Housebuilder donates £500 to Melksham Link

Melksham and District Link Scheme is a local organisation run entirely by volunteers. They offer support to people in the Melksham area who are in need mainly because they are elderly, have mobility problems or live alone and have no family support.

The Link volunteers provide transport to medical appointments, including hospitals, clinics, doctors, dentists and opticians. Melksham Link have already covered in excess of 1,500 journeys so far this year.

The donation will help cover the charity’s expenses such as petrol allowance for the voluntary drivers, insurance, stationery, phone bill and other associated costs involved in running such an organisation.

Clients are expected to give a donation to help cover the cost of their journey, most are happy to do this. They are picked up from home and taken to their appointment, the driver waits for them and they are brought back to their front door with no waiting around.

Patricia Graham, treasurer for the Melksham and District Link Scheme, and volunteer driver, was joined by some of her fellow volunteers and presented with a cheque by McCarthy and Stone senior marketing executive, Gabrielle Dearling.

Patricia Graham said: “We are delighted to receive this donation from McCarthy and Stone. All of our drivers at Melksham and District Link are non-paid volunteers that give up their own time to help. Anything that draws attention to the fantastic work they do in the community and which shows our appreciation is really important.

“We always need new volunteers, as most of the volunteers are retired people, who in time will need to step back, and may become future clients. The most urgent need is for co-ordinators, these are the people who ‘run the show’, they answer the phone from clients requesting transport, arrange drivers, get back to clients and make sure everything runs smoothly.

“It is essential we do not take this vital service for granted as it provides a real safety net for those unable to access services in other ways, such as public transport. We look forward to building on our relationship with McCarthy and Stone in the future, who will be part of our beautiful market town in Melksham, once Meadowsweet Place officially opens next year.”

Gabrielle Dearling said: “As a company, we appreciate that our responsibility is not only to build quality, purpose-built retirement properties, but also to create a positive legacy in the communities in which we build. Melksham District Link scheme is a fantastic charity caring for the elderly and housebound in Melksham and we are delighted to be able to donate to such a worthy cause.

“It has been an honour to present this donation to the Melksham District Link Scheme and we hope that the additional funds will enable them to provide more lifts to those in need within the community, and continue to deliver such a worthwhile, self-less service in the long-term.”

Meadowsweet Place is already proving extremely popular amongst local retirees with its central market town location and impressive facilities. The development will consist of 31 one and two bedroom apartments, alongside beautiful landscaped gardens that will be fully maintained by expert gardeners, and convenient on-site parking.

Aimed exclusively at people aged 60 and over, the development provides luxury retirement living free from external maintenance, and allows homeowners to enjoy an independent lifestyle in a safe and secure environment.

The development will feature a homeowners’ lounge ideal for socialising with friends and a convenient guest suite should homeowners have friends or family to stay.

Set in a prominent location, Meadowsweet Place has an array of services and amenities nearby and is located less than 300m from Melksham Market Place.

To enquire about volunteering for Melksham and District Link Scheme please call: 07979 129052.

Those interested in Retirement Living at McCarthy and Stone’s Melksham development are invited to call 0800 3100 383 or visit http://www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk.