Volunteering Opportunity: Minibus Joint Team Leader - (management) with Harpenden Trust

The Harpenden Trust provides a variety of support for families, individuals and other local charitable organisations, all within the ALS postcode.
Over 500 volunteers are involved in a wide range of projects, from financial support and outings to wellbeing and befriending. All of our work is carried out with our Trust values uppermost in our minds: with care and kindness, with community spirit and with creativity and commitment.

The Trust has leased a community minibus, used for many activities and outings organised by the trust and also for hire within Harpenden by a variety of community groups including Scouts and Guides, schools, churches, and U3A groups A minimal charge is levied on external groups for 'out of pocket expenses' i.e. fuel/ insurance contribution. The Trust has a team of minibus drivers, some of whom are also a part of our existing Car Transport Team

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: St Albans

Location: From your office, Online, Outdoor

Time of day: Casual or Intermittent

Practical Considerations: What can volunteers get out of it?
Satisfaction in enabling local residents, who may be lonely and socially isolated, to attend various activities.
The team is very friendly and relaxed. Communication with each other and within the Trust is via an internal online communication system.

Flexible - 2 to 3 hours a week
Home-based and Trust Premises
Report to Transport Co-ordinator

Application form, 2 references and DBS check
Safeguarding training (in house)
Initial and ongoing training as required

Requirements: Will require a criminal record check (DBS)

Suitable for: 18 – 25 year olds, Aged 26 and over, Older People

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Isolation & Loneliness, IT, Technology & Digital Inclusion, Older People, Voluntary & Community Action

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: No

Full Description:
The Minibus Joint Team Leader (management) is required for be responsible for:
- Taking the minibus bookings, maintaining the booking spreadsheet and ensuring that a driving is available for each booking
- Maintaining and co-ordinating its hiring out to external parities
- Filing/updating the relevant records* in the online filing system
- Managing the group of minibus drivers
- Being the first point of contact for the drivers with any problems/queries.
- Taking on minibus duties when necessary
- Ensuring Volunteer drivers have completed a driving assessment (with our in-house assessor who will carry these out) and have been set up on Checked Safe
- Liaising with other Trust Volunteers as well as external organisations
*Some documentation is completed by drivers on an app, (Checked safe) on their phones and then is automatedly transferred to the online filing system.

Skills, experience and qualities needed
- A competent driver with a clean driving licence
- Good communication, problem solving and organisational skills
- Empathy and understanding of elderly people
- People management- previous experience in working with volunteers an advantage
- Able to work as part of a team, as well as the ability to take the initiative when necessary and a "can do" attitude.
- Basic IT skills, particularly Excel
- Familiarity with relevant Trust policies and procedures