Top award for caring Dennis

DENNIS ROBERTS

A KIND-hearted Oldhamer who provides invaluable support to a blind man has won a prestigious award.

Dennis Roberts (83), who has been volunteering with Age Concern Oldham for the past nine years, won the UK Befriender Recognition Award.

Since 2005, Dennis has provided invaluable support to a younger man who is blind and has lived alone since his parents died.

Dennis visits him twice a week and takes him by car to visit his brother who is also blind and lives a couple of miles away — otherwise the only contact between the siblings would be by phone

The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “Dennis has become my life — we have such a laugh together. He is a really smashing guy and without him I would never get to spend time with my brother.”

The UK Mentoring and Befriending Recognition Award celebrates individuals, projects and organisations that have made a spectacular impact on people’s lives through mentoring or befriending.

Steve Matthews, chief executive of the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation, which organised the awards, said: “Today’s winners have made exceptional contributions to mentoring and befriending and have transformed people’s lives.”