Driver

If you love being behind the wheel and want to use your driving skills to help a charity, then you can join Guide Dogs today! As a volunteer driver, you will be helping us make a difference to people with sight loss, through supporting us with any transport requirements.

On this page, you’ll discover the different ways you can get involved as a driver, along with an overview of what a typical day in each role looks like. You’re welcome to volunteer in just one driving role or take on all three, it’s completely up to you.

If you don’t feel you tick every box but are sure this role is the one for you, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always open to suggestions and are very happy to chat with you to discuss what’s possible, so please just get in touch at volunteer@guidedogs.org.uk.

Search for an opportunity

If you would like to become a driver for Guide Dogs, the next step is to check if there is an opportunity available near you. You can use the search option below to find all volunteering opportunities near you and if you don't see a driver option – don't worry! We update our opportunities all the time so make sure you check back in.

Dog Driver

Three Guide Dogs Academy staff members stand by a parked Guide Dogs branded van. One of the staff members feeds a guide dog in training a treat. — In this role, you will transport puppies and adult dogs between Guide Dogs sites and specialist vet visits.

I often think about what the pups I drive around will go on to do… It’s great to think that so many do go on to become guide dogs and help change people’s lives.

Terry - Dog Driver

What you’ll be doing

We rely on volunteers like you to help us improve the lives of people with sight loss. In this role your support will include:

Providing safe transportation to our puppies and adult dogs between Guide Dogs sites and specialist vets and hospital appointments.
Providing safe transportation for picking up dogs from service users and volunteers.
Following Guide Dogs' guidelines for handling and transporting young puppies and adult dogs.

Ideally you will

Be a confident and conscientious driver - a clean driving licence is preferred, although minor driving convictions may not necessarily stop you from volunteering.
Be willing to drive a range of distances which may be out of your local area.
Be willing and able to handle and manage our dogs and puppies using positive reinforcement methods.

You’ll get

Volunteering is a two-way street, so in return for your time you will get a dedicated volunteer manager/key contact who will help you settle in and support you during your time with us. You’ll also get:

The satisfaction in knowing you are supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.
A flexible role which fits in with your existing commitments.
Support to develop your dog handling skills and have 1:1 contact with our dogs and puppies.

Training and support

This role has 6 hours of training and then you’ll be ready to go! These modules include:

Driver induction.
Dog handling training.
Safeguarding training (Level 1)

If you have questions about the training requirements, we can answer these at your interview along with any other support or accessibility needs you may have.

Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket.

We’ll make sure we pay any expenses related to your volunteering with us in line with our policy.

What we need from you

To ensure your vehicle is safe and legally roadworthy to drive.
To ensure that you have any additional equipment necessary to fulfil your role and that it is in working order whether it be using your own vehicle or a Guide Dogs vehicle.

Criminal Disclosure check necessary? No

We are working hard to make sure anyone who wants to can volunteer for Guide Dogs, but at the moment we have a minimum age of 18 this particular role.

People Driver

As a People Driver volunteer, you’ll be helping people with sight loss to live the life they choose by providing safe and friendly transport that enables service users, staff or fellow volunteers to engage in Guide Dogs activities.

I have always loved driving and dogs, and this seemed to be the ideal way to help a good cause and do the thing I enjoy.

Keith, Driver

What you’ll be doing

On a typical day volunteering in this role, you can expect to:

Provide safe and friendly transport to our volunteers, our service users and potentially their dogs, in your own vehicle or Guide Dogs’ vehicle.
Follow Guide Dogs’ guidelines on transporting dogs.
Maintain professional boundaries with all passengers and adhere to safeguarding policies.
Sighted guide service users in and out of vehicles and premises.
Check equipment is in working order.

However, you won’t be expected to:

Transport others for non-Guide Dogs purposes e.g. for personal journeys.
Transport anyone under the age of 18.

Where and when you’ll be doing it

You’ll mainly be performing this volunteer role in the community, and we can be flexible on how far you are happy to travel. We will reimburse mileage for pre-agreed travel using your own vehicle.

It’s likely that your volunteering will take place when you have time around your personal commitments.

Most volunteers in this role normally commit around 2 hours per month volunteering, but this is a flexible role and more hours, or longer journeys may be offered if this is of interest to you. To help us and you get the most out of the role our expectation is that you’ll volunteer for at least 12 months.

