Every week, Gillingham Area Car Link helps people across the SP8 postcode area who have no transport of their own to attend essential medical appointments. Our volunteer drivers provide a lifeline, taking residents to GP surgeries, hospitals, dentists, opticians and other healthcare appointments in Gillingham and further afield.Demand for our service has never been greater. Sadly, for the first time in our history, we are having to turn people away because we simply don't have enough volunteer drivers to meet the need.Could you spare a few hours to help? Even if you can't volunteer yourself, perhaps you know someone who would enjoy making a real difference to people's lives.Volunteering with Gillingham Area Car Link is completely flexible. You decide how often you're available, how far you're happy to travel and which journeys you accept. Whether you prefer short local journeys or longer distances, you can offer one or two days a week, or just a few regular days each month, every journey you make helps someone get to an important medical appointment. Volunteer drivers receive a tax-free mileage allowance of 60p per mile to help cover their costs.Our volunteer drivers often tell us that they get just as much from the experience as the people they help:“Just a few hours of my time each week makes a real difference to so many people.”“The people I drive are always so friendly and appreciative. For many of them, this service really is a lifeline.”“With public transport so limited in many of our villages, this service is invaluable.”If you enjoy driving, meeting people and making a real difference in your local community, we'd love to hear from you.To find out more about becoming a volunteer driver, visit www.gillinghamcarlink.org.uk, email walkerphilsu@gmail.com or call 01747 824645.Just a few hours of your time could help someone get the care they need.
The good news is that our Diocesan Share for this year has been reduced by just under £12,000 because of having no paid clergy in 2025; however, this still leaves us some £5,000 short of their request. The bad news is that we will likely be £18,000 short of our estimated 2027 Share Request, that is £1,500 per month!Mike Sargent, Hon Treasurer
Church Open / Close: mainly closing on Tuesdays and Fridays, opening / closing on Saturdays & occasional cover for those on holiday.Welcomers and Servers: to join the team on Sundays (starts at 9:00am).If you are interested in any of the above, please speak to Helen or Revd Becca.
We have eight bells at St Mary’s Gillingham, which are rung regularly.Bell practice is on Monday evenings from 7:30pm to 9pm. The bells are rung for the 10am Sunday morning Eucharist from 9:30am.We have a small friendly team of ringers, but need a few more people to join us.If you would like to learn to ring (age from about 11 or adult), why not come along to one of our practice sessions to see us ringing and find out what is involved?Bell ringing is good fun for people of all ages, as well as being a service to the church. And it’s excellent exercise!Possibly you are already able to ring and would like to take this up again and join us.If you are interested, please contact the Ringing Coordinator, Alan Jeffs, on awjeffs@btinternet.com.
