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FISH Volunteer Centre
Welcome to the web page of FISH Sonning Common, South Oxfordshire FISH stands
for Friendship In Sickness
and
Health
0118 972 3986  |
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| Lots
of folk see the fish symbol on our community minibus and assume we are
a religious organisation, but in reality we are are a local charity
run entirely by unpaid volunteers with no religious affiliations. We
aim to provide much needed community transport
for the sick and elderly, although anybody in need is welcome to use
our services. We serve Sonning
Common, Peppard, Gallowstree, Kidmore
End, Binfield Heath in beautiful South Oxfordshire and places in
between. A team of volunteers man the telephone and organise our services from an office in Sonning Common Village Hall. |
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Volunteer Car Service... Our volunteer car drivers take people to hospital appointments, clinics,dentist, opticians and to visit loved ones in care homes. People who cannot drive themselves, or who are no longer comfortable driving, and those who cannot cope with public transport use the service we offer. It often provides a valuable lifeline at a distressing time. Clients make a small donation and drivers are paid a mileage allowance. Last year we did over 1,000 such trips. |
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Left - a helping hand
on a visit to the surgery
Just ring 0118 972 3986 |
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Right - some of our
current
group of bus drivers
Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons trips Pub Lunch, Garden Centres, National Trust, local market towns and an occasional mystery tour If you would like to volunteer, we'd love
to hear from you
Just
ring 0118 972 3986 |
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That Big Yellow Bus.... The
bus's primary task is to take senior residents on shopping trips, and
to local town centres. We pick up clients from their doorsteps and
our drivers assist with heavy shopping. This is a vital service for
many elderly people. For those in remote locations not served by
public transport, or who have limited mobility, bus trips are a
lifeline and are often a welcome social outing. Clients can use a bus
pass to pay for this service, but on some trips, a small fee is
charged.
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A bit of fun too... We do leisure trips to garden centres, National Trust properties and 'fun' trips like a monthly pub lunch and afternoon tea tours. We sometimes assist other local charities, such as recent British Legion trips to the Cotswolds and PYO at Millets Farm. The fares charged for leisure trips help to fund the bus. We need to replace our bus soon, a new one will cost nearly £50,000. In 2010 the bus will have covered 5000 miles, transported 1700 passengers and the volunteer drivers will have collectively contributed 800 hours of their time. |
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Left - our visit to the Hawk
Conservancy Centre Andover Last
summer we visited
National Trust properties at Dyrham, Hinton Ampner, Petworth, and
Winston Churchill's home at Chartwell.
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| August 2011... Everyone enjoyed our trip to Old Thatch, Edith Blyton's romantic thatched cottage and garden at Bourne End |
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2011.... We have visited 5 National Trust properties in 2011, and will be visiting six more in 2012 You don't have to be ancient to join us on one of our jaunts, please give it a try! |
February 14th 2012 Freds Tour to Kew Gardens to see the Orchids |
LIKE THE SOUND OF THIS?
If you need
to get to a hospital appointment, the surgery, need some help with your
shopping, or just fancy a nice day out in the bus in good company, why
not give us a ring at the village hall?
We are open
Monday to Friday 9.30am to 11.30 am
Tel : 0118 972 3986 |
February 21st 2012 Freds Tour to the Natural History Museum and Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition |
We urgently need MORE volunteers, particularly car drivers and office helpers
So if YOU can spare an odd morning or afternoon, and would like to help in any capacity, we will be very pleased to hear from you.
Please note that this calendar is 'firmed up' on 20th of the preceding month.
Dates for the next month are therefore only provisional before the 20th
Sonning
Common
and
district's
local
charity:
FISH
Volunteer
Centre,
Village
Hall, Wood Lane, Sonning Common, Oxon RG4 9SL
Tel: 0118 972 3986
Registered
Charity
No
286318