Local businesses are leading the way in finding volunteer drivers to get people to vaccination centres after teaming up with Devizes MP Danny Kruger and Community First.

Mr Kruger met with Sam Gaiger, of Gaiger Brothers Devizes, Toby Bartholomew of Wadworth Brewery and Alex Scott from TH White earlier this month to discuss how Devizes businesses can contribute to the vaccine rollout. They all offered to help find volunteer drivers to get people to vaccination centre and to encourage their own staff to help.

“We have thousands of people needing to get to the vaccination centres, many of them without transport. Gaigers, TH White and Wadworth are all offering their staff time off work, and expenses covered, to volunteer as a driver with local LINK schemes organised by Community First. I am hugely grateful for the generosity of these businesses and their employees,” said Danny.

Last week TH White launched an appeal to staff, as well as their spouses and partners, to help in the national vaccination effort, and the company will help by covering transportation expenses for any employees/partners who choose to volunteer. Gaiger Brothers Devizes is also in conversation with Community First about how best to help, which might include giving employees days off to drive people to vaccination centres or volunteer at the centres themselves if needed.

Mr Bartholomew, managing director of Wadworth said: “After initially offering up our pubs as vaccine hubs, we subsequently discovered that the more pressing need is to help drive the more vulnerable and older adults to get their Covid vaccines. Many of our fantastic team have indicated they want to help out in whatever way possible and assisting the heroes in the NHS achieve the biggest vaccination rollout in our history gives them this opportunity.”

Employees of these businesses will be volunteering with Wiltshire’s various LINK schemes, with help from Community First. Wiltshire LINK Schemes are voluntary groups which offer a transport r service to local people who are in need, perhaps because they are elderly, disabled, isolated and lonely, single parents, or perhaps temporarily in need because of illness.

If you are able to help, please get in touch on 01380 722 241 to find out more.