ADULTS with learning disabilities who rely on a minibus service to transport them to and from Evesham Gateway Club meetings face losing out on the vital service if volunteers are not found soon.

Members of the weekly club could be forced to stay at home if volunteers do not step up to offer their time for free to drive the club's minibus according to club secretary Annette Pearson.

"We are desperate for volunteers," she said. "We need general helpers and drivers otherwise a lot of the adults will have to stay home.

"A lot of them live in the surrounding villages so buses are limited and if they have elderly parents they can't rely on getting lifts which means they miss out.

"We have about three volunteers leaving and we need to replace them. We will manage with what we have, but ideally we need around 10 volunteers so everyone gets a break."

The club, which meets on Tuesday evenings at Evesham Day Centre on Davies Road from 7pm until 9pm, has been running for more than 20 years offering day trips and activities comprising of art, craft, puzzles, creative skills, outings and sporting activities.

"Volunteering would include helping with the club's activities and mucking in wherever help is needed, we do it on a rota basis so everyone gets a break," added Annette.

"So many other charities get help from the community and rightly so, but as a result we seem to miss out. We just need two or three volunteers and yet we are having difficulties finding them.

"Our members would not be able to attend the club if the minibus service did not exist, therefore we rely on a team of volunteer drivers to provide this valuable facility."

If anyone is interested in helping out, volunteers are asked to contact Annette Pearson on 01386 871550.