TRIBUTES poured in for two women who have worked tirelessly for the Dinas Powys community and beyond, providing transport and support to some of the most vulnerable in society.
Just before New Year the Penarth Times asked who has made a difference to your community in 2022, and two names that sprung up were Judith Anderson and Wendy Lees, co-ordinators of Dinas Powys Voluntary Concern.
The DPVC, which has been in the community for over 50 years, originally provided medical transport, but since Judith and Wendy joined the organisation it now provides a host of other services in tackling among other things, loneliness.
Murchfield Community Centre highlighted Wendy and Judith’s efforts saying: “The pair have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic years, including 2022 to provide help and support to the community, providing transport to shops and to medical appointments, befriending services, the memory café, the weekly Soup Club Lunch, and support to the whole community in ways too numerous to list here.
“Thank you Wendy and Judith and your team of brilliant volunteers for all for you do.”
Chairman of DPVC, John Fanshaw, said without the pair the organisation would not be what it is today.
“We have changed so much since they joined and we have become so much more inclusive,” said Mr Fanshaw.
“Before it was just a transport scheme, but since they joined we’ve developed a befriending scheme, the community transport has developed a lot more and they did not have a day off during Covid. That kind of dedication is something I have never seen.”
(Wendy(right) and Judith have worked hard to expand Dinas Powys Voluntary Concern)
Judith, a former horticulturist, and Wendy, a former research scientist, were humble in the wake of their praise, saying it was not just down to them.
“All our services are run by volunteers. During covid we had 200 volunteers supporting us. Without them we would not be here.”
(Chairman John Fanshaw said he'd never seen such dedication)
It doesn’t stop there for the pair, with a new Tuesday Afternoon Club starting in January.
Judith summed it up by saying: “We have people relying on us.”
Who made a difference for you in 2022? Let us know in comments or email penarthtimes@penarthtimes.co.uk
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