A volunteer health champion in Bradford who offers support to patients and people visiting the Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) has received a prestigious national award.

Trevor Constantine, from Heaton, received the League of Mercy medal for his dedication to the hospital’s many patients, visitors and carers.

Trevor, who acts as a guide on the main BRI reception and is also chairman and treasurer of the volunteer-based Friends of the BRI, received his award during an awards ceremony at the Mansion House in the City of London.

He said: "I feel really honoured to have been given this national award for my voluntary work and I believe it also recognises the work of all the people who are part of the Friends of the BRI.

"The award is as much for them as it is for me as all the volunteers work hard to raise money for the hospital as well as helping so many people who come to the BRI day in day out.

"A lot of the volunteers come back to repay the hospital for the treatment that they have received here but I came to do my bit because I wanted to do my best for Bradford and for the NHS. My volunteering work is incredibly rewarding and the award is just brilliant."

Trevor, who began his voluntary work at the BRI in 1996, also helps out with doctor’s exams in Field House, plays Santa at Christmas at both the hospital and the Elizabeth Foundation, a charity based within the hospital grounds, and later this year is due to become vice-president of Keighley Lions.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Voluntary Services Manager, Chris Heaton, said: "Trevor is widely known throughout the Trust by staff and as the public face of the Foundation Trust to many visitors who he greets or avail of his help at the BRI’s main reception.

"He’s been a volunteer now for 15 years and we hope he will be with us for many more. This award is public recognition of the countless hours’ service that he gives the people of Bradford and the staff of the Foundation Trust."

The League of Mercy Foundation recently revived its distinguished award that was first given exactly a hundred years ago for voluntary service assisting in the relief of sickness and suffering.

Lord Lingfield, president of the League of Mercy, praised Trevor for his "extraordinary work for the welfare of others" and said he was "a marvellous example" of someone who had given wonderful service to their communities.
The League of Mercy, originally created in 1899 for the encouragement and recognition of voluntary work in hospitals and the community, was re-founded as a registered charity in 1999 and now continues the work of the original founder, the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII.