The Dial-a-Ride Shop in Brecon has had a brilliant first year in its new, more visible premises on the corner of The Struet and Castle Street, and is now looking for more volunteers to help continue run the service.

The shop has raised much needed funds to invest in the local Dial-a-Ride services covering Brecon, Crickhowell, Talgarth and Sennybridge and the surrounding villages.

The funds will contribute to meeting the additional fuel costs as well as contributing to investment in their vehicles.

The Club recently took delivery of the latest vehicle which was purchased with the help of the shop and the local community. This new addition starts the much needed upgrade of the Dial-a-Ride fleet. Dial-a-Ride has thanked all those whoo support the shop with donations and the volunteers who give their time and energy into keeping the shop open.

The Dial-a-Ride services are operated by Brecon & District Disabled Club whose mission is to promote the independence of people with a disability and older people through the provision of accessible community transport to help them access facilities and participate in social activities. It was started by three local men in 1977 and over the past 45 years has become a very special service to the areas covered.

The success of the shop has been due to the commitment and enthusiasm of the wonderful team of volunteers, together with the generosity of local people donating goods for sale. It makes a valuable contribution towards the upcycling and recycling of goods and enjoys the support of a loyal band of customers and is now firmly established.

The public have always been very receptive to its shop window displays and Dial-a-Ride were delighted to win the Brecon Chamber of Trade and Tourism Award for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Best Window Display during the Jubilee celebrations.

The club wants to continue to build on the shop’s success, but has said it needs some help with volunteers. Some volunteers are happy to work at the front of shop selling directly to customers, while others prefer more of a back of shop role, sorting through donations and preparing them for sale in the shop. Each volunteer is matched according to their interests and however much time that they are available to volunteer.

Dial-a-Ride would also welcome support from individuals who may have an interest in helping the shop to sell goods via eBay (training is available). The goods sold in the shop are competitively priced and provide excellent value but they occasionally have goods donated which are worth far more than those for sale in the shop and they want to ensure they get the best price to support the Dial-a-Ride service.

The team’s volunteers are a friendly, happy and dedicated band of supporters, who are always welcoming and eager to involve new faces.

So if you have some free time, are interested in helping when its suits you, and want to support the local Dial-A- Ride service, please call into the shop, have a chat with the volunteers, have a look around, arrange to have a ‘trial run’ for a week or two and then if you are happy join the team!

Contact Dial-a-Ride by phone on 01874 624060 or by email on: [email protected]