A new door-to-door Volunteer Drive Support Service is helping those in and around Te Puke who lack access to reliable transport.

The COLAB initiative started in March after a number of factors made it obvious it was needed.

“We’ve been getting quite a bit of feedback around transport issues in terms of safety and also just about local services which are quite costly for the elderly and also for youth,” said COLAB’s community led development facilitator Hinemoa Wetere.

Among the issues for youngsters was getting to and from work.

“Some of them are a bit hesitant about getting employment outside Te Puke because of the transport issues. If they have to go further afield that actually means catching a couple of buses, which can be quite expensive.”

There are no taxis operating in Te Puke, so they must come from out of town, adding to the cost and putting them out of reach of many who want to get to town and back home for shopping or appointments.

Driving services

COLAB looked at other services, with the initial pilot based on a scheme in Whakatāne.

The service must be booked and there are charges – $5 per local trip and $10 out of area and under 50km. Trips of over 50km are possible, with the price negotiated.

The service has been well received with people using it saying they have regained their independence. Costs are kept as low as possible by using volunteer drivers.

One of them is Rae Hosking.

She decided to volunteer because she had a little bit of time and it felt like meaningful way to contribute to the community.

“I’ve had my own experiences in life, not that I’ve benefited from being a recipient of volunteer services, but it’s taken a lot of help from people to get to a point in my life that I’m really happy and comfortable so I think I see the benefit in wanting to help the community in ways that I can.”

Hosking moved to Mount Maunganui from Adelaide this year, and has no links to Te Puke, but she immediately recognised the need for the service in the town after reading about COLAB’s various initiatives.

“The transport side of things was particularly appealing because I’ve had my own hardships in life and one of the huge barriers for me when I was younger was trying to get places. I didn’t have a traditional pathway of getting my licence when I was young and didn’t get car licence until I was 30.

“That was a barrier to lots of things, and I can see that being socially isolated can be really tough.”

Volunteering

Hosking said as well as bridging that gap, she sees volunteering as providing a bit of company for people and creating connections.

“It gives you an opportunity to connect with a diverse range of people and people you might not necessarily have an opportunity to connect with in more organic ways.

“I’m 38 and most people I get to drive around for the transport service are probably in their 60s and 70s. These sorts of social interactions don’t come up in my working life and home life outside of family and it’s a really nice way to connect different generations across different cultural groups and across different religious groups.”

Hosking would strongly encourage others to find a volunteer role if they are able.

“I think it’s something that can be so deeply rewarding and [I’d encourage people] just to be open-minded about it and if you have the opportunity to help the community in that way to jump at it because you can just learn so much and it feels good.”

She said she sees having the capacity to volunteer as a privilege.

Wetere said the service is still on the lookout for more volunteers.

She said as well as a clean driver’s licence, there is the need to have a cheery disposition, be prompt and honest.

“We’re very lucky with our volunteers.”

Visit COLAB’s website to find out more about the service or how to volunteer.