A WOMAN who supported the community's most vulnerable throughout the pandemic has been honoured by the Queen.

Sally Garland has been recognised for her efforts in helping the Chandler's Ford community during lockdown.

Devoted Sally set up a support group and made hundreds of masks and scrubs for the NHS.

As part of the Queen's Birthday Honours, she will be ordered a British Empire Medal.

Read more: Eight Birthday Honours recipients from across Southampton

The 49-year-old told the Daily Echo she is still in shock and described the honour as the "biggest secret she's ever had to keep".

Sally, who is an event organiser, was furloughed during the pandemic.

In a bid to support the community and keep herself busy, she played a key part in setting up the Chandler’s Ford Help Group.

The mother-of-two worked seven days a week as a volunteer and she galvanised an army of like-minded helpers to deliver leaflets to every home in the area.

Sally said: "At the beginning of lockdown a small group of us decided that we needed to do something to help the vulnerable people that are shielding so we created Chandler's Ford Help.

"We put out a post on Facebook and within just a few weeks we had 700 people registered.

"I coordinated the phone handlers and the organisation side of everything.

"We had some amazing volunteers, we were asked to do gardening, laundry, prescription collection, shopping, changing light bulbs, we were doing anything we could.

"I am a do-er and if I had sat and done nothing that would not have been good for me at all.

"I am really thankful, I didn't realise just how much of an impact I had made."

She helped to set up a telephone helpline that received more than 3,500 calls in the immediate aftermath.

Each call was dealt with on an individual case-by-case basis to ensure the appropriate help was given.

On top of this, she organised a rota to deliver shopping and prescriptions to the elderly and those isolating.

Volunteers also helped with walking dogs, arranging hospital transport, helping with gardening, and delivering prescriptions.

Sally also hand made hundreds of scrubs and face masks for NHS workers, and delivered bouquets of flowers to elderly residents celebrating special occasions.

Sally helped to expand the telephone helpline soon into Friendly Ears’ a support network providing a listening ear to those who were feeling lonely and anxious.

On her honour, Sally said: "It was a bit of a shock. At first, I was asking 'is this real, is this not real' and then I realised that yes, this was real.

"It's been amazing, it is the hardest secret I have ever had to keep."

Sally will be celebrating with her husband Paul and her two children Emma and Miles.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News