AbilityNet volunteer awarded British Empire Medal in New Year's Honours list

A head and shoulders shot of DavidIn 2020 David Brew celebrated his silver jubilee as an AbilityNet volunteer! And now he has just been awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Years Honours List!

David, who is a county coordinator in Belfast, Northern Ireland, began volunteering for us in 1995 when he was working as a Consultant for the Department of Trade and Industry.

He is one of more than 450 DBS-checked volunteers who support disabled and older people at home, and remotely, to make the most of their technology

David's journey with AbilityNet so far

David got involved with AbilityNet after the British Computer Society (BCS the Chartered Institute for IT) realised that local companies were upgrading their computing equipment and discarding older devices.

"We reckoned that the discarded equipment might be of use to disabled people and we set up a scheme to process requests and donate equipment. A key element of the project was that a volunteer would install and support the disabled person, in their homes. This would have been in the early '90s," says David.

Eventually, the project was brought into the Free Services Department of AbilityNet.

Of his New Years Honours List award, David says:

"I'm really looking forward to sharing the good news about the contribution AbilityNet is making in our community. The tech volunteers at AbilityNet have willingly given their time and expertise... The Free Services team in AbilityNet, headed by Sarah Brain, provide an essential service to keep things running.

Read an interview with David celebrating Volunteers' Week and 20 years of service.

Sarah Brain, AbilityNet Director of Free Services, said:

"What an amazing achievement! We're so pleased for David and the honour is richly deserved. David is such a committed volunteer and has been a key support so many of AbilityNet's clients across Northern Ireland. We're thrilled that David's dedication to helping others has been recognised and awarded in this way. From us all at AbilityNet, thank you, David."

Do you have skills that could help older and disabled people with tech? Volunteer for us.

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