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prescriptions from the surgery to the housebound, and by driving residents to
hospital appointments as necessary. Latterly these drivers have taken on the task POP IN PLACE NEWS
of getting people to and from vaccine clinics.

We originally thought that many volunteers would be needed to undertake Volunteers Wanted
shopping trips for residents who were shielding, but in the event, many of these The Pop In Place will need a rota of volunteers to help
tasks were taken up by Dorset Council delivering food parcels, and by relatives, with the community café to serve the teas, to chat to
friends and neighbours stepping in to give help. people if you think you would like to become one of our
Some of the BereConnect amazing team of people who make such a difference to
volunteers found themselves others lives please do get in touch.
in a new role by providing a
‘Buddy’ link to isolated
residents who valued the Pop In Place Rainbow Café
human contact of an If everything goes according to the Government roadmap we hope to reopen
occasional chat on the the Community Café on Friday 25 June 10am If this looks like a feasible thing I
th
phone. will call a meeting of all volunteer helpers on the previous Friday 18 at 10am to
th
We should also recall how our have a training session on opening in a covid safe way, and make a rota of
local community services and helpers and drivers. If you want to come along but need transport phone 471170
businesses quickly adjusted to
the new circumstances and
contributed to life in lockdown. Our shop adapted to social distancing, and Pop In Performers Group
brought in an expanded range of fresh foods to meet local needs. Our pubs If regulation allow, our plan is to start this group up in September using some of
turned themselves into takeaways, and for a short period in the summer even the Grease items we started working on mixed up with a few Christmas favourite
adapted to providing an indoor service under the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. we will invite you to Rydell High Christmas Prom our Christmas Show in December.
The Post Office maintained a magnificent service, sometimes indoors, often from
the window, even delivering to peoples’ homes if necessary. The surgery adapted
quickly to the distancing rules and to the need for appropriate PPE. Who will New Projects being proposed
forget queueing for prescriptions under the shelter of a tent provided by the Scout
Group? I am certain, too, that none of us will forget how we came to rely on the The Repair shop
distribution services of our greengrocers, the fish van, the fish and chip vans, the
ice cream trailer and other deliveries. We hope to develop this in the Lower room during the community café hours for
people to make or repair items if you are interested in the project please pop into
Now, a year on, in the middle of April, it would appear that due to distancing, the café and let us know.
and to the effectiveness of the vaccines, the impact of the pandemic may at last
be waning. Medically, Bere Regis was not hit as hard as other places, but many of Garden of Hope
our residents faced great financial hardship and the mental and physical health
issues caused by lock down. Perhaps our community response, and our individual This is still very much on the agenda but the holdup is trying to find a suitable
good sense in abiding by the ever-changing rules, helped alleviate at least some space to develop it in, in the meantime it is hoped we may be able to enhance
of the problems we faced. some other areas of the village that are owned by the Parish council while we
work on the right site for this project. The first area we hope to start work on with
Looking ahead, the next challenge will be rebuilding our community the Parish Council representative Robin Pitcher is improving the cemetery,
organisations, and encouraging people to participate and get involved again. planting trees and bulbs and renovating the shelter. Please let me know if you
With the care and kindness everyone showed during the pandemic we have would like to help with this project.
every reason to feel optimistic about the future.

Ian Ventham

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