How kindness and community spirit has kept Gosport going throughout the pandemic

Community spirit has shone through in Gosport since the first lockdown in March 2020, with thousands of food parcels, packed lunches and sets of scrubs handed out to those most in need of help.

Increased financial pressure during the pandemic has pushed more and more people in the borough into situations they have never experienced.

Across Hampshire, 35,839 children were living in relative low income households in 2018/19, a measure of poverty which compares against the rest of the population.

In August 2020, 5,321 people in Gosport were on Universal Credit, which had increased from 2,923 in March as people began to lose significant amounts of income.

Through the darkness and hardship, volunteers have been the guiding light for residents, helping provide comfort and ease the strain.

Jacobs Well has been providing free food to those who need it in the borough for the past eight years, and has really stepped up during the pandemic.

Lorraine Pottinger, who took over the charity from her parents, said: ‘During the pandemic we have totally changed the way we do things including building a much bigger space to accommodate the amount of food needed.

‘Many long hours were spent getting the building ready plus packing parcels with a very small family team, no more than five.’

With more than 100 families being served by the charity’s store cupboard each week, Lorraine added: ‘Gosport is an amazing place to live and when it is needed the people pull together to support each other, this makes me so proud to see.’

Jacobs Well is part of the Gosport Food Partnership, which also includes Gosport Borough Football Club’s Feed a Family initiative.

The scheme was thought up by club chairman Iain McInnes, and clubhouse manager Keith Slater has taken on the responsibility of co-ordinating the efforts.

SEE ALSO: Fareham business Protec Technical Ltd donates £750 to stop children going hungry this half-term

Keith, 49, said: ‘We’re blessed with space at the football club and a great network of volunteers.

‘They’re the real heroes. They go out totally unselfishly and deliver to anywhere on our route with a smile on their face.

‘It’s brought a community together, being involved in it is a humbling experience.

‘One of the things you learn straight away is never judge people at face value. The virus is classless, it affects everybody regardless of who you are.’

In times of extreme hardship, new organisations must step up to the plate to help with needs which previously did not exist.

Lin Gell set up a team of hardworking volunteers who sewed thousands of sets of scrubs for key workers, some of whom had never had to wear protective clothing before.

She said: ‘I think that in Gosport the community spirit has really shone through during this pandemic.

‘Being a Gosport girl myself I really wanted to help people that were not so fortunate, I’m so pleased we have been able to make a difference.’

READ NEXT: Marcus Rashford praises young Jacob's Well volunteer, 11, for charity work feeding children of Gosport

Benefits from working together throughout this time haven't just been for service users, volunteers have also gained a great sense of community and wellbeing.

From March 22 to Jan 31, Gosport Voluntary Action volunteers completed 12,200 tasks and helped 623 households.

During the busiest times, they were providing 120 shopping trips a week, 300 phone calls a week and 35 prescription collections per week.

Sue Geary, a volunteer with Gosport Voluntary Action, said: ‘I particularly enjoy the interaction with people on their doorstep and the look on people’s faces when they open the door and see me and a smile erupts on their faces.

‘They are pleased to see me and these moments brighten my day as well.’

One resident from Alverstoke, who has been supported by the charity, said of her usual volunteer: ‘He has proven to be such a treasure, not only carrying out his duties but so bright, cheerful and happy it has made a world of difference to us. He has made us feel a great deal more positive about the future.’

From delivery drivers to pickers and packers to admin staff to call takers, more than 200 volunteers have been involved with Acts of Kindness over the past year.

Kerry Snuggs, who founded the charity, said: ‘I feel that AOK Community has no boundaries and this pandemic has shown this.

‘From one hour a week to those who regularly come in each week, we have appreciated the support to the community from those who have given time.’

Aside from physical volunteers, a whole community of kind people helps out whenever they can thanks to the power of social media.

SEE MORE: Warsash gran who helped stitch thousands of masks and protective clothes for health workers is honoured

Within minutes of Kerry and her team putting a plea out on Facebook for help with specific items or furniture, she will be inundated with generous offers from people across the area.

Kerry said: ‘To this day, after six years of Acts of Kindness, we are still astounded at the swift response from the community when we post on Facebook.

‘Community spirit is very much alive and shows that when Facebook is used positively that we can make a difference in communities.’

One kind community worker has gained more than most thanks to her dedication to the public throughout the pandemic.

Rachel Webber, community champion at Asda in Gosport, was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year Honours list for services to the economy.

Rachel has been working with the borough’s community for years to make sure groups are supported through the Asda Foundation and her own hard work fundraising.

From customers and colleagues filling trolley after trolley for food back, to donations of care packages and hygiene products, Rachel has worked hard to get items to those in need.

SEE NEXT: Families in Gosport set for festive boost as Gosport Borough FC volunteers deliver hampers to households in need

Alongside this, Rachel has teamed up with Heidi Ford, her counterpart from Asda in Fareham, to deliver Zoom sessions for people to network, have fun and stay connected.

Rachel said: ‘I am really proud of what we as a town achieved in 2020 and how we have all come together when we needed each other the most.

‘I’m really fortunate that I get to do a job that I love and I’m really passionate about.

‘When Gosport came calling we all answered the call and our community is stronger for it.

‘It is a year that has been really challenging for us all. I'm really proud to be part of our wonderful, friendly little town.’

All this kindness shown in some of the hardest times for many people in Gosport has left plenty of people feeling positive about the future.

Lorraine, from Jacobs Well, said: ‘Overriding all of the things we have been doing this past year is immense gratitude to the many who have reached out through us to offer kindness to others.

‘As long as we all keep this in our hearts we can get through anything.’

Key organisations and their contributions

Lin Gell, Team Scrubbers

Sewers across the area have created and distributed more than 14,000 sets of scrubs through the Team Scrubbers network.

At the height of the efforts, there were more than 40 people sewing in Gosport, and the proceeds from masks raised £6,000 for Crisis Food Gosport.

Lorraine Pottinger, Jacobs Well

From March 2020 until August, the team at Jacobs Well delivered 3,800 parcels with seven days’ worth of meals.

In October half term they stepped up to deliver more than 350 packed lunches for families, and at Christmas around 250 hampers were given to the struggling families on their books.

Keith Slater, Gosport Borough Feed a Family

Since March last year, the team at the football club has delivered more than 5,000 food parcels and continues to feed around 120 families each week.

More than 4,000 fruit and veg bags have been given out, and a team of 50 volunteers was brought together at the height of the pandemic.

Kerry Snuggs, Acts of Kindness

During this pandemic, the charity has fed 6,535 people across Gosport and Fareham.

More than 200 volunteers have stepped up to help during this time.

Rachel Webber, Gosport Asda

From September to December, customers donated on average two and half trolleys full of food per week.

The Asda Foundation has provided grants throughout the pandemic, with Rachel able to help schools and organisations through this.

Each store has been able to donate more than £12,000 to help the community.