Hurstpierpoint village support group to close this month

The group, which was set up at the beginning of March, was the result of a Facebook post from Prue Heron and planning from fellow administrator Hazel Constantine and four area coordinators – and they still have not all met as a group.

Hazel said: “We had to work out how we could manage the village without it being too onerous on one person.

“Prue put a post on Hurstpierpoint Hub asking what old, vulnerable and shielding people would do during lockdown.

“It had quite a massive response with people saying they’d help if something was set up.

“Prue then asked for people to kick it off the ground.

“None of us knew her before or knew each other, and we all met over Zoom, which was the first such meeting for some of us.

“We’re all very social media savvy, as were the volunteers to a certain extent, but a lot of people who need our help aren’t so we leafletted the whole village and had road reps.

“It’s hard to remember what it was like at the start of lockdown but we were all quite frightened and the high street was considered quite a dangerous place to go.

“Standing in the queue for the pharmacy was a big deal but volunteers did it because there were people that needed their help.

“People were making calls to the elderly which was really appreciated to check on them every day – and for people to have someone in the village checking on them means the world.

“Hopefully some of those friendships will last as well.

“It was set up for a specific purpose, and as of the end of August it will cease to be.

“However, if we had another lockdown, we would reinstate it.”