A teenage volunteer who dedicates his time to help veterans, elderly people, and hoarders every week has been recognised with an award.

Joel Bailey spends Thursdays volunteering at Jigsaw, a Mansfield-based mental health charity aimed at helping people with hoarding issues and other mental health problems.

The selfless 18-year-old, who is studying for an Advanced Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care at West Nottinghamshire College, Mansfield, has spent the last two years volunteering at care homes and the charity.

He wants to help people suffering with their mental health by listening and offering support to help them in their homes.

Joel has built friendships with a lot of the people who attend the weekly group in Mansfield. Now his compassion has been rewarded by being selected as a winner of the Bringing People Together Award 2023.

The award is part of the Live Our Best Life Awards, which were launched by Nottinghamshire Police in 2021 to highlight inspirational young people and their achievements throughout the county.

“Volunteering isn’t a job for me, it doesn’t feel like something I have to do. I just really enjoy it and it’s more of a passion,” Joel said.

“The first year I was volunteering as a care worker in Mansfield and I thought, I really enjoy this, I’m really enjoying helping people, and it got me into it.

“Then the second year I joined Jigsaw and met Alison (Waring) and loved it even more.

“I’ve organised a food bank at college, where I raised quite a lot of food, and it’s all just continued from there.

“When I’m volunteering with Jigsaw and the support group on Thursday, people will come in for a drink or a coffee and conversation and sometimes we’ll go out to service users’ houses. We’ll help them to move stuff around, clean things they don’t need, and make it a better and safer place to live.

“I use my time even when I’ve got days off to come in and help out where I can.

“When I’m helping people it’s not about going just to say I’ve been.

“When we’re working with these people you have a start and an end — you go into someone’s house, clean it, and you can see the final result because you can walk through.

“You’re also giving them a chance to speak about their feelings because in today’s society, especially with the older generation, people don’t want to talk about their feelings. It’s good to try to prompt them to speak.

“I feel happy that they’ve spoken to me and if I can help I always will.

“When I go to the placement on a Thursday it also helps me mentally.

“I love working at Jigsaw and volunteering because it doesn’t feel like a job. When I’m here it brings a lot of positivity to me because when I can see the difference that we all make in people’s lives it brings you a lot of happiness.

“To see someone has changed in a positive way and to see the hard work you’ve put in really does make a difference.”
Joel hopes to join the Army after he finishes his course and is well on his way after passing a fitness test.

The head of Jigsaw, Alison Waring, explained how the mental health charity specialises in helping those with a hoarding addiction and how, with Joel’s help, they are making inroads within the community and building up lasting relationships.

“I’ve had many students over the years, but Joel is a natural,” she said.

“He’s the best student I’ve ever had. He sets out at 6am to come to a session and even comes in on school holidays — and goes above and beyond.

“He’s so natural with people with mental health conditions and is so caring and non-judgemental – I can’t say enough good things about him.

“It’s important to give people a chance in the world of mental health and working in the community to experience what people are like and how they can make a positive contribution to their lives.

“A lot of my clients are older, and they love working with younger people.

“It’s also a skill swap as well because they sometimes help them with their mobile phones and the young people can find out about gardening skills and play chess, it’s just a lovely swap really.

“Joel comes to our mental health support group every Thursday and has chats with the clients, and they all love him.

“Sometimes he helps in the tea bar and with the activities. Then in an afternoon we go up to our allotments so he’s helping them there.

“He also spends time in people’s houses and helps them with hoarding and their gardens — there’s nothing he won’t tackle, he’s just amazing.

“He really deserves this award and the recognition.”

Youth Outreach worker Romel Davis, founder of the Live Our Best Life Awards, added: “There are not many people like Joel at his age who are giving up their school holidays and time to help others.

“He is an inspiration to everyone, not only his age but older too.

“I’ve seen him interacting with the adults who attend the sessions — how much they appreciate him and how proud they are of him for winning this award.

“The work he does and his dedication to helping people in the community is amazing. He is a role model to everyone, and is incredibly deserving of this award — and all of the recognition he receives.

“We need more people like Joel in the world and I hope he knows how proud everyone is of him and how many lives he has helped change for the better.”