HMR Circle's Volunteer Drivers Service has contract extended

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR) Circle Volunteer Drivers Service

The HMR Circle Volunteer Drivers Service has had its contract extended for a further year by Rochdale Borough Council.

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR) Circle is a not-for-profit community interest company which works to reduce social isolation in older people through social events, practical support, befriending and a volunteer drivers service.

The organisation celebrated its eighth birthday during the pandemic, which forced it to repurpose its activities, moving social activities online and supporting the Covid Local Response Hubs, set up to provide emergency food parcels, assistance with shopping and delivering medicines, and wellbeing assistance.

It celebrated a 1,000 journey milestone last month.

Read more: HMR Circle’s Volunteer Drivers Service completes 1,000th lockdown transport requestPublished: 11 September 2020

The drivers' service will continue until at least December 2021, when it will go to open tender.

HMR Circle Director Mark Wynn said: “The HMR Circle Volunteer Drivers Service has been at the forefront of our Covid Response work.

“We look forward to further developing and enhancing the service for all the people who rely on it and also a huge thank you to all our Volunteer Drivers, admin support and staff team who make the VDS the success it is.”