A GROUP of committed volunteers who were stripped of their service due to the pandemic have turned their fortunes around with brilliant initiative.

Volunteers for Dinas Powys Voluntary Concern (DPVC) – a group of around 200 volunteers who cater for the elderly and vulnerable in the region – had to stop their popular mini-bus service in March due to social distancing concerns.

The bus service – which helps people with their shopping and other necessities - has rarely had to cease activities in its 40-year history, and members were committed to putting it to good use.

Wellbeing coordinator for DPVC Judith Anderson explained, “After trawling the internet I found a similar group in Shropshire who had done a borrowing bus.

“The bus took donations of books, DVDs and games, and transferred them around the small town. I thought it was a brilliant idea and got onto them straight away.

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“After finding out how they quarantined the items for delivery we were good to go.”

The bus, which started in April, has been out delivering the carefully quarantined items right across Dinas Powys each Wednesday since.

“We had a brilliant response from our requests for items and we’re hoping to continue running the bus until September at the least,” Ms Anderson added, “hopefully it can become a regular thing.”

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Community Cllr John Fanshaw – who is also a coordinator for the community group, thanked those involved with the bus, including two voluntary drivers and those who delivered thousands of leaflets around Dinas Powys raising awareness about the bus.

“I hear my neighbours talking about the bus, which is fantastic,” he said, “it has really brought the community together.”

If you want to donate items, you can do so by taking them to the Murchfield Community Centre, where the group is based.

For more information visit DPVC’s website at http://www.dpvc.org.uk/.