The Whitehill & Bordon Covid Resilience Group has extended a huge thank you towards Bordon Buddies, a volunteer group that offered help and support during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Bordon Buddies service has paused as of September 1, after months of volunteers giving up their own valuable free time to support vulnerable people in their community.
In their own time and for no payment, the volunteers helped vulnerable people and those self-isolating with shopping trips. AJL Cars, working alongside Bordon Buddies, delivered over 1200 prescriptions for free in the area.
The Covid Resilience Group was formed at the beginning of the pandemic and consisted of key groups and organisations that were already part of the Whitehill & Bordon Healthy New Town Partnership.
This group was a central place to share the details of new and adapted services from each organisation and identify any potential gaps, in order to support the community through the pandemic. Bordon Buddies filled a huge gap in the help available, operating throughout the peak of lockdown and into the summer.
Although the service has now stopped, it will be able to re-start at short notice, should there be another national or local lockdown.
Chair of the Covid Resilience Group and Community Development Officer at Community First, Richard Setford said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved with Bordon Buddies for their incredibly hard work and diligence during the coronavirus crises.
“Their dedication and organisational skills were a true reflection of the amazing community spirit that they helped to grow even more. I don’t mind admitting that I learnt a few things from them over the time that they were running.”
Cllr Julie Butler, East Hampshire District Council Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Communities said: “Community volunteer groups have been a lifeline for people all across the country during the pandemic, and Bordon Buddies has been a perfect example of this.
“We’d like to thank every single person who selflessly chose to help others during such a difficult time.”
Should you or someone you know still need assistance going forward, you can contact the HantsHelp4Vulnerable helpline on 0333 370 4000.
The helpline operates Monday to Thursday, 9am – 5pm and Friday, 9am – 4:30pm.