FISH - About Us

The FISH Volunteer Centre is a registered charity (charity number 1189325), run by volunteers providing a range of support services and community transport for those who are elderly, infirm or disabled within Sonning Common and all the surrounding villages. If you are outside our area of operation we have contact details of all other like organisations that can help

The charity has a Management Committee, and all members of the committee are Trustees and are responsible to the Charity Commission. FISH is also affiliated to the Oxfordshire Good Neighbours scheme and collaborated with other organisations in the area.

All volunteers are DBS checked.

Our network of volunteer drivers provides personal transport for all people in the Community for such things as doctor, hospital, and dental appointments as well as taking clients to visit family in care homes.

Our bespoke minibus (equipped with a wheelchair lift) is used for organised shopping trips every week and there are also leisure trips organised several times a month to places of interest which are socially very enjoyable.

We provide home visits for those who are unable to get out and may feel lonely and in need of company.

If you wish to give something back to the wonderful community that we live in please contact us.

The committee for 2023-24 is:

Richard McQuillan – Chairman
Helen Fitchett– Treasurer
Debbie Ashford – Minutes Secretary
Mary Norris – Office Co-ordinator
John Pearman – Bus Manager
Elizabeth Chandler
Malcolm Cooper-Smith
Rita Hadgkiss- Home Visiting co-ordinator
Sheila Maughan
Caroline Stockill
David Whitehead

Our History

Set up by local people in 1979 as the Good Neighbours Scheme, the organisation's aim was to help improve the lives of people living in Sonning Common and the six surrounding villages.

In 1984 the Scheme gained charitable status, and chose the name FISH - Friendship in Sickness and Health - something which summed up its key purpose.

In 2014, FISH moved from its small room in the Sonning Common Village Hall to the former Doctor's surgery premises at Springhill, Kennylands Road.

After 40 years of renting premises, the bold decision was made to raise funds to enable FISH to own a property and in early 2021 the charity completed the purchase of the former police station in Lea Road. This has been renovated to include an office, and a large room suitable for community bookings as well as a kitchen and accessable toilet.

Policies

Confidentiality Policy Data Protection Policy
Volunteer Agreement Volunteer Driver Policy Volunteering Policy Whistleblowing Policy Equality and Diversity Health and Safety Policy Safeguarding Policy

Finances

FISH is completely self-financing.

Our latest Accounts and Trustees Report can be viewed here:

Accounts

Trustees Report