About GoldStar 
| Name | Age |
Project |
|---|---|---|
 Ralph |
90 |
Volunteer Centre Poole |
At 90, Ralph is no junior. But he still helps senior citizens to get more out of life.
Ralph Monk's volunteer career dates back to World War ll. Posted to India, Ralph put himself forward for unpopular hospital morgue work. Declared inexpendable by the chief pathologist, he was kept on and saved from a dangerous front line posting. For the next 30 years, he spent much of his free time helping out in London hospitals. After various spells of driving, weighing and refreshing patients, Ralph volunteered at Guy's Hospital Dental School, where he became the live 'guinea pig' as pupils were taught how to make good dentures! Having retired to Dorset and kept up the good work, Ralph still does enough voluntary jobs to challenge someone half his age. Apart from befriending, help and care work and helping children with reading, his chief role today is on the Poole CVS Ambassador project. Ralph is one of a team of six 'senior' Ambassadors who go out into the community and recruit 250 volunteers a year, aged 55 or over. Supported by project leaders and armed with 360 possible volunteering options, Ralph offers new opportunities to older and more isolated members of the community. So why work so hard when he could deservedly rest on his laurels? Ralph explains:
“I thought about joining lots of clubs when I retired but my favourite club is the human race. The company of others, the friendships, the pleasure of feeling needed …what better way to fill your time? All six of us Ambassadors have lost our partners, so we've become our own family in a way. We also get lots of help and thanks from our project leaders.Who would want to give all that up?”
For his efforts, Ralph recently received a Community Champion Gold Award from the local mayor. His biggest reward though, is still being able to do it all at ninety.
Managers' comment:
“Ambassadors like Ralph are essential for recruiting senior volunteers. Nothing motivates recruits more than their own peer group. Ralph and his colleagues not only encourage lonely and isolated people to see the benefits of volunteering but also feedback valuable information about the kind of activities they like to be involved in. We also train our Ambassadors in public speaking and reward them with thank you lunches- and nobody enjoys a good lunch more than Ralph!”
