A venue which provides social activities for older people is looking for volunteer drivers to help with transport.

Based at the Lakenham-Hewett Rugby Club in Swardeston, the Edith Cavell Day Centre has been meeting the needs of older people from surrounding parishes for more than 30 years.

Centre manager Liz Brown said: 'Our aim is to improve the lives of older people in a safe and caring environment.

'We provide a welcome and sociable environment in which people can meet, take part in activities and provide an opportunity for carers to have a break.'

'Not everyone has access to their own transport or have family and friends who are available to bring them along however, so we do rely very much on volunteer drivers, who give up their time to help, using their own cars.'

'We have a very committed group of ten drivers but we would always welcome new ones' adds Liz. 'Our service users come from a wide area of parishes, including Stoke Holy Cross, Poringland, Hethersett and Tacolneston so there is always a need for help with transport on our open days - Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays.'

Ros Legg is both a trustee and volunteer driver, having been with the day centre since the very beginning.

She said: 'We considered having a mini-bus originally, but decided that an 'around-the-houses' journey wasn't quite appropriate for many of our clients. Individual drivers bring more of a personal touch - they get to know their regular clients and can often pick up on health and wellbeing-related problems, such as if a carer hasn't turned up that morning. I often pick up a prescription or stop off at the shops on the way home with my regular client.

'Managers Liz and Julia do an amazing job running the centre as an invaluable facility for the local communities; the ability to transport clients to and from the venue is so important to its continued presence in tackling social isolation across the area.'

If you could volunteer as a driver for the Edith Cavell Day Centre, for which a mileage allowance is paid, contact Liz on 01603 570660 or e-mail lizbrown1585@gmail.com.