Getting out and about is a key aspect of most people’s quality of life, for both their mental and physical health. At Colten Care, our Companionship Team aims to ensure that residents at all 21 of our homes have the opportunity to take safe, comfortable minibus trips to enjoy lovely experiences and engage with the wider community.

It’s made possible by our dedicated fleet of bespoke Mercedes Sprinter minibuses which are looked after and operated by our four flexible and friendly professional drivers. Working with them, the Companionship Team co-ordinate half-day and full-day trips which typically include on-board packed lunches, snacks, coffees, and teas.

We invited our four drivers to say a little about their roles.

“I’ve always loved driving,” says Martin Williams. “In my working life I’ve been a chauffeur, a continental coach driver, and a bus driver. I was attracted to the role at Colten Care as it mixed my love of driving with my desire to support the elderly community.

“I’d say I probably do around 10,000 miles a year as I travel from Winchester to Chichester, and to Poole. My bus tucks up for the night under the trees at Abbotts Barton.

“The residents are always so grateful to be going out. I have a couple of characters who typically say they don’t fancy it, but when they do, they say how much they’ve enjoyed it, whether it’s just a trip to a garden centre or a country drive.”

Martin picked out a couple of highlights from among his many trips in 2023. One was the series of outings for St Catherines View in Winchester resident Joyce Ward, as she ticked off her personal ‘bucket list’ ahead of her 100th birthday. “Taking part in Joyce’s birthday celebrations was so special. Driving her around Goodwood Motor Circuit and listening to her squeal in delight as we went round the bends was brilliant.”

Karen Sears-Dawson switched to bus driving after eleven years as a senior support worker for adults with learning disabilities. She worked for five years at Dorset operator Morebus, became a relief driver with us in 2019, and a full-time Colten driver in 2021. She was initially based at Kingfishers in the New Forest and now works from Bourne View in Poole. She puts her annual mileage at around 16,500 miles.

“My job is rewarding,” says Karen. “It’s great to see how trips evoke happy memories for residents and feelings of joy. I get residents saying ‘best trip ever’, ‘spent many happy times here with my family’ or ‘I’ve lived here all my life and never been to this place before, it’s lovely’. It’s great when you discover something new about a resident when a place triggers memories.”

When he saw a late-night message advertising a vacancy with us for a minibus driver, Nick Meyers opened it, read the job description, had a check on social media about us and looked round our website. “I knew immediately this was the job for me, and sent in my application at 1.30 am. Two and a half years later I’m still here, and I can unequivocally state that this is the most satisfying job I’ve had in my lifetime.”

Nick says his best trip so far was with residents from Castle View in Poundbury, visiting the Rockley Park viewpoint, looking out over Poole Bay, Brownsea Island, and the Arne Nature Reserve.

“The weather forecast was fine, so the Companionship Team decided we should take a picnic. As soon as we arrived, we got the table and chairs out, and sat eating and drinking. The residents didn’t want the day to end, so we took a democratic decision and spontaneously carried on with the day out. We went to Pier Lake for a comfort break, drove past Sandbanks Beach, boarded the chain ferry, and went across to Shell Bay.

A few miles later and a few hundred feet higher, we stopped at another viewpoint next to the Isle of Purbeck Golf Club. We all got out for a while and looked over the amazing view of what is the second-largest natural bay in the world (Sydney Harbour being number one). And you wouldn’t believe our luck, there was an ice cream van as well!

We got back on the journey and went across to Corfe Castle for tea and cake and a look round. We were still back in time for the evening meal. It was a long and memorable day. I don’t know about the residents but I slept well that night.”