HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY BEVERLEY COMMUNITY LIFT!
Fri 3rd January 2020
The transport charity, Beverley Community Lift, celebrates a golden milestone in 2020, marking the 50th anniversary of an organisation which set out to help local people in times of need.
It was the brainchild a group of residents and organisations, particularly Beverley Council of Churches, Social Services and the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) which developed the then Beverley Community Care Association. The idea was to provide a network of street contacts to help with specific tasks.
The donation of a minibus by the town’s Round Table in 1974 changed the focus somewhat as such transport had not been top of the list. It became a registered charity in 1979 and the change of name to Beverley Community Lift was voted in as recently as 2003 to avoid confusion with community care legislation.
To demonstrate the enduring appeal of the charity, there are still two people involved who were there at the beginning. Retired teacher John Turner continues to drive each week and Margaret Law is now a service user.
The car and minibus services provided every week do not just cover Beverley, but Cottingham and along the A1079 corridor to Market Weighton, Holme upon Spalding Moor and Pocklington.
The big 50 milestone will be marked by the delivery of a new minibus, thanks to successful grant applications and fundraising by volunteers. However, Beverley Community Lift really needs more people to deliver its services, particularly passenger assistants. Please contact the office on 01482 868082, email manager@bclift.org.uk or visit www.bclift.org.uk to find out more.
