David Ruffley participated in national Volunteers' Week on Saturday, 7 June to celebrate and support the work of volunteers in his Bury St Edmunds constituency.

David was outside the Council Offices on Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds at 1.00 p.m. on Saturday, 7 June to promote the local Dial-a-Ride Service and to encourage more drivers to volunteer their services. The local Dial-a-Ride minibus (white with green livery) was parked in the Council's Offices car park on Angel Hill. The event was arranged by Hazel Pidsley, manager of the Bury St Edmunds Volunteer Centre. Representatives of the West Suffolk Voluntary Association for the Blind, of which David Ruffley is Patron, were also in attendance.

The local focus for this national Volunteers' Week was to encourage more volunteers to offer their time as drivers (in their own cars) to enable disabled people to attend appointments, do their shopping and generally get out and about to places that would otherwise be inaccessible to them.

David said: 'We have a great number of very dedicated volunteers from all walks of life in Suffolk but we need to encourage more people to come forward to enable our local charitable organisations to provide an even better service. Even an hour or two occasionally is welcomed by local groups. Volunteering is a rewarding activity and does not have to take up much time. But every minute of the volunteer's time is greatly appreciated by people in receipt of this help.

The Bury St Edmunds Volunteer Centre at 86 Whiting Street co-ordinates volunteers in the area. Anyone wishing to volunteer to help should contact Hazel Pidsley on 01284 766126. She will be delighted to hear from you.'