mile (minimum charge £6.50, which includes £2 for administration). This is calculated from the driver’s house, picking you up, your journey, and return.

 We try to use drivers close to you to keep costs to a minimum. Clients are responsible for all parking and toll charges.

You pay the driver at the end of the journey and he or she will make sure the £2 admin fee is taken to the Red Zebra office. If necessary, your driver should be able to provide you with a receipt. If you would like an estimate cost for a journey we can provide this when you call.

How do i use the service?

We will take some personal details to send you a membership pack. This information allows us to provide the service you need, e.g. you may need to take a walking frame or wheelchair. We try to find a driver who has a sufficiently large car to carry it. Information provided will be held at the Centre and will be kept entirely confidential.

As mentioned above all information provided is confidential but sometimes it is in your interest to pass your telephone number to the driver so that s/he can contact you direct regarding your journey.

When you want to arrange a journey, phone us during office hours when our volunteers are here to take your call. Our line often gets very busy and the answerphone may click in, but please do continue to call until you get through.

Our transport office is open Monday to Friday
10:00am-12.30pm

We will need...

·         Your name and phone number

·         Where you want to go

·         The date and time of your appointment

We will locate a driver and call you back with the driver’s name and the time they will pick you up.

The booking is not confirmed until we ring you back to tell you the name of the driver and when he or she will pick you up.

Please give us...

· At least 3 days notice when booking

· At least 24 hours notice when
cancelling by calling during office
hours. If late notice is given, this
may incur a charge.