Thousands of people in Bristol couldn't go shopping, to bingo, or on trips to the seaside if it wasn't for the volunteer drivers at Bristol Community Transport (BCT) – and now the service itself needs help.

BCT operates a fleet of 28 minibuses from its base in Easton, and helps community groups and not-for-profit organisations such as church groups, youth groups, elderly people's homes and care homes across the city.

For a small fee, an elderly people's group can have access to a minibus and driver at any time of the day or night.

Often local groups cannot afford to buy, insure and run their own minibus.

Due to a growth in demand for BCT's services, another 20 drivers are urgently needed.

During 2008/09, BCT vehicles carried more than 220,000 passengers, and travelled more than 170,000 miles – 16 times the distance to Australia.

BCT chief executive Jan Jones said: "We've seen a phenomenal growth in the demand for our services recently. As a consequence we're looking for more volunteers to drive our minibuses. With the wide variety of journeys we undertake, we need volunteers to offer their services in the day as well as evenings and weekends."

Dave Thomson, 67, of Knowle, has been a volunteer driver for 12 years. He told the Evening Post: "Some days I work seven days a week. I find it amazing meeting different people and visiting different places.

"I had cancer three years ago and my boss was fantastically supportive. I had 13 operations to rebuild my nose, and everyone here was like a family to me."

Mr Thomson, who was a driver for British Gas for more than 21 years, added: "At my age I wouldn't be able to get a job anywhere else. I would encourage people to get involved. We have a good laugh."

Grandfather Martyn Fudge, 61, of Willsbridge, has also been working for BCT for 12 years. He said: "I started off as a volunteer and after two years I became a paid employee. My mother influenced me to do something like this. She always enjoyed going to day centres, and, by providing this service, we take other elderly people to places they enjoy."

He said: "Before this job I was on the dole for 12 or 13 years. I had no social life at all. But being here now is great."

Grandfather-of-two Les Spicer, 73, of Easton, has been volunteering for a year. He said: "I was bored being at home. I retired years ago as a long-distance lorry driver. I wanted to do something again."

Minibuses in the fleet range from 11-seaters to 16-seaters, and most have been adapted to carry wheelchair passengers.

BCT development officer Philip Bird said: "Many of our member groups wouldn't be able to operate without BCT's central pool of volunteer drivers."

Stella Hender, secretary of the WASP Estate Improvements Committee, said: "We are very impressed with, and grateful for, the service operated by Bristol Community Transport.

"They provide a crucial service enabling our members to go shopping, because many of them cannot walk as far as the shops, or carry shopping any distance. It is also a social day for some people who would otherwise be isolated, as they have no warden, or community facilities on their estate. "

Full training is provided. For more information, call 902 0157, email office@bristolcommunitytransport.org.uk, or go to www.bristolcommunitytransport.org.uk.