A LIFELINE volunteer service that helps elderly and disabled people is up for a national charity award.

Community Action Malvern and District, based at Belle Vue Terrace, has been helping residents to get out and about since the 1970s.

It is one of 35 charities short-listed from more than 450 entries for The Guardian Charity Awards 2009, to be decided in December. If it wins, the charity would receive £1,000, a new computer and a media consultation.

The vital service runs a pick-up and drop-off car service, shopping trips and has a minibus for hire to Malvern Hills voluntary and charity groups. More than 40 volunteer drivers give up their time – and their cars, to take people in the Malvern area to and from hospital appointments, even as far as New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton. There are more than 100 volunteers in total, and eight staff. They also have one of just a handful of wheelchair access hire cars in Malvern. The car was recently used by a disabled service user for a wedding.

Jacci Phillips, community action manager, said being shortlisted was reward for the hard work of the charity’s volunteers.

“Everyone starts early and never goes home on time,” she said. The minibus co-ordinator drives it around on his day off.”

She is hoping for a win so the charity can boost its weekend services for the elderly. “The money would go to run more Sunday outings for elderly people,” she said. “In the week, they are catered for by existing services like Age Concern but that stops on Sundays.

“We want to start taking them to afternoon tea or to church.”

Six winners will be chosen from the shortlist by a judging panel including Prime Minister’s wife Sarah Brown and celebrity cook Jane Asher.

David Brindle, panel chairman, said: “Yet again we have been overwhelmed by the number and quality of entries for The Guardian charity awards. Selecting winners will be a hugely difficult task.”