Voluntary Car Service

The Voluntary Car Service (VCS) is made up of a team of dedicated, volunteer drivers and passenger assistants (escorts) whose job is to provide transport for people with special needs.

The VCS is funded by Shropshire County Council's Children & Young People’s Services Department and Community Services and is run by Passenger Transport Services (PTS) at the County Council offices in Shirehall, Shrewsbury.

Currently, the VCS has more than 100 volunteer drivers and escorts who, between them, cover around 1.4 million miles annually on journeys in and outside Shropshire. The volunteers carry out a number of regular journeys, such as taking a special needs child from home to school, or driving an older person to a day centre.

The majority of volunteers are retired and have welcomed the opportunity to support their local community. Drivers and escorts provide a stable, caring service for local people and are able to forge excellent relationships with passengers.

Shropshire County Council pays a set rate for mileage and a contribution towards telephone costs. These are paid monthly in arrears. Escorts are paid a set amount for each journey.

• Volunteer drivers and escorts can offer as much or as little time as they like. No formal training is required, but drivers must be medically fit to drive in accordance with DVLA requirements. For details follow the 'Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority' link on this page (this link will open in a new browser window). Volunteers must undertake a County Council Driver Assessment (this is arranged by the council as part of the registration process).
• You will also need to provide two character references and must satisfy a Criminal Records Bureau check. For details follow the 'Criminal Records Bureau' link on this page. (This link will open in a new browser window).
• For full details of the tax allowances for voluntary driving mileage, follow the 'HM Revenue & Customs - volunteer drivers' link on this page. (This link will open in a new browser window).

If you are interested in registering as a volunteer driver or escort, call Katie Willocks, Acting Co-ordinator for the VCS, on 01743 253311 or email at katie.willocks@shropshire.gov.uk

Alternatively, you can download the relevant application forms by opening the links on this page.