Vale Community Impact

In the Vale for the Vale

Vale Community Impact (VCI), previously known as the Wantage Independent Advice Centre, gives free independent advice on debt, benefits, employment rights, consumer rights and much more. Its volunteer drivers take clients to medical appointments and day centres, and its Good Neighbour volunteers befriend people who are lonely or isolated.

VCI was founded in 1971 by a small group of volunteers giving information and advice from a small office in Wantage Market Place, when it was called the Community Information Centre. It began using the name Vale Community Impact in April 2021. It has 155 volunteers, including 40 volunteer drivers and 48 volunteer Good Neighbours, and received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2008.

VCI is the trading name of Wantage Independent Advice Centre, a charitable incorporated organisation (registered charity number 1161144). It is a member of AdviceUK and is licensed for debt advice by the Financial Conduct Authority (689838). Its volunteer trustees form the Management Committee, chaired by Graham Beith, and include representatives nominated by local councils. The Vale of White Horse District Council and Oxfordshire County Council are its key funders, with grants from Wantage and Faringdon Town Councils, Grove and other parish councils.

Find VCI at 16 Market Place, Wantage, OX12 8AE: head for the lane beside the Royal Mail sorting office in the Market Place. Phone 01235 765348 or email help@vci.org.uk.

About the transport scheme

There is a charge for each journey, and you must call to book in advance. Typical fares at May 2022 prices were £11 from Letcombe Regis to Wantage's Mably Way surgery and £40 from Faringdon to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital; a small part of the charge covers the scheme's administration. Around a quarter of drives are to the Oxford hospitals.

• For hospital trips the driver will normally wait up to three hours. Longer trips, such as day surgery, are charged as two trips.
• If you receive Income Support or Pension Credit Guarantee, VCI may be able to claim the cost of an Oxford hospital journey directly from the hospital.
• VCI has its own wheelchairs for getting to and from the car. The transport page says drivers cannot take a client who needs to stay in a wheelchair for the journey, but VCI launched a wheelchair accessible vehicle in 2026, funded by a Motability Foundation grant, so ask when you book.

Call 01235 765348 or email transport@vci.org.uk to book.

About the Good Neighbour scheme

One of VCI's co-ordinators visits you at home for an initial assessment, then matches you with the most suitable volunteer. Referrals can come from the person themselves, a family member, friend, medical professional or another agency; where appropriate, the person should know a referral is being made. In 2023 the scheme gave more than 4,100 consultations, including 2,074 home befriending visits, supporting 323 different clients.

Call 01235 765348 or email gns@vci.org.uk.

Volunteer with VCI

VCI is looking for volunteers to join a caring, valued and happy team:

• Debt advisers: help clients get a clear picture of their finances, check benefit entitlement and negotiate with creditors.
• Generalist advisers: help with benefits, housing, relationship matters, employment and consumer questions, take transport bookings and arrange appointments with specialists such as the solicitors at VCI's legal surgeries. Advisers give two sessions a week (morning or afternoon), receive full training and mentoring, and need references.
• Good Neighbours: befriend a lonely person or help with admin. Time given is flexible.
• Drivers: use your own car to take clients to the Wantage and Grove Day Centres, the October Club, Faringdon Day Centre and medical appointments. Petrol costs could be reimbursed at 45p a mile, and time given is flexible. VCI would particularly welcome drivers from Faringdon and nearby villages.

Good Neighbours and drivers need a DBS check, which VCI arranges and pays for, and a reference. To apply, use the online application form, call 01235 765348 and ask for Kathy, or email recruitment@vci.org.uk.