Caremark Thanet Get Free Driving Lessons

An award-winning driving school is joining forces with Caremark Thanet, Dover & Canterbury, Sandford Hodges Health, Safety and Environmental Consultants and Thanet Premier Business Group to provide free driving lessons to thank Key Workers in Thanet.

Community Driving School CIC (CDS), the UKs first “Not-For-Profit” driving school has partnered with a local care provider and a group of local small businesses.

Government restrictions mean that driving lessons can only be given to key workers at the present time in order for them to continue to provide vital services within the community.

CDS Chief Executive, founder and director of the Herne Bay based driving school, John Nicholson, wanted to give something back to let these vital care workers know how grateful he is for what they do.

He is a member of Thanet Premier Business Group, a networking group for isle- based small business owners and he spoke of his desire to do something for the care workers.

The group and John discussed that if they would cover his fuel costs, he would provide the lessons for free to these crucial workers at this time of national crisis.

Recognising the hard work and dedication the workers at Caremark Thanet provide some of the most vulnerable people in our community, they came together to write a suitable assessment to protect the care worker and the driving instructor.

This COVID-19 risk assessment is the first of its kind to be produced as far as the group are aware.

They then approached their MP Sir Roger Gale to ensure they had covered everything before starting this initiative and he confirmed that this could go ahead following confirmation from the relevant ministerial department.

Pete Simpson and Martin Hoare, two directors of Thanet Premier Business Group, said: “As a group of local businesses, Thanet Premier Business Group have always supported each other in every way that we can, which in turn helps the Community, by keeping the local economy strong and, that support is even more important now, with everything that is going on.

“When we heard that one of our members, John Nicholson of Community Driving School, was helping out another of our members Garry Costain of Caremark (Thanet), by giving free driving lessons to a number of carers who work for Caremark (Thanet), which will enable these hard working carers to go out and help the local people in our community and give them the care, help and assistance they desperately need, we decided that we, in turn as a group, will do our bit in helping with this, by helping with the costs.”

Jenny Sandford, of Sandford Hodges, said: “I have been an avid fan of John and his work with Community Driving School for quite some time. Community Driving School does not just teach people to drive, but also equips them with life skills and the ability to create a better life."

“When I learned of John’s desire to assist key workers with free driving lessons, I was only too happy to help. To be able to support an organisation that gives so much to the community, and ensure they could deliver their services safely is of paramount importance. Giving key workers the ability to drive allows them to safely commute to their places of work no matter the time of day. “

Garry Costain, of Caremark, said: “I’ve known John for a few years. The work he does with the Community Driving School is truly inspirational: it changes lives.

"Caremark Thanet, Dover and Canterbury is a community engaged organisation. What John does resonates deeply with me and many others in the business. I’ve been a member of the Thanet Premier Business Group since 2012, so the generous initiative from John and the group to provide driving lessons for our non-driving carers is appreciated enormously by me.

"I know a few others have been involved in bringing this about, so from me a very big thank you to you all. And from me, on behalf of those who will benefit from the initiative, thank you, this will change lives.”

Community Driving School boss John said: “Community Driving School CIC is incredibly proud to belong to such a fantastic and community minded group of businesses and they all deserve recognition. Without the support of so many small businesses and the people involved we would have not been able to do this. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our MP for his support and encouragement.

"Everybody involved in this initiative believes in community first and I for one, want to say thank you to all key workers for whom we at CDS are offering a 10% discount on all driving lessons for life.”

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