Volunteer drivers keep Highcliffe connected to healthcare

For residents of Highcliffe, Mudeford, Walkford and Friars Cliff who can no longer drive or manage public transport, reaching a hospital, GP or dental appointment can become a real obstacle. Highcliffe Friends in Need exists to remove that barrier.

The scheme is a volunteer car service that matches local drivers with people who need a lift to healthcare appointments and a safe return home. It covers the BH23 4 and BH23 5 postcode areas and relies entirely on residents who offer their own cars and time. There is no fixed charge. Users are invited to make a voluntary donation that helps cover the driver’s running costs.

Founded in 1973, the service has become a quiet but established part of the local support network. Coordinators take bookings by telephone and do their best to find a suitable driver. Advance notice is preferred so arrangements can be made reliably. Drivers remain responsible only while the passenger is in their vehicle and covered by their own insurance. Anyone needing personal assistance at an appointment is asked to bring a friend or carer. Wheelchairs cannot be accommodated, though many mobility aids can be carried if the coordinator is told in advance.

The practical value is straightforward. It keeps people linked to the care they need without the stress of taxis or relying on already stretched family members. Over the years the group has also channelled surplus funds into local good causes, sharing more than £22,000 among eighteen charities since 2013.

Those who wish to use the service or to offer their time as a driver can contact the volunteer coordinators on 01425 524100. Lines are open on weekday mornings. The organisation makes clear that it cannot guarantee every request, yet it continues to do what it can for people in the area who simply need a reliable way to reach their appointments.

In a coastal community with an older population, such practical neighbourly help remains one of the more useful forms of local support. Highcliffe Friends in Need keeps doing the quiet work of getting people where they need to be.