HMR Circle add two new services and celebrate three years of the Volunteer Driver Service

Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale (HMR) Circle recently celebrated the three-year anniversary of delivering the HMR Circle Volunteer Drivers Service to residents of the borough.

Previously called the Volunteer Driver Scheme, the initiative was established in 2008 to respond to the needs of local older people who required a flexible, responsive, and affordable service. It was originally setup to help people aged 50 and over by providing door to door trips to medical appointments and social activities across the borough.

HMR Circle took over the Volunteer Driver Service (VDS) in February 2018 and since then, the service users have increased; being recognised as a vital service for the elderly, vulnerable and isolated members of our community, providing an accessible and affordable transport service across the borough and beyond.

A representative for HMR Circle said: “The service has delivered over 20,000 trips and has driven (incredibly) over 250,000 miles, taking older people and vulnerable adults to hospital and other medical appointments, shopping, day services and more.

“During the pandemic, the HMR Circle Volunteer Drivers Service has really come into its own with amongst other things, support with prescription collection/deliveries, emergency, and standard food shops and now most importantly of all transporting people for the Covid-19 vaccinations.

“All this is down to our amazing staff team, volunteers, and partners.

“Here’s to the next three years and beyond!”

The membership organisation open to anyone over 50, supporting individuals and communities to lead their lives the way they want, have also recently introduced two new services – ‘HMR Circle Dinner Drivers’ and ‘HMR Circle TV’.

Dinner Drivers, in partnership with The Veterans Food Company and Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), is based on the idea of meals-on-wheels and aims to deliver a 2-course meal directly to older people's doors, helping people enjoy a professionally made, nutritious meal with the bonus of staying connected to their community.

Circle will start a pilot project based in Kirkholt from Monday 15 February, with a plan for the lunches to be delivered to people's door weekly between 12noon and 1pm. The first few weeks will be free of charge as Circle ‘test the system and understand demand’ but going forward each 2-course meal will be around £2.50-£3.50 which would include delivery. You simply warm the meal up when you are ready.

If you are interested in taking part in this pilot project, or want more information call HMR Circle on 0800 112 3440 or email hello@hmrcircle.org.uk

Following the launch of their very own YouTube channel, HMR Circle TV will have regular new content highlighting the work of HMR Circle and the Volunteer Drivers Service, features on members and volunteers, plus other fun and interesting videos.

To stay updated, you can subscribe to the YouTube channel here:

• HMR Circle TV