Charity seeks local volunteers to drive sick children to hospital appointments

Transport for Sick Children (TfSC) is a charity where a team of volunteers drive sick children to hospital appointments throughout the Greater Manchester area.

Its mission is to reduce stress and barriers to a family by enabling children to attend important medical appointments despite any transport, financial or social issues they have.

Over the past five years, the charity has helped almost 4,000 children, undertaken 32,000 trips and driven more than 500,000 miles.

Volunteer drivers (who are all checked for their suitability to work with children) use their own cars to collect the child along with their carer and drive them to their medical appointment.

They then wait until the appointment has finished and take them home.

Some drivers are out on the road most days and others a few times a month. The charity supplies child car seats and drivers are reimbursed for petrol costs (50p a mile) on a monthly basis.

John Kirkham, volunteer driver said: "After retiring and two enjoyable years driving for the local ambulance trust I felt I wanted something more community-based. After some enquiries, I found this volunteer role which is incredibly rewarding.

"I’ve met some really nice families and feel at the end of each drive that I have made a difference to that family and to the local community as a whole.

"Also, the support given by the office team and other drivers means you never feel isolated and are always on hand to support you when the need arises."

A parent/carer said: "I would like to thank the charity for supporting us with transport. I have no words strong enough to express my gratitude really.

"The volunteer drivers are very humble, respectful and trustworthy. I’d like to express my appreciation to them and