The Stroke Association Award for Volunteering
This award is for an individual who has made an invaluable contribution to The Stroke Association as a volunteer, demonstrating the great dedication, commitment and compassion that is at the foundation of all volunteering.
Winner - Bill Harrad, aged 55, Manchester
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Picture: Winner Bill Harrad with award presenter Adrian Chiles
Bill has been a volunteer for The Stroke Association for 18 years. He volunteers as a Communication Training Volunteer, a Stroke Information Speaker and at a Communication Support Service in Manchester.
Bill had a stroke aged 31 and brings his actual experiences of stroke and the communication disability aphasia to all his volunteer roles. He helps new stroke survivors by relating his story and explaining his situation.
As well as his courage and determination to lead a fulfilling life, Bill is always cheerful and engaging with all the clients and volunteers, and is an enthusiastic participant in many activities. Bill is a very positive person, helping to build morale in people who are lacking confidence; he makes people relax and uses his ‘cracking sense of humour’.
Bill will drive any distance to perform his duties as a volunteer and despite having some communication disability himself will stand up in front of large audiences of health professionals and stroke survivors to talk about his experience.
He has taught staff, clients, supporters and other volunteers how they can improve the service they give to stroke survivors, and has demonstrated that there can be, and in fact is, a life after stroke.
