Which organisation do you work for?
"I work for Cars for Carers which is part of RSVP Pembrokeshire (Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme) which is part of the Community Service Volunteers network".

What sort of voluntary work do you do, and where?
"I drive carers from the Haverfordwest area, who do not have access to public transport or are unable to drive, to various destinations throughout the county. This can include shopping trips, social events, visits to doctors, dentists etc. It may be that they just need to get out of the house for a little while and have a change of scene, respite breaks for carers are very important especially in a rural area like Pembrokeshire, where it can be easy to feel isolated".

How did you get started?
"My partner works for the Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services and suggested that I did some voluntary work during a time when I was getting very frustrated trying to find paid employment. She suggested various organisations including Cars for Carers, the scheme appealed to me, so I volunteered and haven't looked back since."

How long have you been a volunteer?
"I joined Cars for Carers in March 2004."

Are there any special skills you need to be a volunteer?
"It helps to be sociable and a good listener, a fair degree of flexibility is an advantage as not all trips go according to plan. Patience is also helpful. Carers need to be able to arrange for someone to look after their relative whilst they are out so it's important to be reliable."

How many hours a week/month do you give?
"That's a hard question, it varies with the time of the year, it summer it can be up to 10 or 12 hours in a week of actual driving, plus a bit of time waiting. At other times of the year, there may be periods when nothing happens at all. It's very unpredictable which is part of the fun."

What are the best, and worst things about being a volunteer?
"The best part is being told by passengers just how much difference Cars for Carers makes to their lives, it's easy to forget what a difference having access to a car makes. I really enjoy the drives that we do in partnership with Pembrokeshire Young Carers, taking a brilliant set of youngsters who look after relatives out to social events. It gives me the chance to meet people from all sorts of backgrounds. The worst parts are sometimes having to say no to the organiser when I have other commitments, getting lost on the way to pick up a new passenger and keeping the inside of my car tidy."

How can others get involved?
"All you need to do is log on to the RSVP website and there are details of how to volunteer".