A former retail worker and an ex-GP practice manager are among a group of volunteers to have had thirty years of selflessness honoured at a Lincolnshire NHS Trust.

Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation NHS Trust (LPFT), which provides mental health, learning disability and autism services, held a special ceremony at its headquarters to acknowledge the hard work of four volunteers, who between them have given the equivalent of three decades of their spare time to help others.

Chris Dabbs, who is 51 and from Lincoln, was recognised for spending 12 years on the Trust’s dementia care ward at Witham Court in North Hykeham, where he regularly provides a listening ear to the service users and encourages them to do activities such as singing and poetry.

“I really wanted to give something back and to make a positive difference,” said Chris, who decided to become a volunteer after receiving counselling from the NHS.

“I genuinely feel I am making a big difference to the people we care for and love learning from service users and staff about the care provided for dementia patients.”

Celia Evershed, 67 and from Gainsborough, also had fifteen years of volunteering for the Trust recognised.

This includes serving as a service user and Patient Governor for nine years as well as working with the Recovery College and Personality and Complex Trauma teams, and sitting on interview panels and getting involved at engagement events.

She said: “It means so much to me to have the opportunities I have had. It keeps me going and it’s such an important part of my life.”

Jacky Tyson, an employee at LPFT, and Katrina Addlesee, who volunteered in Grantham, were both recognised for six years of service.

Trust Chair Kevin Lockyer was in attendance to present all volunteers with a pin badge and a certificate to commemorate their hard work and sacrifice.

He said: “It is an honour and a privilege to reward the selfless dedication of our volunteers.

“The work they do makes a massive difference to the people within our care and we really cannot thank them enough for all that they do.”