‘Without the transport, our club would not exist’: Charity reissues urgent plea for new volunteer drivers

Every Friday evening, the Prince Philip Centre on Scott Hall Avenue is filled with the sound of conversation, music, and laughter.

This is the PHAB community club where for more than 50 years, disabled and able-bodied people of all ages come together to relax and have fun.

The club relies on volunteer minibus drivers to take members to and from the club each week.

But with few volunteers ready to retire, the charity has reissued their urgent appeal for new people to sign up as volunteers.

Michael Ball, chairman at PHAB, has been a volunteer minibus driver for the charity for 25 years. He highlighted that the volunteer-driven minibuses are essential, for club members from across Leeds, to be able to access the club each week.

“A lot of our members are wheelchair users and that's what our minibuses are there for,” Michael told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“Without the transport, our club would not exist.”

Like Michael, many of PHAB’s minibus drivers have been volunteering at PHAB for decades. However, now they’re ready to retire, they need new minibus drivers to ensure the club can keep going.

Michael said: “We have basically six or seven volunteer drivers but our problem is that five of those are at the wrong end of 70 age wise so we are not the future of the club.

“The future of the club lies solely on (new) volunteers and especially drivers.”

Andrew Dawson first became a PHAB member in the 1980s and enjoys the minibus journey to and from PHAB each week. However, without the minibus, Andrew said he’d be unable to come to PHAB’s Friday club.

“With my disability, it’s very important. I wouldn’t be able to get here on my own.” Andrew said.

“The minibus is pleasant, it feels safe, and it’s nice when you’re with other people.”

Volunteer drivers drop off members for the club’s start at 7pm and take them home when the club finishes at 9pm.

In the in-between time, they are invited into the Prince Philip Centre where they can join in activities or take some quiet respite.

For Adrian, who has been driving PHAB’s minibuses for just over a year, the most enjoyable part of his role has been meeting and becoming part of the PHAB community.

“There’s a lot of very interesting people who I’d never normally meet in my day to day life,” Adrian said.

“You feel like you’re making a real difference in their lives.”

To sign up to become a volunteer minibus driver, an individual needs to be aged between 25 and 75, in good health, and possess a full clean driving license. They need to be available on some Friday evenings and occasional other days to take PHAB members on day trips.

At the age of 79, Paul Coast is one of PHAB’s oldest minibus drivers, who first started volunteering at the charity 20 years ago.

He encourages new drivers to sign up to see how fantastic PHAB is.

“I think you should sign up because it's a new experience.

“You’ll get a lot of fun, a lot of satisfaction and a feel good factor for helping others.”

PHAB is a community club which drivers and members alike see as a “family”. However, unless more people sign up to become a volunteer driver, its future is uncertain.

Paul said: “With people like me, I’m 80 years of age next year, the other drivers are in a similar sort of age group.

“We need new people to come along and take our place as we did years ago for others.”

If you’re interested in becoming a PHAB volunteer driver, or you’d like to learn more about the club, visit the PHAB website. http://www.phab-leeds.org.uk/