Dial 2 Drive
Dial 2 Drive (D2D) is a community transport scheme for people unable to access public transport due to older age, illness or disability living in Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas of West Kent
Volunteer drivers use their own cars to take clients to medical and social appointments. These drives include appointments at local surgeries, hospitals, day centres, hairdressers, opticians, lunch clubs and shopping. New drivers are welcome to join the team, to find out more about volunteering click here.
The support clients receive enables them to stay active and independent in their local community for longer.
The Dial 2 Drive office is open from 9.30am-3.30pm Monday to Friday
Telephone number: 0300 777 1200
Clients
- Do you find it difficult getting to essential appointments?
- Do you have difficulty accessing public transport?
- Are taxis not a viable option?
- Do you need someone to shop on your behalf?
If so, Dial 2 Drive can help!
Cost
- There is an annual membership fee of £20.00 to help cover admin costs
- The drives are charged at 70p per mile from the driver's home to completion of journey (driver returning home)
- We will always try to find a driver who lives closest to the client to keep the costs as low as possible
- Volunteer drivers are only expected to wait up to an hour. If your appointment is much longer, you will need to book two separate drives (“double journey”)
- We endeavor to keep costs as low as possible and do not make a profit from the scheme.
To register please use the online form below
The information we need
- You will need to fill in a form and provide us with your personal details, including any health issues drivers' should be aware of (form available below)
- Wheelchair users must be able to self-transfer into and out of a car.
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Notice and driver availability
- A drive must be booked at least 2 working days before it is needed, or ideally as soon as you know your appointment time and date
- We would appreciate as much notice as possible for drives in the evenings, weekends and bank holidays
- All bookings are subject to volunteer driver availability
Car parking
- Please bring money for parking fees
- If drivers have to pay car parking fees whilst waiting for you, the amount will be added to your bill
- If you are registered with the blue badge scheme please take the badge with you
Waiting
- Drivers will wait up to one hour
- If an appointment is likely to last longer than that, the driver may go home and return for you later
- This will obviously make your journey more expensive
Drivers
- Our drivers are all volunteers who use their own cars and give up their free time to help the local community.
- We pay them a petrol allowance for the miles they drive.
- Please note all drivers are insured and will have completed a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
Payment
- Please DO NOT PAY THE DRIVER
- Invoices are sent on a monthly basis, usually 2 to 3 weeks after the end of each month
- We would appreciate payment within 14 days of receiving the invoice
- We are grateful for donations, however small, to help us continue this vital service
Cancellations
- If you need to cancel your drive, please let us know as soon as possible
- If you fail to do this and the driver has a wasted journey, you will be charged for the mileage
- The office answerphone will be on out-of-hours and when the lines are busy.