A BOROUGH has shared its appreciation for the volunteers that offer support and kindness in the community.

Eastleigh Borough Council says that throughout the pandemic, people from across the community have gone "above and beyond" to help.

Borough chiefs had previously asked for nominations of individuals, groups and volunteer groups who gave up their time to help others over the last year and a half and since, residents have submitted over a hundred nominations of people they thought deserved to be ‘Local Heroes’.

Now, the council has shared its appreciation for these volunteers with a certificate and letter from the Mayor’s office to praise their efforts.

A video tribute that the Council’s Arts and Culture team worked with local artists to create has also been shared with poetry collective ‘Ghost River’ commissioned to write a poem based on the nominees, which was then recorded by performer Anna Carr and animated by Corinne Pollock.

Cabinet lead for Health Cllr Tonia Craig said: “This is such a wonderful tribute to all of the people that have made a difference to the lives of others during such a turbulent time for everyone.

"We are so pleased to be able to celebrate our incredible volunteers and share the stories of kindness and care that they showed towards their neighbours and friends in the community.”

Extracts of the poem have been printed and have now been put up around the Borough in café and shop windows and in Council buildings with a QR code for people to view the tribute video.