About Horsham Area Community Car Scheme:

Without a car, getting around Horsham can sometimes be problematic. Buses don’t quite go to and from where they are needed or when you need to go. Taxis are expensive and sometimes not available. But if you have mobility issues then things just get worse.

How do you get to a bus stop or get on and off a bus if you can’t walk far or have a frame or wheeler and you need help carrying your shopping? How do you get to doctors’ appointments or to outpatient clinics? Even popping out to meet a friend has its own obstacles.

The Horsham Area Community Car Scheme (HACCS), is a 'not for profit' scheme which has been operating for over 25 years since April 1996, provides a service for people who are unable to use conventional public transport but who are still able to get into, and out of, a car without assistance. The scheme has nearly 900 registered users. It is operated by a team of highly committed volunteer drivers using their own cars, supported by a group of enthusiastic office-based staff.

Horsham Area Community Car Scheme operates throughout the Horsham area during weekdays and provides opportunities for its clients to enjoy shopping trips, visits to friends and family at modest cost or participate in social activities and day care facilities. It also takes people to doctors surgeries, dentists and hospital appointments in Horsham as well as Redhill, Haywards Heath, Brighton and Worthing. Drivers will wait for you if needed and drop you back home. Subject to driver availability, it can even take clients for leisure trips.

So how expensive is this? The booking fee is set at £4 for each trip, including the return, and 45 p per mile to cover the drivers’ car costs. So, for example, a return trip from Roffey to Park Surgery and back would cost about £6. A wait and return to East Surrey would be about £25.00 and clients only pay mileage for when they are in the car on the journey.

And what does the £4 booking fee cover? That pays for the office costs such as insurance, rent, phones, postage and any other running costs. The HACCS service is available Monday to Friday and to book, simply ring the office, which is based in Lavinia House, Denne Road on (01403) 250202. The office is open From Mondays to Fridays from 9 - 11.30 am.

Volunteer Appeal Since Covid, the number of office staff and drivers available to operate the service has declined for various reasons. The continued success of the Scheme relies on a flow of new volunteers, and we are looking for more help both in the office and as drivers. All potential volunteers will be asked to complete a DBS check which HACCS provide and pay for.

There are usually two people in the office answering the phones during our opening hours and we are now having difficulty covering the rota. All the calls from clients and carers or relatives are logged and - where possible - the journey is booked for the client while they are on the phone. There is a computer booking system and training and support are given.

Volunteer drivers can choose whether to be available on a regular basis such as every Monday from 9 am to 5 pm for local jobs or, they can choose to be asked to take only longer jobs as and when they are available. Drivers are paid a mileage allowance to help with the running costs of their vehicle.

Anyone who feels that they can contribute to the service, be they retired or just have a day to spare each week to play their part in helping those people in our community who cannot get around as well as they used to, can get more details and information on this highly regarded service from the HACCS office on 01403 250202 or email Deborah Gilham, HACCS Office Manager at haccsoffice@gmail.com Co-operative and Community Benefit Society R28383.

Image: