How can we help?
We can help in many different ways, ranging from providing transport to medical appointments at hospitals, doctors, or dentists, to assistance with shopping or visiting someone at home and having a chat with them. If transport is needed we can help those who would have difficulty due to impaired mobility using taxis or public transport, as long as they are sufficiently mobile and able to sit comfortably in a standard saloon or estate car.
We are again (from July 2024) pleased to be able to consider requests for befriending.
Regrettably we are only able to offer our services to those living within a three mile radius of Maidenhead Town Centre.
What happens first?
The first time you contact us one of our team of volunteers will talk to you about your situation and what help you require. This may be on the telephone or by a visit. Our main concern is to understand you and your circumstances so that we can try to provide the help requested. We cannot guarantee that every request for help will be met – although we will do our very best and it is rare that we cannot assist in some way.
Is it safe?
We take up references and carry out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for all our volunteers, who also carry an identity card at all times.
How do I make a booking?
Some volunteers take it in turn to be “duty officers”, working in their own homes, and will answer the phone to receive requests for assistance. They will then contact other volunteers to arrange the support required. If you want to request assistance please use the checklist shown below as a reminder of what information we need. Having this information to hand will really help the process.
Booking requests should be made by phoning 07538 418448 between 9:00am and 5:00pm on Mondays to Fridays; if the line is busy please ring back.
Please make your booking as soon as possible and at least five working days before your appointment.
Checklist
If you want to request assistance please use this checklist as a reminder of what information we need. Having this information ready to hand will help.
When you contact us we will need to know:
- Your name
- Your telephone number
- Your address
- The date of your appointment
- The time of your appointment
- Where your appointment is
- How long you think your appointment will last
- Any special requirements, such as taking an escort or a wheelchair
What we cannot do…
We are not an alternative ambulance service and therefore cannot undertake transport of clients that have any medical conditions that might put them or our volunteers at risk with a medical emergency they are not trained to deal with. If you have such a condition you should request hospital-organised transport.
Donations
There is no registration fee for using the services provided by Maidenhead Care.
In the past we have requested a voluntary donation towards the cost of transport, but as explained on our home page we are suspending these voluntary donations through to at least 31st December 2024.
If you would still like to make a donation then the amounts you might consider are:
- Local journeys: £5.00
- Slough, Wycombe, Reading, Windsor, Bracknell and similar distances: £10.00
- Oxford, Frimley Park, Mount Vernon, and similar distances: £20.00
All donations are of course received with many thanks.
Volunteers
All the assistance provided by Maidenhead Care is undertaken by unpaid volunteers. Our drivers use their own cars and freely give their time. They can claim a mileage rate to help cover their extra costs although many do not choose to do so.