An Andover charity has paid tribute to the unsung heroes of the pandemic as services begin to ramp up once again.

Neighbourcare, based at the top of Union Street, paid tribute to volunteers, fundraisers and supporters who helped get the charity through the pandemic. They particularly thanked long-serving volunteers who wouldn’t be able to return due to their health needs.

“Some of the older volunteers will not be returning but we appreciate every bit they did,” said Pam Delderfield, the charity’s manager. “Some of them have been here for 25 years, and it’s a huge wrench for them not being here. Not being able to come back is a sad moment, especially for our 90-year-olds.”

Neighbourcare provides a variety of services to support the elderly and the less-able within the community, with a buddy system, transport provision and gardening among the many ways its staff work in the community.

The charity had a tough time during the pandemic, continuing to provide many of these services while seeing its income drop dramatically as its charity shops closed.

“We got a £300 Covid support grant, but it wasn’t enough,” Pam said. “I have to thank all the people who donated to us as like everyone else we had to find £30,000 in rent, as well as our other services.”

The shops reopened in April, with Pam telling the Advertiser at the time that they made “a huge difference” to their financial situation.

“We desperately needed the place to open to pay the rates,” she said.

The charity received support from a variety of organisations to help it weather Covid, including Anton Rotary, Pure Cremation, Andover Bridge Club and many others. Individuals also helped, from Ian Thurlow to Iris Andersen, to ensure the charity could keep going.

“I want to say a big thank you to all the helpers who have gone back to work,” Pam said. “We’ve had people from the armed forces, Hampshire County Council, Stannah and elsewhere coming forward to help us.”

This includes in services such as their buddy system, where volunteers called up to 700 people at the height of the pandemic.

To keep these services going, Neighbourcare has appealed for more volunteers to help it provide its services. If you are interested in finding out more, visit: https://andoverneighbourcare.co.uk/