We want to introduce you to some of the amazing people around Andover that are giving up their time, using their skills and helping others.
Meet Tamsin Taylor-Dalley… she’s a volunteer at the Andover Isolation Help Group.
Mum of five Tamsin jumped at the chance to help Tori Rist with her new Self-Isolation Help Group. “Actually, Tori made me do it”, laughs Tamsin. “But honestly, it was obvious that there would be many older people who would really need help.
For the past four weeks Tasmin has been juggling keeping her kids aged 5, 7, 12, 15 and 17 entertained while being an ‘admin’ for the Andover Isolation Help Group which has now delivered in excess of 600 packages of food and essentials to those most in need around Andover.
“I manage the incoming emails from people and am always looking for volunteers to help, sending them to the Queen Charlotte, our distribution centre”, says Tamsin as she spies another hole in her garden.
“My five year old is entertaining himself by digging holes in the garden. I get my head into emails for just five minutes and in that time he’s proudly announcing that he’s perfected yet another dent in the garden.”
Fortunately her other children are occupied with the television and an Xbox. Her eldest has been baking with the younger members of the family so mum can concentrate on her newly found temporary occupation.
One elderly user of the service told Tamsin, “You’ve been a lifesaver.”
Tamsin from Colvin Close added, “All the team here work tremendously hard and fabulously well as a team considering many have never met before.”
When “all this blows over” the 37 year old would like to see the Northern Lights. “But I hate flying” she says.
“So it’s going to be quite a difficult, long old swim to go and achieve my life’s ambition.”
You can support Tamsin’s work at the Andover Isolation Help Group by donating to their GoFundMe page here.