In memory of Steve Jenkins by Saffron Isaac, Volunteer Coordinator at Age Cymru West Glamorgan

Steve began volunteering with Age Cymru West Glamorgan at the beginning of this year.

At the time, Steve was looking for a way to support older people in his community and occupy his time in a meaningful way, and having heard about the work that we do, he decided to join the team.

He attended the first volunteer training course I delivered in January. The group met for the first time, and everyone was a little apprehensive, but Steve’s easy manner and friendly nature helped to put us all at ease. He was forthcoming about his own experiences of getting older, talking openly and making it easy for others to do so too.

It was clear that Steve would thrive in a role where he would have the opportunity to talk to people and so he began accompanying me to events to represent the charity in the community. Members of the public talked easily to him and were happy to hear about the work of Age Cymru West Glamorgan, take home our leaflets and listen to his words of encouragement. This photograph was taken at a Penderi Community Wellbeing event in March. We laughed so much that day, and many people were drawn to Steve’s natural joyful energy. I walked around the hall to visit the other stalls, and when I heard a peel of laughter from across the hall, I knew it would be Steve, entertaining everyone and finding plenty to chuckle about.

He came to an Away Day for the charity, and once again his willingness to speak and his candid approach to complex problems gave us a fresh perspective and new ideas to work with.

In April, he began representing Age Cymru West Glamorgan at the Dementia Hwb in Swansea Quadrant. He was charismatic, diligent and kind, focusing on the wellbeing of the person in front of him and providing them with practical advice and support.

Steve’s generous nature touched staff and community members alike. He treated everyone he met with warmth and respect and made us all laugh. Though he was only with us a short time, we feel his loss acutely and we send our heartfelt condolences to his beloved family. We will treasure the time he spent as part of our team, and we are grateful that it was our charity he chose to give his time and energy too.

Thank you, Steve. You will be missed by us all.