Volunteer Story (3) - Ted

Ted Evans has been a volunteer for Age Connects North Wales Central for over 11 years. He has worked on a number of projects but in recent years he has concentrated on a project giving Welfare Benefits Advice to people over the age of 65. In 2015 ACNWC were awarded grant funding from the British Gas Energy Trust for a fuel poverty project called Cold Buster. This project involves maximising people’s income, giving energy advice, tariff swopping and encouraging people to take up the flu vaccination. This project is now funded by ICF until March 2017

As part of the project, existing and new volunteers were given the opportunity to undertake the City and Guilds Fuel Debt in the Community course. Ted was an eager participant in the course and passed with flying colours, as a result we were able to offer Ted a part time post as a regional coordinator on the Cold Buster project, no mean feat when you consider that Ted is 94 years young!. Ted is a shining example of an older person being able to take on new challenges and make a difference to the lives of others. He makes home visits to people who use our service and always ensures that the service user is given the best possible experience. He always goes the extra mile to ensure that if he cannot help them then he will signpost them to another agency or organisation.

Ted also encourages other people in their roles and regularly takes new volunteers out on visits so that they can see his approach to our work. He commands huge respect amongst his colleagues for the way he takes on board new information and the way he offers advice on how we can improve our service. Although he has only been involved for a relatively short time in this particular area of work his impact has been significant. We have recently made contact with a veterans association and Ted is keen to ensure that we extend our work to ensure that we can offer them the Cold Buster service, so he is committed to volunteering his time outside his paid work to make sure this can go ahead.

Ted is constantly looking at ways that we can develop and improve our provision and is totally committed to helping others. The people who have been helped by Ted are unanimous in their praise the comments range from ‘kind, helpful, thoughtful to outstanding’.

Ted was recognised for his work on Coldbuster by receiving a Heat Heroes award from National Energy Action organisation. Ted travelled to the Houses of Parliament to receive his award, presented to him by Lord O’Neill of Clackmannan.