Bank Holidays are a key service period so should not be overlooked.

The website provides details of the fleet vehicles, their individual names, a brief explanation of their namesake’s achievement and any key funders or sponsors of the vehicle.

Each individual member of the charity has a duty to report their concerns to the Safeguarding Lead, so the person they are worried about gets help as quickly as possible. The event lead should be made aware of any concerns, and should make an initial decision on a course of action. If there is an immediate danger they should call the Police on 999. They must make the Safeguarding Lead aware of any concerns without delay and send a follow-up email.

Primarily it is according to individual availability, but there are the additional constraints which we apply as duty of care and for operational effectiveness.

It is up to the acquiring user to organise collection, with mutual respect for availability and transport options. Rota Manager will usually allow suitable time between the vehicle being on duty with different volunteers to permit the transfer. By splitting fleet across 3 regions it reduces transfer miles/time and allows for vehicles to be serviced or attend events.

Typically we would look for a commitment of around 3-4 duties per month (10% of a year evenly spread) plus participation in some fundraising events. 😉.

As the face of SERV OBN at a fundraising event, including mention of the concession for Oxford (5) helps to emphasise the significant role SERV OBN plays even if we don’t have blue lights, it also suggests we are serious about being effective in what we do, and Oxford Council agree.

It’s a judgement call based on their demeanour – but if they have stopped to comment, all options can be explained. Suggesting that contactless could be just a £1 donation may also help their decision making.

True Corporates are AA & BP supporting the fleet. Being recognised by such as Masonic Lodges is also very valuable.

Private vehicles used must be covered for ‘unpaid charity work’ on their insurance, and private bikes can only be used for samples transport but that must be in hard luggage

For avoidance of doubt and protection of volunteer and Charity ensure any physical contact with a child is with the parent’s presence and permission.

The only real age restriction relates to Fleet Insurance stipulations. Other roles within the Charity are more flexible; a helping hand from non-riders/drivers is always welcome and can be encouraged. Riders/Drivers need to have held their licence for 2 years

There are many routes by which we obtain funding, some are proactive, some are reactive, some are even passive. All are required in order to cover the ongoing running costs of the fleet.

Pointing an enquiry to a specific website may avoid potential issues with Google’s sponsored links and seem more informative than the generic Google response.

By confirming that we have been included in the NHS exemption from Road Fund Licence, and that when purchasing our vehicles, we do not pay VAT, we add credibility to the service we provide. Beyond that everything is funded through donations and the efforts of our volunteers, plus any corporate sponsorships such as BP and AA.

A policy exists for charity collections to ensure financial propriety & probity

Adding the specifics of the variety of locations we serve helps to emphasise the value we add to the NHS, free of charge

We should treat each conversation as a potential recruitment opportunity, even if indirectly, so we need to be realistic as to the opportunities to be involved. It may not be the enquirer, but an acquaintance that they pass the message on to.