Our charity is set up to provide free hospital transport services for cancer patients and we are looking for volunteers.

If you think you can spare a few hours to make a difference to someone’s life, please get in touch.

The charity is looking to recruit:

* volunteer drivers using their own cars to transport patients.
* co-ordinators to help manage bookings and undertake related administration duties; and
* fundraisers to help cover running costs.

We do not want anyone to be out of pocket by driving for us, but we don’t pretend you can run a car solely on what we give you, we pay our drivers 45p per mile for fuel used and this has no effect on any benefits the driver may be in receipt of.

Cancer patients book transport through Bo’ness Medical Practices.

Getting to and from hospital for cancer treatment appointments can be difficult. Public transport can be infrequent and expensive, add to that the stress of traffic and hospital parking. We’re aiming to remove these worries by doing the driving for you – making the trip to hospital as pleasant and stress-free as possible.

Our charity is always looking for willing helpers.

Becoming a driver for Bo’ness Car 4U is easy. You can give as much time as you wish, using your own car to transport service users. For instance, some drivers will only work mornings, some only afternoons – and some might only do local journeys. It’s really up to you.

While being a driver for us is voluntary, you will be paid a mileage allowance of 45p per mile. You will also be given a full set of guidelines for how the service works. We’ll show you the ropes before you drive for us.

Car insurance premiums should be unaffected by volunteering with Bo’ness Car 4U. However, volunteers should notify their insurer to let them know they are using their car for voluntary work.

As well as owner / drivers, we’re also looking for other volunteers to help with bookings, administration and fundraising. Volunteers will be able to choose the days they work and how often. Mileage expenses will be paid and these won’t affect any benefits volunteers receive.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with us in any capacity, or just want to know more, just get in touch.  Call us on 07716 378950 or email bonesscar4u@gmail.com. 

Volunteer Drivers and Patients will both undertake a Lateral Flow Self-Test immediately prior to every drive. This is a sensible step to provide a further level of protection for everyone. Patients will travel in the rear seats which are separated from the driver compartment by a see-through plastic cough screen, wearing face masks. The safety of patients and our volunteers is paramount.

Patients will be asked if they are showing Covid 19 symptoms before any drive. If they are, they will not be allowed to travel with Bo’ness Car 4U. Both patient and volunteer must be happy with arrangements made and each is free to refuse the drive if they feel unhappy about any aspect of it.

The pandemic has wreaked havoc on society and although restrictions have been relaxed, it is important to remember that the virus has not gone away. Safeguards are needed as we learn to live with Covid 19.

Some of our team

Back row Left to Right –
Katrina Bennie, Mike Bennie, Rob Curtis, Austin Reid, Christine Simm, Val Ferguson, Jim Ford,
Front Row – Sandra Watt, Iene Gray, Maria Ford and Rod McNeill
(not forgetting Sprocket the dog).

If you’d like to join us, please get in touch.

Chair/Trustee – Rod McNeill
“I am retired and initially attended a meeting at Bo’ness Library, thinking I might volunteer as a driver. I learned that a similar charity in Polmont had been running for 4 years and that they had been receiving requests from Bo’ness cancer patients asking for transport to places of treatment because there was no similar service established here and decided to see if I could help. I do hope people will volunteer and also support our essential funding.”

Treasurer/Trustee – Jim Ford
“I have acted as Treasurer for various charities and groups over the years and when I was asked to consider undertaking this role for a volunteer cancer patient transport charity, helping patients from all the Bo’ness Medical Practice’s, I agreed immediately.”

Secretary/Co-ordinator/Trustee – Irene Gray
“I worked in office administration and am now retired. I joined a small group of people trying to establish Bo’ness Car 4U. My duties as well as being Secretary and Co-ordinator will involve training other volunteer coordinators. It will all be really worthwhile.”

Fundraiser/Trustee – Maria Ford
“My remit in the charity is searching for funding. We will be looking at maintaining the annual running costs to facilitate this free service that we provide to Bo’ness cancer patients, please help.”

Publicity Officer/Trustee – Val Ferguson OBE
“My background was in teaching PE, then a change to a career in Logistics Planning for Military Operations. I joined Bo’ness Community Bus as a Trustee with a marketing role and also served on the Bo’ness Community Council. Bo’ness Car4U provides a vital support service for our community and I had no hesitation in joining the team.”

Safeguarding Advisor/Trustee – Callum Timms
“I was raised in Bo’ness, am passionate about our local community, and am a secondary school teacher, active in my church, where I am a Safeguarding Trainer helping to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our community are safe and protected. This service is much needed giving patients the dignity, respect and convenience they deserve at a difficult time in their lives.”

Data Protection Officer (GDPR) – Ian Park

The rest of the team – our Coordinators are Irene Gray, Sandra Watt and Debbie McCafferty, and our Volunteer Drivers are – Fiona Spacey, William Rose, James Hunt , Rob Curtis, Liz McCue, Ian Park, Rab Jeffery, Katrina Bennie, Mike Bennie, Helen McKenna, David MacDonald, Marilyn King, Robert Watt, Val Ferguson, Jim Kelly, Jim Livingstone, Laura Bell, and Barbara and Drew Purdie.

If you’d like to join them as a volunteer, please get in touch.

Help raise money for Bo’ness Car 4U by shopping through easyfundraising.

The site – and its associated mobile app – allows you to click through to big-name shopping sites.

Best of all we get a commision every time you shop this way (at no extra cost to you). This means you can raise FREE donations for us no matter what you’re buying.

If you haven’t signed up to support us yet, it’s easy and completely FREE. These donations really help us, so it would be great if you could take a moment to get started!

You can find our easyfundraising page here

Thank you!

Bo’ness Car 4U SCIO is a registered Scottish charity, registration number SC050152. Read more about us on the Scottish Charity Regulator’s website.

Bo’ness Car 4U has had some terrific backing from the following supporters and sponsors. If you’d like to fundraise for us, or sponsor our activities, please get in touch.

Bo’ness Car 4U is on Facebook and Twitter. Head over to our social channels and give us a “like” and “follow” or check out our fantastic videos on YouTube and Facebook, to keep in touch with us.

Remember: patients can initially access our services by making enquiries at their local GP practice.