It’s amazing what you find when you’re tidying up. When the wife of one of our longest-standing team members came across this newspaper clipping from 2006, we knew we had to share it. But the real question is… do you know who it is?
'You feel you have made a difference.'
That’s what Dave Thomas, one of our longest-serving team members, told the Post People news paper back in 2006 – and it still sums up his approach today.
Nearly 20 years ago, Dave was chosen as Pontin’s Person of the Week by Post People, in recognition of his work supporting volunteers and developing partnerships across Nottingham’s voluntary sector.
At the time, Dave had only been in his post at NCVS for a few short months, but his impact was already being felt. The article highlights his commitment to fairness, creativity, and connection, qualities that continue to define his work with us to this day.
'I’m really surprised and very, very happy about being nominated as it recognises that as a team we deliver what we set out to.' Dave said back then.
In 2006, he was working with around 436 local organisations. Now, 19 years later, Dave has supported countless more voluntary and community groups and still plays a vital role in strengthening Nottingham’s volunteering landscape.
'I just enjoy what I do' he said at the time. We do too Dave!
We loved revisiting this piece from the archives - and hope you do too.
You can see the original clipping below. Can’t quite make out the text? Don’t worry, we’ve written it out in full just below.
'Every week Post People and Pontin's thank those in the community who help the rest of us. This week Hurtej Kaur spoke to Dave Thomas, a volunteering development worker at Nottingham Council for Voluntary Service.
'You feel you have made a difference'
FORMING links with managers and co-ordinators may seem a daunting task for most people, but it's something Dave Thomas takes in his stride. The 53-year-old volunteering development worker for NCVS has to ensure volunteers offered places with different organisations are treated fairly.
He has been in the post for just three months and has already made significant improvements to NCVS, which is why Sangita Dhawan has nominated him this week.
Mrs Dhawan, 44, is a volunteer co-ordinator for adult mental health services with the NHS.
She said, 'Ever since Dave came into this post he's brought new life to the organisation and he's very pro-active in partnership work.
'He has new methods like using e-mail far more than we used to, and that works really well in finding vacancies for our volunteers.
'He also comes up with a lot of ideas and he's prompt in responding to requests from mem bers of the network who need information.
'I was looking for a placement for someone who is a talented artist but looking for a voluntary place for someone in the arts can be extremely difficult. But Dave passed on the details to others and I've already had a response.'
Speaking about his Post People award nomination, Mr Thomas said: 'I'm really surprised and very, very happy about being nominated as it recognises that as a team we deliver what we set out to.'
Mr Thomas has worked in various roles at NCVS for the past 20 years. Currently, his main role is to liaise with around 436 different organisations.
He added: 'I just enjoy what I do. It sums up the CVS and what it offers. You can come into work and it's not routine and you never know what the next phone call is going to be about.
'Most of the time you can go home and feel you have made a difference in a small way.'
