On Sunday 27th April over a hundred guests were invited to attend the Service of Dedication and Blessing for our long awaited beautiful Mercedes minibus. The service was conducted at St Marys Church by Reverend Will Gibbs, Father Neil Reynolds and Reverend Robert Foster representing the churches in Redbourn. Fortunately the rain held off for the outside blessing and prayers! It was a positive and friendly occasion attended by the Care Group officers, many of our volunteers and service users and our local councillors.

Reverend Will Gibbs said ‘I am delighted to host this service as an expression of the excellent care in our community that we all share with other groups and organisations. The degree of care provided is special to Redbourn’

Peter Fox our Chairman gave his vote of thanks to all those concerned and ended his address ‘We intend to go on meeting the challenges ahead seeking new volunteers, young in heart, and here and there in years –offering a helping hand where we can. In our collective efforts we work together to meet the caring needs of our community’.

Service of Dedication for the New Village Minibus for Redbourn Care Group 27 April 2008 St Marys Church Below Fr N Reynolds, Reverend R Forster Reverend W Gibbs

Joy Alldritt a user of their service said ‘I needed to go to Luton and Dunstable Hospital and at that time unable to drive. They provided a driver for the round trip. It was brilliant and it was so nice to come out of the unit to see a smiling friendly face waiting for me…what more could you want? They are all lovely careful drivers, its terrific’.

The Group provides help to the Redbourn villagers when they need it most -after an illness, bereavement and perhaps finding their life impaired by loss of mobility. It also helps to improve the quality of life for those that are simply lonely and would welcome the company of others to a club or on an outing. Our volunteer drivers are trained in health and safety awareness and the users know they are in safe hands.

Redbourn Care Group is a Registered Charity established in 1980 and there are no paid officers or helpers. Our excellent volunteers give their time to be neighbourly and friendly in their roles as drivers, escorts, street contacts and organisers of transport and activities.

In 2003 The Group was honoured to receive the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award that celebrates the importance of voluntary workers’ contributions to the well-being of their communities.

The community also received the Herts Society C.P.R.E award in the Care of the Elderly category for 2007 and our volunteers played an important role in achieving this.

The Care Bus remains the charity’s tangible asset and provides transport to and from hospitals, dentists, doctors and clinics for treatment. It also makes trips to Redbourn Day Centre, St Albans Jubilee Centre and to its own Monday Club and shopping trips three times a week as well as twice monthly outings.

Funding – With ever increasing running costs we need to keep ‘the wheels of the bus going round’ and whilst we draw generous financial help from the Parish Council we also rely on individual contributions and bequests. If you are an individual or a business and would like to help by making a donation this may be sent to: Care Group Office, Village Hall, High Street, Redbourn, Hertfordshire. Please make cheques payable to: Redbourn Care Group. (Registered Charity No. 297955)

Volunteering - If you feel you would be able to offer your time and wish to join our wonderful team of volunteers please contact: Jane Spreull at the Care Office on 01582 794550 from 9.30 to 12 noon Monday to Friday.

Annie Manning in conjunction with Barry Welch Vice Chairman