Driving Miss Daisy Barnstaple to close

A transportation and companionship service in Barnstaple, designed to support all individuals, especially those who are vulnerable and need assistance to remain independent, will be closing at the end of this year.

Driving Miss Daisy Barnstaple, run by local franchise owners Mark and Sharon, has announced that it will end its service after seven years of supporting the community. 

The service has provided safe, reliable transport for vulnerable individuals, helping them stay independent.

With three wheelchair-accessible vehicles, Driving Miss Daisy has helped clients reach essential appointments, family events, and take part in day trips, all while working closely with North Devon Council, Devon County Council, the North Devon District Hospital, and local care facilities. 

Throughout the COVID pandemic, the service continued to run, helping clients with shopping and medical appointments.

Reflecting on their time running the franchise, Mark and Sharon said: “Although we are sad to be moving on, we feel the time is right for us to hang up our Daisy Keys. Taking advice from many of our clients, we are going enjoy some travelling and see what new experiences the future holds.

“If we could go back in time to June 2018 when we started, we would do exactly the same again in a heartbeat. We have met so many wonderful people, some who have sadly passed on, and are so fortunate to have helped so many clients and their families. We would just like to thank everyone who has made this journey so special, especially Daisy Sam and all our regular clients past and present.”

Anyone interested in carrying on this work is encouraged to contact the Client Services team at Head Office in Portsmouth at 0333 014 6211 or email franchise.recruitment@drivingmissdaisy.co.uk.