Knutsford Good Neighbours Transport Service Saved from Closure
Knutsford Good Neighbours, which provides transport for elderly residents to medical appointments, has secured its future with a new phone line provided by Sky.
By Knutsford Guardian
Knutsford Good Neighbours, a volunteer transport service for elderly and infirm residents, has been saved from potential closure after a phone line issue left it unable to operate since 27 August. The charity, which relies on volunteer drivers to take residents to medical appointments, discovered the problem when their analogue phone line was switched to digital without their knowledge. This change, initiated by BT, affected the call divert system that had been in place since the charity's founding in 1999.
Gaynor, the coordinator of Knutsford Good Neighbours, expressed her devastation at the disruption, stating, "Our clients are vulnerable and fragile. They rely on us." After the issue was identified, BT worked with the group to find a solution, but the new technology did not meet their needs. A BT spokesperson confirmed that while the line remained operational, a previous voicemail feature was no longer available.
Determined to continue the service, Gaynor set up a new business line at her home, provided free of charge by Sky. She praised Sky for their support, noting, "Hats off to Sky. They have put this line in free of charge. Sky's billing cost is half of what BT would have been charging had we been able to find a solution with them."
The new contact number for the service is 01565 372536, which will be operational from 30 September, available from 11am to 3pm, Monday to Thursday. Clients will only need to make one call to provide details of their appointments, after which volunteer drivers will pick them up and accompany them to their medical appointments for a small donation.
Last year, the team of 20 drivers took over 1,300 residents to appointments. The service is entirely run by volunteers, who are reimbursed for fuel expenses. Any remaining funds after covering operational costs are donated to local charities. In 2024, the group donated £6,000 to various local causes.
Anyone interested in volunteering as a driver or coordinator can contact the group via email at knutsfordgoodneighbours@live.co.uk.