A VITAL transport charity which ferries pupils from all over Inverclyde to Craigmarloch School every single day is appealing for more voluntary drivers to come on board.
The Inverclyde Voluntary Council of Social Services (ICVSS) takes children with complex physical and additional support needs to school each day.
Volunteers like Jim Sinclair and Maurice McQuillian go from Wemyss Bay to Kilmacolm picking up the youngsters from their homes and driving them to the Port Glasgow school with big smiles on their faces.
They go to great lengths to make sure the journey is as comfortable and fun as possible.
Now they are hoping that more people will sign up as voluntary drivers so the ICVSS - which has been on the go for 50 years - can keep on the road.
Volunteer driver Maurice, who is one of 10 drivers on the team, said: "It is a great role and it gets us all out of the house.
"We love taking the kids to and from school. You get to know them so well and we have some great laughs."
School deputy head Aileen Morgan says the drivers, who collect the kids and take them home at the end of each school day are 'fantastic'.
She said: "They are so kind to the kids. They take care and help with all their rituals, nothing is ever too much trouble. That is so important. One of the drivers puts decorations up with balloons whenever it is one of the children's birthdays. We can't thank them enough for everything they do."
The ICVSS has a fleet of 14 buses, which are supported by local businesses who sponsor the vehicles.
The service relies on a pool of around 12 volunteers and also supports local care homes and previously transported adults with learning difficulties to the Fitzgerald Centre.
Secretary Jim said: "Our drivers have been with us for a long time. But since Covid we have struggled for volunteer drivers. Some never came back after that. We offer a very unique service and we would love more people to join us."
Transport convenor Andy Neilly, assistant convenor Tommy Holburn and Jim Paul, a volunteer, are all part of the team who will welcome new recruits.
Tommy added: "We love supporting Craigmarloch and taking the kids to school. It is great and we get so much out of it as well."
To find out more about becoming a volunteer with the bus transport service, based in Lynedoch Street in Greenock, call 01475 791939.
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