Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year nominee – Trevor Bailey
Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year nominee – Trevor Bailey
Army veteran Trevor Bailey gives his time to support homeless people on the streets of North Staffordshire including offering them food, clothing, medical assistance and showering facilities.
The 56-year-old, from Penkhull, served in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers as a vehicle technician attached to the Army Medical Corps before moving to the Royal Signals.
In 2023 he co-founded Connect to Combat Homelessness, C2CH, alongside two other veterans and serves as the charity’s chairman.
They converted a van to include a shower, changing room and space for people to talk, collaborating with organisations including local authorities to offer support.
Trevor has also been a Royal British Legion information and advice officer, a trustee and secretary of Veteran Charity and a caseworker and mentor for the armed forces charity SSAFA.
He began volunteering in the community after health issues made it harder for him to work.
He said: “I’ve always been a big believer of not competing with other charities. It’s much better to work with them because the impact can be so much greater.
“I like helping people. I consider myself useful. A bit of help can go a long way in people’s lives and I’m motivated to make a difference. We also fundraise so we can get even more resource to the people that need it.”
Nominating Trevor in the Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards, Teri Elder said: “I met Trevor five years ago. He volunteers all his time to helping feed and clothe the homeless in the city.
“He is selfless and determined to help people, especially the homeless, but also local groups and people that are struggling. If he can help, he will. That’s his attitude to everything in life.
“This is the recognition he deserves as he’s done so much for other people and kept to his word of just wanting to help even with his own health not being perfect. He is always there for people if they need some help.”
Trevor added: “I don’t really know what to say, it’s lovely. I really don’t do it to seek the recognition. It keeps me occupied and it makes productive use of my time. I like helping others.”