We provide transport to all our activities, Bingo, Shopping trips, Coffee morning and light bites. LDVHC was founded in the 1970’s by Paulette Bentham. With a group of like minded friends she began helping infirm and housebound neighbours in the Cheslyn Hay & Great Wyrley. Services included day-to-day needs like shopping, prescription collection and general chores. A place to go to pop in and chat
came next, when a short term lease was obtained at 33 High St C/Hay. From there to a Portacabin on Cheslyn Hay Recreation Ground, where the group’s work was beginning to be recognised for transport to and from hospital or doctor’s appointment plus social visiting and gardening services. In 1984 a new base was established at 154 Walsall Rd, Great Wyrley. A much larger, if somewhat derelict, property was leased to the group by Staffordshire County Council. This enabled many other activities to be undertaken. With hard work from our volunteers, raising funds to refurbish and improve the building and sometimes undertaking the jobs themselves (painting, putting up cupboards and tiling to name but a few) services like coffee mornings, luncheon clubs, bingo sessions and our group to adults with learning difficulties, as well as the transport scheme, became well established and well used. Over the years LDVHC and its volunteers have attained numerous awards for services to the community including the NHS South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust Patients Choice Award. But our most valued recognition was being awarded The Queen’s Award for Volunteering in 2010. This is a wonderful accolade and something that all of our wonderful volunteers continue to be extremely proud of. Covid19 had a big impact as we had to close the doors to all of our vulnerable customers. Sadly, we also lost some of our most valuable volunteers and we feared the centre may be forced to close. Thankfully, the doors have now re-opened and we are slowly getting back up to speed and welcoming new volunteers and clients.
