VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK

ROBDYAN

JEWISH BLIND AND DISABLED

The35-year-old is a director of Sportseen, a specialist sports marketing organisation, and lives in Hendon with his wife Lynne. Lynne acts as Rob’s sous-chef when he is working his magic in the kitchen at JBD’S Frances and Dick James Court in Mill Hill. Rob ran a half-marathon in September, raising over £2,000 for JBD

Why JBD? For many years I had donated to charities but had never been actively involved. I had raised money for Guide Dogs for the Blind when at school and I still donate to the RNIB and I wanted to do so for a Jewish charity related to the same cause. Having discovered JBD via a Google search I became active as a Young Patron and a volunteer after speaking with JBD’S volunteer department.

What does your volunteering involve? Once a month, my wife Lynne and I run a breakfast club for the tenants in Mill Hill. We set up, prepare, cook, and serve breakfast to up to 22 tenants.

What do you most enjoy about volunteering? Bringing tenants together who may not be able to socialise very often and we try to create a fun environment. Most of all we enjoy the smiles and conversations with tenants whose vitality and enthusiasm for life are contagious and so impressive.

What is your most memorable volunteering moment? Probably the first breakfast. Realising that my cooking wasn’t bad — the tenants came back — and discovering how worthwhile it was and how much joy a little effort could bring.

Nominate a volunteer to honour: