Volunteer to drive cancer patients to hospital treatments
Patients often find it hard to get to the hospital because of transportation costs, or they might not be feeling well enough to drive themselves because of their treatment.
Volunteer drivers make this easier by providing a free lift to and back from their appointments.
About the Transport Service
The Transport Service organises transport to and from the hospital for cancer patients undergoing treatment who do not have any means of transport themselves. The service is offered nationwide and is entirely delivered by volunteer drivers, under the supervision of the transport team within the Irish Cancer Society.
What’s involved in volunteering as a Driver?
Your main duty as a volunteer driver is taking patients using the service from their home address to the hospital and back home after their treatment has ended. The service is currently offered to patients undergoing chemotherapy in hospitals around Ireland and, in some locations, trials are running to extend the service to patients being treated with radiotherapy.
Volunteer drivers provide an invaluable support to cancer patients. As a volunteer driver you relieve patients from having to organise their own transport or rely on public transport. For many this is a vital service which helps ease their mind and ensure they can have a comfortable journey to and from the hospital while undergoing cancer treatment.
The service is currently offered from Monday to Friday. You are able to select the day(s) you can dedicate to the volunteer driver service yourself, so it will easily fit with other commitments and activities you may have. All available drives in your area will be visible to you via an online portal where you will select the drives that you would like to do. Drives visible to you will be in your local area – no more than 1 hour 45 min drive each way in total.
You will be using your own car for the service and will be able to claim mileage expenses as well as some receipted food/drink expenses while you are on your drive.
The Irish Cancer Society will provide you with full training before you start as a driver for us.
What are the requirements to be a volunteer Driver?
- Minimum 21 years of age
- A full driver’s licence
- A roadworthy car (NCT complete)
- Please note; 2 seater cars are not accepted
- Fully comprehensive car insurance
- You are able to dedicate minimum 2 days each month to the service
- You have good communication skills
- You are reliable and able to work independently
- You have some computer literacy and access to an email account
- You agree to be Garda vetted for this role
- You agree to provide all relevant documentation and complete all training required
On the day of a drive, you will need to be available for the full day, since the duration of treatment can vary and sometimes takes longer than anticipated.
Where are drivers currently needed?
We are particularly looking for drivers in:
- Dublin
- Kildare, Meath, Wicklow with drives to hospitals in Dublin
- Cork
- Tipperary with drives to hospital in Cork
Role description
A full role description can be downloaded below
Next Steps and Apply now
Application process takes approx. 4-6 weeks and consists of the following steps :
- Complete an online application form below
- Telephone interview with a member of the volunteer team: A short informal chat to assess your suitability for the role and give you the opportunity to ask us any questions.
- Online Training: An invitation to a self-guided online training module will be emailed to you. This will include information about the service, your role and guidelines to be followed. A number of volunteer documents must be agreed to at this stage. Completion of this module is required to continue to the next round.
- A Garda vetting invite form will be sent and must be completed by closing date. This needs to be accompanied by copies of two forms of identification (one photographic, one proof of address). This is a compulsory requirement for the Garda vetting application.
- Supply us with necessary documentation. You will also be asked to supply us with a passport style photo, copy of your NCT, insurance certificate and driver’s license.
- Volunteer references checked. We ask for 2 references on the application form who we can contact at this point of the process.
- When the above steps, and garda vetting is complete, you will be ready to go and will be invited to a mandatory Onboarding session which will take place via group video call. At this session you will meet a member of the volunteer driver team, other new volunteers and discuss the role in more detail with opportunities for questions.
- You are ready to join the Volunteer Driver Team!
