History

East Grinstead CVS

East Grinstead CVS was formally established on June 25th, 1993. It developed from the East Grinstead Care Forum, a long-established, informal network of local organisations meeting regularly at East Court.

In 1992, the idea of forming a Council for Voluntary Service started to become a reality with the support of Scott Paper, whose main UK Office was then in the town, and East Grinstead Town Council. A tiny office was opened in East Court Mansion and a move to The Old Court House took place the following year.  East Grinstead CVS offered networking opportunities for local voluntary and community groups and gradually expanded its services.

East Grinstead Volunteer Centre 

East Grinstead Volunteer Bureau was set up in East Grinstead CVS in 2006 after Mid Sussex Volunteering closed.  In 2008, it gained a 5 year Service Funding Agreement with West Sussex County Council, Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex PCT as part of a countywide volunteering service, and was renamed East Grinstead Volunteer Centre.

EGFLEET (part of East Grinstead CVS until October 2010)

On 21st October 1991 a draft document, proposing the setting-up of a minibus project, suggested the name "Community Wheels" for it. However, an alternative name, "EGBUS", was pencilled in on the document by Roy Sutton, a member of the Working Group.

A public meeting was called in 1993, and the project was established with the name EGBUS, a contraction of East Grinstead miniBUS. EGBUS was acquired a year later and launched at a public ceremony on 5th March 1994.

As the EGBUS service became well established, the Committee decided to diversify. In February 1995 a Working Group was set up to run what was then called a "Wheelchair Accessible Car", provided by West Sussex County Council. This was named EGDART, a contraction of: East Grinstead Dial-A-Ride Transport. It was launched on 29th April 1995.

The present EGBUS is the second vehicle to have been given that name, and the latest EGDART is the fourth such car.

The most recent vehicle to be named was the nine-seater minibus, a converted Peugeot Boxer. This time we owe it to Lindsay Bangs, an ardent participant in the life of the transport orgnisation, to have proposed the name EGBOXER.

Finally, what more appropriate name to give the whole collection than EGFLEET.