Call-out for owners to loan their car to frontline workers in grass-roots fightback against COVID-19
Inspired by the efforts in the Leeds community, a company has launched a brand new, free community car share scheme to help move essential services around Leeds as the crisis intensifies.
Karshare aims to establish a fleet of 10,000 cars, on loan from members of the local community, to be used by charity workers, food bank and NHS volunteers, health workers and care workers, absolutely free of charge. Recently launched in Brighton, Bristol, London and Manchester, the scheme has seen over 520 people loan their cars to date.
- Local people are asked to donate their unused cars for a week
- The scheme will see them collected and cleaned
- The cars will be inspected for roadworthiness and fully insured by Karshare
- They will then be given to Leeds-based charities, NHS volunteers, food banks and frontline workers who can use them to keep essential goods and services moving in Leeds
- After a week they will be fully cleaned and returned to their owner
The first pairing of vehicle and driver has been made in Leeds. Carl Pick has pledged his van to Andy Morrell, a local man who is making PPE and will put the van to good use delivering this vital equipment and supplies to local care homes and GPs.
Karshare is the latest innovation from Car & Away which launched at Gatwick in 2017 and expanded to Bristol Airport last year, allowing passengers at the airport to rent out their vehicles whilst on holiday.
Karshare founder Andy Hibbert explained:
“Before the outbreak, we were already partnered with Gatwick and Bristol Airports and QBE Insurance where we ran a service renting out people’s cars when they go on holiday. We started thinking about how we could make a difference in the current situation and the principle is exactly the same.
“The average car lies unused for 96% of the time, even more so when offices and schools are shut. It seems like a waste when there are many charities and locals within the community that need transportation support right now.
“If you have a car you’re not going to need for the next week or two, we can put it to good use, doing good in the Leeds area.”
QBE Insurance Group is providing the insurance, the RAC is covering roadside assistance and The Assured Group is providing the cleaning of all cars.
For further information please visit www.karshare.com
