The largest community charity in Perth and Kinross believes winning The Courier’s minibus competition could help secure the future of its day services.
Should it emerge victorious, Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service (PKAVS) plans to name the bus after the staff member, volunteer or service user who collected the most tokens.
Its day services owns two minibuses more than 10 years old with mileage well over 100,000 on each. They provide services in both Perth (five days a week) and Blairgowrie (three days a week).
The charity provides carers with a break from their caring role, as well as giving the cared for person a chance to leave the house, meet new people and try new things.
PKAVS carers’ hub manager Raymond Jamieson said: “The older the vehicles get, the more difficult and more expensive it is to source replacement parts. However, a lot of the cared for clients we support are dependent on us offering transport to and from the day centre, as their carers often don’t have access to transport.”
The charity has three vehicles on the road on most days, the third of which is leased because its previous vehicle had become unroadworthy.
Mr Jamieson added: “Some days up to 20 service users are being picked up and dropped off to allow them to access these services.
“If one or two of the minibuses we currently have were to be put off the road because of their condition then this would greatly impact on our ability to offer this support.
“This service would be in danger of closing if we didn’t have the transport needed to help support clients to attend.
“Getting a brand-new minibus would make a huge difference to PKAVS’ day services, as it would ensure the current support offered to its many clients would be secured.”