Kindness kept the community going

ADVERSITY really brought out the best in people, as the community pulled together to entertain, provide services and share kindness.

Rainbows appeared in every neighbourhood as children and adults alike got creative to cheer up those in isolation.

Among the optimistic artists were Lillith McVicar from Fareham, who set up a popular community rock garden with her mum, and siblings Frankee Hodson and Imogen and Stanley Cooper, who decorated their driveway.

Kind-hearted volunteers rallied to set up support groups at the first sign of the pandemic, and pre-existing teams ramped up operations.

Team Scrubbers sprang up, led by Warsash seamstress Lin Gell, and volunteers spent hours creating scrubs for key workers.

Hive Portsmouth was one of many support teams delivering food and medication to those stuck at home, while Hayling Helpers recruited hundreds of islanders to help out its cause.

There were smiles all round as people entertained neighbours, including Mark Harris from Purbrook, who put on a rooftop gig.

Good feeling continued all year, with plenty of generosity shown to the annual Comfort and Joy campaign, with its updated aim of making sure no one is lonely at Christmas.

It’s about reviving the culture of checking on neighbours to see if they're okay

Charlotte Gerada, who set up a support group

I’ve got a fantastic group of volunteers, it’s 100 per cent relying on goodwill

Hayling Helpers founder Wendy Ball on her team

We can’t wait to keep on supporting the heroes in our community

Lin Gell, seamstress behind Team Scrubbers

I couldn’t just sit back and watch people struggle and not have food

Lauren Razzell, leader of Lunchbank PO9

It’s really giving people some hope and connecting us to people we don’t know Angie Kennedy, who got people to put up Christmas lights

I can’t go and save anyone’s life but what I can do is contribute towards that

Singer Mark Harris on his rooftop fundraising gig

RAINBOW SCRUBS Lin Gell, Malcolm Dent and Julie Greenwood from Team Scrubbers donating to neonatal staff at Queen Alexandra Hospital

COLOURFUL Lillith McVicar set up a rock garden with her mum

TEAMWORK Lunchbank PO9 volunteers fed the community

Picture: Sarah Standing (280520-9065) FINAL TIME Clap for Carers taking place at Queen Alexandra Hospital on the last evening.

Picture Ian Hargreaves (150320-2) THINKING OF OTHERS A group of friends in Portsmouth set up a coronavirus support group.

Picture: Habibur Rahman FESTIVE The launch of the 2020 Comfort and Joy campaign at the Portsmouth Guildhall Walk.

SUPPORT Bev Saunders, Helping Hands Portsmouth founder, celebrating four years of feeding the homeless and vulnerable

HELPING HAND Tania Jones, Mark Coates, Iona Harkness and Wendy Ball, who set up Hayling Helpers