What people think about Dial-a-Journey

We're pleased to let customers of Dial-a-Journey and Shopmobility know that our Shopmobility bases in Falkirk and Stirling are now open.

In addition, we're re-opening the Dial-a-Journey Booking Office and enquiries lines on Monday 3rd August (Including the Taxicard Booking Service). The telephone lines will be open their normal hours, and initially the Office will open Monday- Friday 9am to 4pm.

The Dial-a-Journey door to door transport service will operate Monday - Friday across all 3 Council areas for the foreseeable future.

Bookings for the self drive Group Hire Service will also re-commence.

COVID PRECAUTIONS

There may be some disruption to our services as we adhere to social distancing rules that change how equipment is hired in the Shopmobility bases and reduce the minibus capacities. For example some buses that could previously take 16 passengers now have a reduced capacity of around 4 or 5 people. Time is also taken to thoroughly clean vehicles and mobility scooters in between use, so we need to allow time for that to happen

Please bear with us as we adjust to what we need to do.

We're keen to see our customers again and new customers who's circumstances have changed. We want to help you try to get out and about going about your business as far as it's possible to safely.

Next week, a member of staff will be calling our customers to see if there is anything we can help with, and if you have any questions or concerns, don't be afraid to ask a member of the team.

Our aim is to provide you with the service you need as safely as possible.

24TH JUNE 2020 - DIAL-A-JOURNEY AND SHOPMOBILITY

It might seem that we’ve been a bit quiet recently, but like many of you, we’ve been in lockdown too!!

We’ve been following the Scottish Government’s direction, which has meant for the Dial-a-Journey Door to Door transport service, we’ve only been able to carry out essential journeys for shopping or medical needs.

For Shopmobility, we’ve had to close our bases in Stirling and Falkirk in line with the Governments instruction that all indoor shopping centres were to close. In the meantime, we’ve been offering to take mobility equipment to Shopmobility customers homes, collect them and take them shopping.

Uptake on both these services has been very limited, but rather than sitting twiddling our thumbs, we’ve helped other members of our communities.

One of our largest pieces of work has been possible through a financial donation by the Order of Malta, and another from the Corra Foundation that has funded transport for Stirling University’s student nurses who have to attend placements at health care establishments throughout Forth Valley from early in the morning to late in the evening.

Our drivers have also been helping out delivering food parcels with Start Up Stirling. We’re very proud to say that they’ve all carried out work above and beyond the normal – to help out.

It’s important that we continue to offer our services to our existing and new members, but we recognise that due to Covid 19 – many will still be shielding for some time to come, or the activities some used to attend such as day centres and lunch clubs will also take a long time to return to normal. This will mean a slow recovery for both our Dial-a-Journey Door to Door and Shopmobility services. We are fortunate that our partners in the local authorities continue to support our work during the current difficulties, which has helped us to continue delivering services where needed.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR MEMBERS AS SOON AS WE’RE NEEDED, SO FROM MONDAY 29TH JUNE, WE ARE RE-INTRODUCING LIMITED SERVICES THAT WILL INCREASE AS THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT FURTHER EASES RESTRICTIONS.

DIAL-A-JOURNEY SERVICES

While our main Dial-a-Journey office will have limited opening for essential services only, we will be able to take bookings on our out of hours number 07803 504867, between 10am and 2pm Monday – Friday.

We will operate a limited Monday – Friday service, but as a result of social distancing, vehicle capacities will be restricted, limiting the number of passengers we can carry at any one time. Customers will be asked to be as flexible with their travel times and will be required to wear face coverings in accordance with any Scottish Government regulations which are in force at the time.

At present we can provide transport for;

Essential Shopping; Medical Treatment; Exercise (travel to and from parks etc);
And visiting (within the guidelines currently published by the Scottish Government)

SHOPMOBILITY SERVICES

Both Falkirk and Stirling bases will remain closed until such times as the Government give the go ahead for indoor shopping centres to re-open. At present, we will continue to take requests for equipment on our out of hours number 07803 504867. Please give our co-ordinator a call and she will arrange a time with you to be collected along with a suitable piece of equipment and taken to where you need to go, and make arrangements for your return journey.

These are difficult times we’re all living through, and as Government advice changes regularly, we are only able to plan ahead in short steps. It will take a long time for everyone to get back to near normal (if ever) but in the meantime, we want to be here to help you take those first steps.

Over the next few weeks, you may receive a phone call from one of our co-ordinators to see how you’re doing, and see if there’s anything we can help you with – just ask – we’ll try and help out if we can.

We are open for business and need your support.

Even if you simply want to go out for a short run in the bus to regain your confidence, or get out to your local park to wander about and get a wee bit of fresh air, we’re here to make it happen for you – just give us a call, and bear with us if it’s not exactly how you would like it to be – our staff are doing their best under challenging circumstances.

Duncan Hearsum
Chief Executive