DURING the last year, community groups and their volunteers have given their time, money, and effort into supporting those around them and the vulnerable.

One group doing its utmost to support the elderly in Peeblesshire is Peebles Royal Voluntary Service (RVS).

Led by manager Julie Houghton, the group would normally provide an indoor day centre from the Old Bakehouse at St Andrew Leckie Parish Church, but Julie and her volunteers were quick on their feet to move their services to a distanced or virtual setting.

“It was a baptism of fire,” she joked. “We were really quick to galvanise the volunteers – they’ve been phenomenal.”

'Extraordinary lives'

Julie only started working for the RVS in December 2019, so spent very little time working before lockdown in March.

Volunteers have racked up hours on the phone with service users, with some clients getting calls up to four times a week – depending on how often they would normally attend the centre.

Forty-three-year old Julie, who lives in Cardrona, explained that although the circumstances under which the RVS is currently working are not ideal, she has been able to get to know clients in a way she wouldn’t have before.

She said: “I’ve had the privilege to get to know everyone.

“We don’t always recognise that the elderly have lived such extraordinary lives.

“You spend time learning about them and it’s fascinating.”

Working together

Julie told the Peeblesshire News that the work the RVS does would be nothing without the volunteers, but it’s her volunteers who say they couldn’t do their work without her.

One volunteer said: “A lot of people are doing wonderful things [in lockdown].”

The volunteer added: “I admire her [Julie] so much – we wouldn’t be doing anything if she didn’t help.”

Before the pandemic, clients who went to the day centre would be treated to plenty of tea, coffee, and biscuits, games, conversation and a two-course lunch.

Now, however, volunteers regularly speak to clients over the phone, deliver shopping and prescriptions, and before the current lockdown volunteers were able to join clients for a cup of tea while socially distanced indoors or outdoors.

Going above and beyond

On top of the usual services, the Peebles RVS told us that Julie – who is also the manager for the West Linton centre – delivered Christmas gifts to clients and also made sure to treat her volunteers too.

“She came around at Christmas with cards and chocolates, she’s done wonders,” the volunteer added.

Despite not operating as usual, Julie says the RVS is always in need of more volunteers.

“The more volunteers we have, the more availability we have,” she explained. “They [volunteers] do such good stuff. The service centre wouldn’t run without volunteers.

“They are the backbone of the service.”

For more information, visit the Borders RVS Facebook page or the RVS website.