A COMMUNITY group is showing their appreciation for lockdown heroes.

Weymouth and Portland Lions Club is on the lookout for local heroes who have gone above and beyond to support their communities in their time of need.

The club is awarding certificates of appreciation for those who decided to give up their time for the benefit of others throughout the pandemic.

The first volunteer to be recognised with a certificate of appreciation was mother-of-two Sasha Fancy, from Littlemoor.

She was on furlough at the start of lockdown and whilst home schooling her 14-year-old daughter who is also shielding, she still managed to produce more than 1,000 cotton face masks. They were made at home using cotton and flannelette sheets donated by other residents.

The completed face masks have been distributed in and around Littlemoor. Donations which have been received will be shared equally between Weldmar and the big4Littlemoor partnership at the end of August.

The second certificate of appreciation was given to Littlemoor Community Action Group (LCAG) by Weymouth and Portland Lions Club vice president, Kevin Brookes, coupled with a £200 donation.

LCAG is a local support group which set up a food bank in Littlemoor at the start of the pandemic.

Lions in Weymouth and Portland are members of the wider Lions Clubs International, a community service organisation which is dedicated to the idea that the men and women who live in a community are in the best position to know who needs help.

Ryan Hope, president of Weymouth and Portland Lions Club, said: “I am very pleased to be awarding our first Lions Club Certificate of Appreciation today to Sasha who has done a magnificent job in making over 1,000 face masks. Well done. However, we know that there are many others who have also done great work in our community over the last few months. We would like to hear from you.”

Nominations should be emailed to marklockie@lionsclubs.co.uk Include name, address, contact number and a short explanation of what that person has been up to. Get the person’s permission before nominating them.

For further details on how to nominate volunteers for a Lions certificate of appreciation go to www.weymouthlionsclub.co.uk.