You will:

Need to be 18 or over.
Have a valid driving licence and insurance (minor driving convictions may not preclude you from volunteering).
Be a confident and conscientious driver.
Ideally have access to a car or other vehicle, which is roadworthy and legal. However, in some locations this may not be essential, as we may be able to offer access to a vehicle owned by or hired by Guide Dogs. We will provide you with equipment, or expense reimbursement, for transporting any dogs such as a car harness or dog guard, as required.

What you’ll get

Whatever your background or lived experience we’ll support you to volunteer with us and can discuss adjustments to support your engagement. Guide Dogs is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation that is safe and welcoming for everyone.
We’ll reimburse any pre-agreed reasonable expenses to cover the actual mileage of the journeys you undertake using your own vehicle, and any other expenses related to your volunteering with us, in line with our policy, so you’re never out of pocket.
We’ll provide you with a named volunteer manager to be your main point of contact and support which includes catch up conversations every 3 months.
We’ll give you a thorough induction to the role and a warm welcome to Guide Dogs’ volunteer community.
We’ll provide initial training before you get started which will take around 10 – 12 hours and will be delivered through a blend of in person and e-learning. This training will include skills and knowledge in guiding and supporting someone with sight loss. Some refresher training will be required.

What we need from you

To help safeguard and protect everyone at Guide Dogs, we will ask you to prove your identity, provide character references and undergo an interview.
We expect all volunteers to fully share our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work.
The nature of this role means that an enhanced criminal disclosure with barred list check is required.
Along with all regular volunteers at Guide Dogs, we’ll ask you to meet the expectations outlined in our Volunteer Agreement.

Equipment Driver

In this role, you will transport a range of essential equipment to a variety of locations and events in the local community

What you’ll be doing

We rely on volunteers like you to help us improve the lives of people with sight loss. In this role your support will include:

Transporting equipment, such as gazebos and dog care equipment, in your own vehicle or in a Guide Dog’s vehicle to and from events and venues.
Supporting with the erection and dismantling of equipment.
Following our guidelines for manual handling.

Ideally you will:

Be a confident and conscientious driver - a clean driving licence is preferred, although minor driving convictions may not necessarily preclude a person from volunteering.
Be willing and able to move a range of objects, including large, bulky and heavy items

You’ll get

A flexible role which fits in with your existing commitments.
The satisfaction in knowing you are supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.
An opportunity to interact with others, including people within Guide Dogs and members of the public.

Training and support

This role has 6 hours of training and then you’ll be ready to go! These modules include:

Driver Induction
Manual handling guidance

If you have questions about the training requirements, we can answer these at your interview along with any other support or accessibility needs you may have.

Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket.

We’ll make sure we pay any expenses related to your volunteering with us in line with our policy.

What we need from you

To ensure that your vehicle is safe and legally roadworthy to drive.
To ensure that you have any additional equipment necessary to fulfil your role and that it is in working order whether it be using your own vehicle or a Guide Dogs vehicle.

Criminal Disclosure check necessary? No

Equipment Driver

In this role, you will transport a range of essential equipment to a variety of locations and events in the local community

What you’ll be doing

We rely on volunteers like you to help us improve the lives of people with sight loss. In this role your support will include:

Transporting equipment, such as gazebos and dog care equipment, in your own vehicle or in a Guide Dog’s vehicle to and from events and venues.

Supporting with the erection and dismantling of equipment.

Following our guidelines for manual handling.

Ideally you will:

Be a confident and conscientious driver - a clean driving licence is preferred, although minor driving convictions may not necessarily preclude a person from volunteering.

Be willing and able to move a range of objects, including large, bulky and heavy items

You’ll get

A flexible role which fits in with your existing commitments.

The satisfaction in knowing you are supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.

An opportunity to interact with others, including people within Guide Dogs and members of the public.

Training and support

This role has 6 hours of training and then you’ll be ready to go! These modules include:

Driver Induction

Manual handling guidance

If you have questions about the training requirements, we can answer these at your interview along with any other support or accessibility needs you may have.

Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket.

We’ll make sure we pay any expenses related to your volunteering with us in line with our policy.

What we need from you

To ensure that your vehicle is safe and legally roadworthy to drive.

To ensure that you have any additional equipment necessary to fulfil your role and that it is in working order whether it be using your own vehicle or a Guide Dogs vehicle.

Criminal Disclosure check necessary? No