A LOCAL community volunteer help service set up to aid those struggling throughout lockdown has been put on hold as restrictions on daily life ease and a sense of normality returns.

Created by Helensburgh resident Angela Fleming with a few friends, Helping Helensburgh was ready to help any local that needed it.

Group volunteer, Tamara Brown-Milberg, told the Advertiser: “There were initially five people at the beginning of ‘Helping Helensburgh’ but once the initial flurry passed there were three who ran the Facebook page and group: Angela Fleming, myself and Val Reynard from The Toy Shop who answered all the telephone messages and shared them with the Facebook page and group.

“Right from the very beginning the response can only be described as ‘phenomenal’.”

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Over lockdown, the group was busy doing anything they could to keep locals up to date on the virus by posting regular updates with information on what to do about financial concerns, where to get specific items of need and posting morale boosting reminders that we are all in the throes of the pandemic together, and not alone.

Helping Helensburgh also set up a telephone befriending service for those feeling lonely.

“There are so many good memories but the overwhelming memory is seeing the community come together,” Tamara continued.

“It was amazing to see so many willing and offering to help each day.

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"Every time a request came in there was always someone or several people offering to help and that is something we will never forget.

“We want to take this opportunity to give an enormous thank you to every member of this lovely community.

"A special thanks has to be said to everyone who volunteered their time to help a neighbour or stranger in need, always going above and beyond in the spirit of helping each other.

“Each and every person contributed to making lockdown less stressful for so many people and it has been an incredibly humbling experience to play a small role in coordinating this.”

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