Denbighshire Night Rider service is up for an award

Jun 4 2008 by David Rutland, Rhyl Visitor

THE Denbighshire Night Rider transport service run by volunteers for older people is to pick up a prestigious award at a glittering ceremony.

The volunteers help older people enjoy a new lease of life by driving them around the county to social groups, as well as arranging weekend trips.

Many elderly people throughout the county have come to depend on the service and would not otherwise be able to go out.

And now the team is to receive recognition for their services from Wales Council for Voluntary Action in the form of a reward for those who have made an outstanding contribution to their community.

The team’s nomination was picked from more than 190, and the awards ceremony will be held at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay on Friday.

“The members of this group are wonderful volunteer drivers and drivers buddies who run a low cost, extremely safe, door to door, wheelchair accessible, evening service throughout the whole of the county of Denbighshire,” it read..

“Many older people now feel that they have regained their mobility and independence and are enjoying a new lease of life. If it wasn’t for this group of volunteers having such big hearts, there would no longer be a Rhuddlan Castle WI group.

“Most of the members are now too old to drive or are too afraid to use other forms of transport at night. If this service hadn’t come along, no-one would attend our meetings.

“This fantastic group of volunteers give up their spare time at the drop of a hat to help older people regain independence and dignity, enabling participation, mobility and social inclusion.”

The service runs four evenings a week for around five hours per evening, with the volunteers arranging weekend day trips for their passengers.

Project development coordinator Nikki Jones said: “The Night Rider volunteers have received the recognition they well deserve and are over the moon. They find their work very rewarding as they are helping older people regain independence, mobility and dignity.”

For more about volunteering visit www.volunteering-cymru.org.uk or www.wcva.org.uk or call Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council on 01824 702441.

david.rutland