Become a volunteer driver

If you’re a driver with just two days a month to spare, you can help ease the strain of travel on cancer patients by volunteering for the Irish Cancer Society's Care to Drive programme and driving them to and from their hospital appointments.

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As of January 2013 we are looking for volunteers for the following: 

1. We are recruiting volunteers in the Dublin area to drive clients to and from our Dublin hospitals (The Mater; St. James’ Hospital; St. Vincent’s Hospital; Tallaght Hospital; Blanchardstown Hospital)  
2. We are also looking for volunteers to drive patients to The Mercy Hospital & Cork University Hospital. We are looking for volunteers from the following areas; 
   (a) Cork: All Cork city and county areas
   (b) Kerry: Tralee, Killarney, Cahersiveen, Listowel, Dingle, Kenmare
   (c) Limerick: Kilmallock, Newcastle, Rathkeale, Croom, Mitchelstown, Glin
   (d) Clare: Tulla, Ballyvaughan, Kilrush, Corofin, Ennis, Ennistymon, Kildysart
   (e) Waterford: Youghal, Dungarvan, Kilmacthomas, Lismore, Carrick-on-Suir
   (f) Tipperary: Thurles, Cashel, Nenagh, Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary town, Borrisokane, Clogheen, Parsonstown, Roscrea
   (g) Kilkenny: Callan, Urlingford

What’s involved

If you would like to volunteer as a driver in our Care to Drive programme, we would ask that you could provide at least two round trips a month and that you commit to the programme for a minimum of 12 months. Drivers must be available during the week as this service does not cover weekend appointments.

Here are the steps involved:

1. We receive a hospital appointment from a patient.
2. We ring around our drivers to see who is available from the patients general geographic area.
3. Once you’ve agreed to do a drive, we ask you to contact the patient the day before the appointment to introduce yourself and confirm directions and pick-up time.
4. At the agreed time, you pick up the patient from the door of their house and drive them to the door of the hospital.
5. Before the treatment is finished, you’ll get a call on your mobile from the patient (we ask the patient to give you 30 minutes notice before their treatment ends). You'll then collect the patient from the door of the hospital.
6. Finally, you will then return the patient to the door of their house.

We hold Support & Supervision meetings every quarter to help drivers feel part of a team. Please note that all recruitment, interviews and training sessions are held locally.

Driver requirements

To volunteer for the Care to Drive service, you must:

• hold a full clean driver’s licence.
• hold a valid NCT document (for cars older than three years)
• have a roadworthy vehicle
• proof of insurance
• complete the volunteer training programme
• give permission to undertake a Garda Clearance Check
• provide two non-familial references

Apply to be a volunteer driver

Become a volunteer driver in just a few simple steps:

1. Download the Volunteer Driver application form and return it to the Care to Drive administrator at amullins@irishcancer.ie
2. You’ll be invited to an interview with us, during which we’ll ask you to fill out a garda vetting form.
3. Having passed the interview stage, you’ll be invited to attend a training day in your area.
4. Once you've satisfactorily completed the training day, we will then send your garda vetting forms to be processed
5. While your forms are being processed (which can take up to six months), you’ll be asked to submit further information (copies of your NCT, your driver’s licence, your insurance, and a passport photo for your ID card).
6. Once your references have been checked, your garda vetting has been processed satisfactorily and we have received all relevant documentation, we will ask you to attend an Orientation Day at the partner hospital
7. After the Orientation Day, you'll be called to take a patient on their first drive

For more information on the Irish Cancer Society's Care to Drive programme, check out our Care to Drive Frequently Asked Questions here.