DURING the pandemic, Petersfield Voluntary Care Group had to adapt and change rapidly to meet the fast-changing restrictions of lockdown in its determination to continue helping the elderly, infirm, housebound and those living alone.

Formed in 1975, it recently became a registered charity based in Winton House in Petersfield High Street.

As well as helping people in the town, it also covers the surrounding villages, organised by a dedicated coordinator in Froxfield.

Before the first lockdown last March more than 20 volunteers, mostly retired, using their own cars, ferried local people to medical appointments at surgeries, hospitals, ophthalmologists and dentists, and fetched weekly shopping for the housebound, charging just the cost of their fuel.

Chairman Alison Gauld said: “When the pandemic stuck and lockdown was introduced, like many we wanted to do our bit to help the NHS and our local community.

“But at that time, most drivers were over 70 and not allowed to drive, being in the critically vulnerable category by virtue of their age, so we were very short of available drivers.

“By April 2020, a month after lockdown began, we were down to about seven drivers.

“But despite that, we started a project delivering around 16 prescriptions a day for Day Lewis Pharmacy in Petersfield.

“We did that for six days a week for nearly 100 days from after last Easter until the end of July.

“Recipients were so grateful for this extra service and our drivers loved doing it.

“And it helped to cut down the long queues in the pharmacy and therefore the risk of transmission and saved the NHS having to reimburse the pharmacy for delivery costs.”

In total, 1,472 prescriptions were delivered in the town and its surrounding villages.

The drive saw most volunteers averaging about 15 or 16 miles each day, with many donating the cost of their fuel.

And the team also needed to come to terms with online conferencing and had to learn quickly on the job.

Alison added: “Most of the committee and trustees are in their 70s, so the IT was quite a feat too.

“We also telephoned some of our clients who were living on their own, to keep in touch.

“But now, thankfully, we are back to 27 drivers of passengers, and eight shoppers and prescription fetchers.

“Also there are still some students who have returned to university but volunteer in their vacations.

“We also have 23 drivers out of action who we hope will soon be able to return – we really do have some wonderful people.”

But to get to where the charity is now, a tremendous amount of admin needed to be completed during the past year.

Alison said: “All our volunteer drivers who take passengers have to have an enhanced DBS check for adults. That can be done online, but those recruited just for shopping and prescription collections do not need to be checked.

“And since last August, any drivers over 70 had to be risk assessed.

“This was to be quite sure they had taken into consideration all risks associated with driving passengers during the pandemic and before vaccinations became available. Later those drivers over 60 were also regarded as critically vulnerable and needed risk assessments too.

“Over the year we have recruited 26 new volunteer drivers, a safeguarding officer and a webmaster.”

And an updated application form and volunteer welcome pack are now on the charity’s new website.

In accordance with Charity Commission guidance, each potential volunteer now needs two references. The charity also has a new email address and website.

And as if all that wasn’t enough, during the past year volunteers started compiling a history of the charity.

Alison added: “During the lockdown we researched our history and started a scrapbook with photos, newspaper cuttings, reports and records going back to 1975, which I would like to make available once we are allowed, possibly at the new Petersfield Museum.

“Petersfield is a wonderful place to live, and has really pulled together during this pandemic producing many new volunteers.

“And we managed because we all believe in what we are doing and we help each other, so the Petersfield Voluntary Care Group has been able to give a little back to those in need.”

For more information about volunteering with the charity – whose slogan is Giving Petersfield a Lift – or accessing its help, visit the website at https://www.pvcg.org.uk or send an email to

[email protected] or call 01730 266046.