The Driving Force takes anyone who has cancer and is registered with a GP in Bonnybridge, Denny or Banknock to hospital appointments for FREE.
News and Events
Volunteer Friendly Award
24 Oct 2024The Driving Force is very pleased and proud to have been awarded a Volunteer Friendly Award by Volunteer Scotland. The committee have reviewed all areas of the work we do which involve volunteers and have tried hard to make all our policies and procedures the very best they can be so that our volunteers have a really rewarding and safe experience. Volunteer Scotland praised our ‘great work’ and said ‘It’s clear to see that volunteers are very well integrated within the organisation and that they are thought of and looked after. It’s great to see so much good practice within your volunteering programme.’ Our volunteers told Volunteer Scotland : ‘Working with The Driving Force has met all my expectations. A very good charity, well run with no problems’ ‘I feel privileged to volunteer with this organization. The people I met are so friendly and helpful in every way. I look forward to volunteering for a long time’ If you would like to join our team as a driver, coordinator, fundraiser or helper please contact us via bdthedrivingforce@gmail.com or phone your GP reception in Bonnybridge, Denny or Banknock and leave a message for our coordinator.
Event: Race Night
Many thanks to everyone involved in the amazingly successful race night on 13th September; we raised the fantastic total of 2016.50!!! Particular thanks to Jean who organised it, Tony who was the very enthusiastic compere, Sheena who provided and donated a delicious buffet and Bonnybridge golf club who let us use their wonderful venue free of charge. Thanks also to all the generous people who bought tickets, donated prizes, dug deep on the evening and just as importantly had fun! Our next fundraiser is going to be a grand prize draw in December. Keep your eyes peeled for details later in the year as to where you can buy tickets-we've got some fantastic prizes already.
Thanks to the Maintenance department at Falkirk council
24 Jul 2024Many thanks to Stuart Brown and all his colleagues, past and present, in the maintenance department at Falkirk council who have given us £627.47. For may years they have donated money every week to charitable causes. Their fund has now been wound up and they very kindly chose to give The Driving Force the remaining funds. The picture shows Bridget receiving the donation from Stuart.
Bonnybridge Bowling Club event
3 Jul 2024Many thanks to Mary and Cliff Kinloch and everyone at Bonnybridge Bowling Club. They organised a very successful game on the green which raised £202. The club have been very supportive to us over the years since we started.
Mindfulness course
18 Jun 2024The Driving Force is running a free mindfulness course later this year. These courses having been going for a few years and are very popular. People who have been on them have found them exceedingly helpful. The course helps to reduce feelings of stress, make people feel better mentally and help them sleep better. It enables people cope better with all areas of their life.
The course is for anyone who has, or has had cancer, and for their family members or close friends. We know that having cancer yourself, or having someone close to you living with cancer is very hard, and we want to help. Family members can attend by themselves if the person with cancer doesn't want to attend.
The sessions are on Mondays at Larbert library from 10.45-12.15 for 6 weeks from 12th September to 24th October inclusive. The room is open from 15 minutes before the start time so the course can start promptly.
Transport can be provided if needed
The courses have received very good reviews from the people who have attended them:
"The handouts and CD fantastic. Personally found motivation practice helpful to disengage me from emotionally upsetting places being mindful and fully connected to the present."
"I found the camaraderie of the group helpful in that we are all experiencing similar circumstances."
"Everyone I met/talked to all had one thing in common and that we are all stressed and worried but you can’t change the past but definitely you can the future."
"I would definitely recommend the course to others. Training your mind to think positively and ‘be in the moment’ gives a sense of calm."
If people would like to attend they can contact us in the usual way-via our website or their GP reception
PLEASE MENTION THE COURSE TO ANYONE YOU THINK MAYBE INTERESTED
St Helen's Carols by Candlelight Concert
5 Feb 2024Many, many thanks to everyone who took part in the Carols by Candlelight Concert at Helen's which raised an amazing £ 800 for The Driving Force. The concert was a great success. The photograph shows some of the children from Antonine and Bonnybridge primary schools who took part.
Event: Sainsbury's collection
Many thanks to everyone who donated money at our collection on a snowy day in December. We now know we raised the amazing total to £348.43
Candlelight remembrance donation
1 Feb 2024Many thanks to Alexander Easton funeral directors and everyone who attended their candlelight remembrance event. The fabulous sum of £150 was raised for the Driving Force.
Event: Collection at Sainsburys Denny
Many thanks to Sainsburys in Denny for letting us collect at their Denny store on Saturday 2nd December. Snow was thick on the ground and it was distinctly chilly but the people were still very generous. We also got to chat to lots of people and tell them all about the services we provide and ask them to tell their friends and anyone they knew who might want to travel with us or use our free hairdressing, nail cutting, manicure or relaxation therapies. Please keep spreading the word that we're here to help and our with local people living with cancer every step of the way.
Event: Relaxation and mindfulness course.
The Driving Force are running a mindfulness course on Mondays from 10.30-12.30 for 6 weeks from 30th October to 4th December inclusive. (on 6th November it will be from 1.30-3.30)
It is for people living with cancer and for their family members. If your relative has cancer but doesn’t wish to attend you can come along without them. It helps people deal with stress, from any cause, and helps you sleep better and feel better in yourself. You don’t need to discuss your own problems unless you wish to.
It will take place at Larbert library and transport from our drivers is available if you need it.
The courses have received very good reviews from the people who have attended them.
"The handouts and CD fantastic. Personally found motivation practice helpful to disengage me from emotionally upsetting places being mindful and fully connected to the present."
"I found the camaraderie of the group helpful in that we are all experiencing similar circumstances."
"Everyone I met/talked to all had one thing in common and that we are all stressed and worried but you can’t change the past but definitely you can the future."
"I would definitely recommend the course to others. Training your mind to think positively and ‘be in the moment’ gives a sense of calm."
If you would like to attend or would like more information leave your name and number with your GP reception and our coordinator will call you back or use the book a drive button on our website www.bdthedrivingforce.org.uk
Are you living with cancer?
Anybody with cancer who is registered at either Bonnybridge, Banknock, Denny Cross, or Carronbank Health Centre can use our drivers to take them to and from hospital appointments and treatment sessions for cancer
Information for patientsWe need volunteers
Everyone involved in The Driving Force is a volunteer. Find out how you can get involved.
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