Meet Jando, a person supported by our Merry Den team, who is not only an award winning Forest Volunteer, but an actor about to be part of a Greatest Showman performance with his local drama group.
Jando, voted for by his local community of which he plays a huge part, won an award back in November 2023 for his work at St Stephen’s Church. It was an incredible achievement and recognition of the way he works as a community volunteer with dedication and passion.
Jando has been volunteering at St Stephen’s Church in the Forest of Dean for 12 years, helping with community events such as coffee afternoons, fair trade stalls, leading ‘Messy Church’ sessions, sharing skills and talents with others, and much more.
It’s safe to say it’s more than a well-deserved recognition.
The Forest Voluntary Action Forum runs the awards, which are a voluntary service council and volunteer centre for the Forest of Dean. They support many of the hundreds of voluntary and community organisations in the area.
“We so appreciate him, he is such a thoughtful, caring person and will do anything for anyone – Jando is so worthy of receiving this award!”
“I love volunteering and helping people. I am very proud to win, it means a lot.”
Jando is well-known in his local community, taking part in a wide range of groups and activities, including drama at Art Space Cinderford.
Art Space is an organisation that specialises in offering fully inclusive, accessible creative opportunities for people of any age or ability.
Together with neighbour Mark, who the Merry Den Team also supports, he has taken part in many productions and is currently practising for their performance of The Greatest Showman, where Mark will play the lead role.
“It is a privilege for the team and I to support Jando in all that he does. His calendar is full of work and social appointments, he really is living his best life and its a pleasure to be part of it!”
The goal of our progression model of support is to increase a person’s independence, health, and wellbeing. Being an active citizen in the local community plays a vital role in that journey.
All at National Care Group work in partnership with the people we support to ensure their goals and aspirations are being achieved, including their choices on community projects and groups they wish to be involved in, or jobs they want to pursue.
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National Care Group is one of the UK’s leading adult social care providers. We support adults with learning disabilities, mental health diagnoses, acquired brain injuries, and autistic people, with services across England and Wales.
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