Tania takes over '“ but it's going to be tough

Tania Gregory has taken over in charge of Sammy Community Transport at a critical time in its history.

Costs are rising for the charity's eight vehicles at the same time as funding is becoming harder to find. It costs some 60,000 a year to keep the five minibuses and three adapted vans on the road.

The task of continuing to raise that money is one of Tania's main concerns.

She said: "Everyone is tightening their belts. I've got a stack of application forms to foundations and other organisations who might have grants available as well as planning to keep on asking the likes of Arun District Council to support us.

"I'm also looking to use various fundraising options, at events like Sands of Time, to bring in some money and raise the profile of Sammy."

Outgoing manager Peter Wells said: "A lot of people make promises about funding but their actions don't match their words.

"Working for Sammy has been very rewarding, knowing I have been helping people, but I do fear for the future.

"Like a lot of organisations, Sammy is facing a lack of funds.

"I feel very aggrieved the care in the community which everyone is talking about is not being monitored properly.

"A lot of people are not being cared for in the community. It's organisations such as Sammy which have to make good the holes that are left in the caring network without the proper funding."

He had been manager for ten years when he handed over the position to Tania in early 2008.

He is still mentoring her for one day a week until the end of March to enable a smooth transition.

Lancing resident Tania (30) has arrived at Sammy's offices inside the Staffurth and Bray building in York Road through a career in the voluntary sector.

She began as a care assistant at the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home at Worthing and moved on to become a senior instructor at Worthing Scope.

"I am really enjoying the new challenge of being at Sammy," she explained. "No two days have yet been the same. We are an invaluable service to the people who use us."

Sammy has 44 volunteer drivers who transported more than 10,000 passengers in the last full year to destinations such as hospitals, surgeries, social clubs and social outings.

But the support of local councils is vital for that work to continue.

Mr Wells added: "We have been in existence for over 40 years and it would be nice if Arun District Council asked St Modwen to create a space for us and our vehicles in the regenerated town centre."