Before the introduction of the club it was virtually impossible for wheelchair users in our community to get suitable transport.

Our idea was to allow affordable freedom of movement for individuals unable to use public transport and to provide them with an alternative to being totally reliant on family or friends.

The need was identified in 1988 by "Ellon Link Line on Need", E.L.L.O.N., a steering committee was set up to identify local issues and to co-ordinate the fund raising efforts by both business and members of the community to resolve them. As a wheelchair user I was asked to form a sub-committee to deal with all aspects of setting up this service - Ellon and District Transport Club.

By June 1991 we had raised enough money and togeher with the help of Telethon Appeal, we purchased a Vauxhall Astra which was specially converted for a wheelchair passenger and three additional passengers. A committee of four volunteers from all walks of life had been recruited to organise the daily running.

The Ellon and District Transport Club is fully utilised by our community. We now have 31 individual members plus group memberships of 4 nursing homes and the visually impaired, stroke and arthritis care clubs. Aberdeenshire Social Work Department increasingly utilises our service to transport people to day care centres and respite homes under the care in the community policy. Our members' needs vary depending on their individual disability, from wheelchair to zimmer users, from those with learning difficulties to those requiring just a patient helping hand.

In July 1995 we were fortunate enough to be awarded a grant from the National Lottery Charities Board Scotland under the criterion "poverty" and with 40,000 miles on the clock of the taxi we upgraded to a VW Caravelle.

In April 2001, with 60,000 miles on the clock we again changed to a Mercedes Vito which we are very pleased with as the wheelchair user sits alongside the driver!

In Janury 2007 having run-up a further 100,000 miles it was time to change vehicles. With the help of funds raised from the London Marathon, Awards for All scheme, we purchased our latest vehicle, a VW Transporter T5. This again has the facility for the wheelchair user to sit alongside the driver.

Since the start of the club in 1991 we have covered 200,000 plus miles - now that is a commitment to volunteering in our community!

Maureen Sanders March 2007