We are a group of local volunteers who take clients to medical appointments, if they have no other way of getting there.
We ask for a donation to fund the scheme and pay a mileage allowance to our drivers.
We pick up clients from home and wait for them and then drop them back.
What is Link?
Link is a charitable organisation run by volunteers and is part of a countywide Good Neighbours scheme that helps local residents get to medical appointments when they have no other way of getting there. We operate in Melksham and the surrounding areas to help those who need it the most.
Can Link help you?
If you have a medical appointment, one of our Link volunteer drivers will come and pick you up from home at an appropriate time to get you to your appointment; we will then wait and return you back home.
Many clients will ask how much should I give? As a charity, we do not charge for our services but do rely on client donations to cover our running costs, which consist mainly of petrol money for our drivers of 45p per mile. The driver can give clients an idea of the mileage for their trip but the actual donation is at the client’s discretion.
If you are in receipt of certain benefits, you may be able to claim some or all of your travel costs from the hospital you are attending. Called the “Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme” information is available on the NHS website.
Which areas do we cover?
Melksham Link covers Melksham and the local surrounding areas. These include:
- Shaw
- Whitley
- Beanacre
- Forest
- Bowerhill
- Atworth
- Broughton Gifford
- Lacock
- Semington