Charity awarded grant for prescription delivery service

Published: 19 May 2020

Kind-hearted volunteers in Exeter have set up a community prescription service for people self-isolating during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Park Life Heavitree, a community charity in the city, has been kept busy by daily referrals and has a team of volunteers visiting pharmacies and delivering to homes in the area and beyond.

Exeter Community Wellbeing recognised the good work of the charity and awarded them with a £600 grant from the Exeter COVID-19 Community Action Fund.

Park Life Heavitree is working to establish a café and community facility in Heavitree Pleasure Ground. The charity aims to build community wellbeing by getting more people active and reduce social isolation as well as getting people involved in their local park.

Ben Hunt, Trustee of Park Life Heavitree, said his team of volunteers had really stepped up to the challenge of helping people in the local community during ‘lockdown’. So far the group has delivered more than 120 prescriptions, mostly on foot or by bike.

“As well as delivering prescriptions, the volunteers have also been able to have a friendly chat and in some cases shop for those who have been self-isolating.”

Cllr Amal Ghussain, Lead Councillor of Equalities, Diversity and Communities, said: “Park Life Heavitree are a leading light in the local community and their work is so important in bringing people together and building a sense of community in the area.”

Since it was set up in March, the Fund has awarded over £93,000 to 60 groups or charities across Exeter.

Other groups that have been awarded money are:

• Friends of Heavitree Health Centre - £1,000 towards supporting elderly patients, and those with disabilities, who cannot travel to and from appointments under their own steam.
• Armed Forces Community Support Hub – £2,569 towards providing online support for Armed Forces Personnel, Service Leavers, Veterans and their families/dependents who are currently suffering with Mental Health, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety related conditions.