Join our van team | timefortwam

Driving the TWAM vans

We have a fleet of four modern vans. They can be driven on a standard UK driving licence. This volunteer role is not just about driving vans, but visiting collectors and members of the public to receive donated tools. It also means helping load the vans, especially when collecting from someone elderly. We do need our drivers to be friendly and helpful as sometimes you will be collecting from the recently bereaved who are donating their husbands shed full of tools. A local collector should be on hand to help, but it does mean an 'all hands on deck' approach.

Please see what we offer and what we expect at bottom of page

Ipswich Team

The Ipswich van collects from the East of England and the home counties. Paul, our Supporter Development Officer, organises the schedule and trys to keep the van on the road five days a week. The journeys are varied and a great opportunity to feel part of the TWAM family supporting the main Refurbishment Centre. The van regularly visits our Coventry, Halstead and Frinton centres.

Coventry Team

The Coventry van collects from the Midlands, the North of England and Wales. It's a busy van, supporting the Coventry Refurbishment centre. It's a small friendly team and a great opportunity to travel across the UK and support the collectors.

South Van Teams

We have two vans based in the South of England. One is based around Maidstone in Kent and the other around Guildford in Surrey. They divide the South of England between them and go as far west as Bristol. Their regular schedule is to collect on one day and deliver to Ipswich the next day. This is great, as the drivers get to meet the bigger team while they are up in Ipswich. Steve coordinates the Kent team and Keith the Surrey team and you can hear from them below.

We always need more drivers, so if you think you are suited to this role, please get in touch or apply online.

Drivers will receive an induction to our vehicles, go out with an experienced driver to ensure they are confident driving our vans and receive a TWAM branded polo shirt and fleece. Drivers licences are checked and photo copied annually. For the safety of our drivers, all our vans are fitted with trackers.

What we offer

You can expect:

A warm welcome into a friendly team
An induction into the role and building
Regular reviews to ensure you are happy with the work you are doing and the support you are receiving
Training where required
A volunteer handbook
A named contact for support

What we expect

We expect:

You to be diligent and accurate in your role
To be polite and respectful to your fellow volunteers, staff and supporters
To follow Health and Safety Guidelines
To ask if you need help
To volunteer on a regular agreed basis each week
To be committed and reliable
To be flexible and open to help where needed
Finally to enjoy yourself in the friendly, welcoming TWAM family!

A role description is available here

Interested in joining us? Then please apply online or download the application form here.

Steve

Kent Van Coordinator

What attracted you to volunteering with TWAM and in this role in particular?

TWAM’s vision for helping the underprivileged by providing recycled tools really caught my imagination and spurred me on to get involved. Initially I volunteered as a collector but was then asked to consider coordinating a TWAM van for Kent and East Sussex, a role which I was happy to take to provide further support to the work TWAM is doing.

Tell us briefly about a typical day for you?

I coordinate a team of 6 van drivers, including myself together with some other volunteers we sometimes call on for help with loading. My role consists mainly of organising the collection of tools from collectors and working out who will be driving. This includes a rota for the handover as we share the van with Surrey and for trips to deliver van loads to the centre in Ipswich

As a volunteer yourself, whats your favourite thing about volunteering?

It’s probably meeting with the many other collectors, who are also volunteers and witnessing their dedication to what they are doing for TWAM. I find this a real blessing. Read more...

Keith

Surrey Van Coordinator

What attracted you to volunteering with TWAM and in this role in particular?

I retired quite early, at 56, but didn't want to just sit around doing nothing. David Sayers, who goes to my church approached me about taking over the role from him. I had a background in Engineering/Supply chain and general management, and when I visited Ipswich and saw the scale of the operation, I knew this was where God would have me serve.

Tell us briefly about what your role as the Surrey van coordinator entails

We do regular pickups from about 22 collector's ranging geographically from Dorchester to Croydon, Chichester to Melksham as well as trips to Ipswich. I schedule the drivers and loaders for these. In addition, I am the main collector in my area so am often also picking up other tools in the van or my car and storing them in my garage!

As a volunteer yourself, whats your favourite thing about volunteering?

Meeting lots of different people, and sharing with them what we do with the tools and how this impacts lives in Africa