Haywards Heath, Hurstpierpoint and Horsted Keynes mutual aid groups joint winners at Mid Sussex Applauds

The winners were announced in November last year, and the video has been made to replace the usual awards ceremony.

Mid Sussex Applauds seeks to recognise those who go above and beyond in their efforts for our community.

The Stronger Communities joint winners are Haywards Heath Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group, Horsted Helpers and Hurstpierpoint Covid-19 Neighbours Support Group.

Haywards Heath Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group was set up in early March 2020 prior to lockdown.

At its peak it had more than 650 volunteers registered.

Since the group started taking requests in March, they have helped over 1000 households, through a designated phone line, with shopping, click and collect pick-ups, picking up prescriptions and so many other small jobs that their vulnerable or self-isolating neighbours were unable to do themselves.

Within a week of setting up the Horsted Helpers Facebook group in March more than 90 villagers had signed up to help.

Horsted Helpers formed 4 area delivery groups for food and supplies; an emotional support group; a key worker baking group; and a pharmacy group.

During lockdown over 200 deliveries of shopping and medication were made in addition to the many existing support arrangements of villagers already supporting vulnerable neighbours.

They also carried out phone, window and garden chats to help keep spirits up of those shielding; personal possessions taken to people in hospital; food bank collections set up; calls made to reassure relatives unable to visit elderly parishioners; snacks and supplies collected for staff at the Princess Royal Hospital; craft kits delivered to shielding families; weekly cakes whipped up for the crew at the local Residential Care Home and a virtual quiz set up to replace the fortnightly pub social event which has raised more than £1,300 for charity.

The Hurstpierpoint Covid-19 Neighbours support group was formed in March at the start of the pandemic.

It was set up to bring together Hurst residents to help and support their neighbours who were vulnerable or self-isolating during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Volunteers distributed fliers across the village with their contact details, and posters were displayed in all public areas in the village.

They ensured that every street was being covered and looked after.

Volunteers offered to collect shopping and prescriptions, walk dogs, post mail or be available for a friendly chat over the phone.

In total there were 32 road group representatives involved in the day to day running supported by 100 wonderful volunteers.

To see what Councillor Colin Trumble has to say about the groups, watch the video above.