A VOLUNTEER from the Forest has been shortlisted for a prestigious award in recognition of her "tireless work and commitment" to the armed forces community.

Alison Bulbeck, who lives in St Briavels, has been nominated for an RAF Benevolent Fund award in the ’Welfare Caseworker of the Year’ category, for her voluntary role as a caseworker for armed forces charity the SSAFA.

Through the role, Alison helps serving and former RAF personnel and their families to solve "an array of problems" they encounter when transitioning out of the forces.

She combines her "busy" part-time voluntary role with a full-time job as Senior Information Manager for MOD (Defence Equipment & Support) at Abbey Wood in North Bristol, where she works on range of IT change programmes and process improvement initiatives within the organisation.

The SSAFA, which stands for Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, says that Alison has devoted "considerable time" to helping RAF personnel transition back into the civilian world, working closely with individuals to identify their needs, finding the right sources of support for them and then arranging for them to access it.

"Being a Civil Servant, I get six volunteering days a year to which I add more time from annual leave and weekends", Alison said.

"I chose SSAFA as a way of ’giving back’ to our Armed Forces.

"It’s vital for me to build my clients’ trust quickly as I need to discuss sensitive details about their request for support, since many contact SSAFA as a last resort.

"That means reassuring them that I’m here to help - for someone with mental or financial problems, this can be the lifeline they need to start rebuilding their lives."

Alison’s catchment area is a 10 -15-mile radius around Bristol and South Gloucestershire, which is in "easy reach" of where she works, although all meetings have been virtual since the start of the pandemic.

Despite the challenges posed by remote communication, Alison says it has always been her priority to build trust and rapport with her clients.

"It takes a lot for clients with complex needs, such as mental health conditions and debt, to engage when I can’t be a reassuring presence in their home", she continued.

"However, my training has stood me in good stead, albeit deprived of face-to-face meetings and often relying on poor-signal mobile phone calls!

"Being a SSAFA volunteer while working full time is an art form but being able to prioritise helps.

"I have a great support network, not least my SSAFA Branch Officer, line manager and my husband.

"I really enjoy collaborating with RAF Benevolent Fund colleagues and am honoured to be nominated.

"Becoming a SSAFA volunteer caseworker was one of my best ever decisions.

"If I can make each client’s life easier, that’s my reward."

The RAF Benevolent Fund 2021 Awards will take place on Thursday 21 October 2021 at Plaisterers’ Hall in London.

For more information about the SSAFA, go to ssafa.org.uk.