Driver
To drive clients, dogs and/or equipment to a variety of locations across the UK. The time commitment is variable, depending on journey details.
- Transporting our clients, dogs and equipment in your own vehicle or Guide Dogs’ vehicles
- Ensuring you and your vehicle are safe and legally roadworthy
- Following Guide Dogs' guidelines for transporting dogs
- Ensuring that you have any additional equipment necessary to fulfil your role and that it is in working order
- When driving Guide Dogs’ vehicles:
Ensuring on collection and when you return it, that it is clean, tidy, fully fuelled and roadworthy; if it is not, report this immediately to your supervisor
Reporting any visible damage before or after journey
Complete any necessary paperwork
Depending on your experience, at some locations you may have the opportunity to drive trailers or train to drive our large exhibition units
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A lot of driving is within 30 minutes of your home. Journeys may be longer depending on what or who you are accompanying - for example some journeys with dogs can go across the country
- Good communications and interpersonal skills
- Like working with dogs
- A clean driving licence is preferred, although minor driving convictions may not necessarily preclude a person from volunteering. Each case will be taken on its merits - please contact Guide Dogs for more information
- All drivers, whether using Guide Dogs’ vehicles or their own for volunteering, will be expected to comply with the charity’s driver license check process
- You will need to make your motor insurer aware you are volunteering as a driver for Guide Dogs, if using your own vehicle. Guide Dogs can provide insurers with further details upon request
- Driving the exhibition unit will need confidence in driving large vehicles
- Directly and indirectly enable blind and partially-sighted people to enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else
- Basic induction to Guide Dogs and to the role
- Sighted Guide training
- Equipment training if required e.g. Exhibition unit (0.5 day course)
- Manual handling training
- Regular and ongoing advice and support from Guide Dogs
- Payment of out of pocket expenses agreed in advance
- Yes, this role requires that you have an Enhanced Disclosure. You will also need to attend a safeguarding induction and awareness day
- 18 years
Meet one of our existing Drivers!
It can be very humbling when you sit and listen to someone on the journey explain what being blind or partially sighted means to them"
Anthony
Anthony has been a driver for us since 2009.
"Driving for Guide Dogs is incredibly varied. I regularly drive people who are blind or partially sighted and their dogs to all sorts of destinations to give informal, informative talks to raise the profile of the charity.
I have found my time with Guide Dogs both enjoyable and rewarding, meeting various blind or partially sighted people, and it never ceases to amaze me how they manage to cope with their sight loss on a daily basis. It can be very humbling when you sit and listen to someone on the journey explain what being blind or partially sighted means to them and how they manage during the day. Imagine wearing a blindfold all day and attempting to cook or use public transport.
Drivers also bring dogs to veterinary appointments and transfer dogs between sites. At other times our drivers help take equipment out to fundraising events, such as stands and marquees.
Volunteering for guide dogs has brought me into contact with people from the community whom I otherwise would not have encountered. A simple service like providing transport can make a big difference to someone and it is something I feel I am able to help with."
