Sue, 60, from Tenby, volunteers for Pembrokeshire County Cars, a service providing free transport to people with disabilities, mobility issues, or older adults who cannot easily attend medical appointments. After suffering seven strokes at age 47 and losing 70% of her vision, Sue now helps coordinate rides for others.
How the service works
Sue takes phone calls from people needing rides and matches them with volunteer drivers. Trips covered include doctors, hospitals, dentist appointments, shopping, or visiting a partner in a care home. The service is run by the Royal Voluntary Service for the council.
Why it matters
“Mine is the only voice some people have heard in days,” Sue says. Many callers have no family nearby or live in rural areas where transport is scarce. Without the service, they would miss vital appointments.
Personal connection
Sue often spends up to half an hour on the phone with a single booking, chatting about life, family, health, and weather. “I love talking,” she says. The volunteer drivers wait for passengers and take them home.
Sue’s story
Before her strokes, Sue worked three jobs: deli counter, cleaning, and chef. She also ran a pub in Cheshire. The strokes at age 47 left her unable to work or drive. A guide dog named Henry, a golden retriever, helped her recover. “He keeps me safe when I go outside,” she says.
Benefits of volunteering
Volunteering has made Sue more popular. She receives coffee invitations from people she talks to on the phone, and sometimes passengers ask drivers to stop by her house to meet her. “Volunteering is like therapy for me,” she says.
Challenges
Sue hates turning people away due to a lack of drivers. She must refuse at least 20 trips per month. “We don’t have enough drivers,” she explains.
Relaxation and advice
To relax, Sue watches Coronation Street and Emmerdale and plays word and card games to keep her brain active. Her advice: “You never know what life will throw at you. But don’t focus on what you can’t do anymore, find what you can do instead.”
