Over five years as a volunteer at the Trust, Ade, aged 71, is a true definition of caring. He first got involved after speaking to our Health Team Leader Adam at the walking football sessions. ‘’At this time, I had just retired, and not long after that I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. This was 2018 and then had treatment in 2019.’’

Keen to bounce back after his chemotherapy, Ade was looking for a way to give back the community and help others. Over the years, he has supported a handful of programmes, including Sporting Memories. He has proven very popular with the Active Choices participants, where he referees games.

‘’There’s a real camaraderie and feeling of goodwill within everybody. They all relate to me too. We hug, we shake hands, they always smile, and we all enjoy the football. What I give to them, they give it back to me.’’

It hasn’t been an easy time for Ade, who has faced his own health problems along with having to look after his mother. ‘’Although she was mentally capable, I had to do the day-to-day running around, doing her shopping and looking after her welfare.’’

Ade went onto to say; ‘’Looking after mum was a duty, and I found that keeping busy was the only way I could mentally stay in a good place. I am a people-person, so I like to listen to others and help them with their mental health. Volunteering helped me, just as it did for the people around me''.

It’s this positive attitude that has allowed Ade to present a caring approach in his voluntary work and make a real difference to those in the community. It only felt right for his name to be put forward by the health team during Volunteers Week 2024.

Ade shares the Trusts values and believe ‘caring in our approach’ should be applied across all aspects of life, not just for work. ‘’Caring in our approach means everything we do in our lives… caring is just ingrained in my family. My mum got on with so many people and that stayed with me. I try to bring that to everyday experiences and my role at the Trust’’.

Whilst Ade appreciates the support from the health team during Volunteers Week, he has remained humble about what he brings to the table each week. ‘’Getting this recognition is nice but it’s not something I strive for. I’ve never been an ‘I am’ person. I bring my character and if helps people, then I’m happy.’’

See the rest of our nominated Volunteers!