This year’s volunteers week we wanted to highlight the work of our longest serving volunteer Nick McAllister. Nick is a dedicated and committed volunteer at Liverpool Shopmobility. Nick helps the team to provide the loan of wheelchairs and powered scooters to people with mobility restrictions to enable them to take advantage of the city centre facilities.
Nick, himself a wheelchair user, first came to Shopmobility as a customer. Nick is a retired Geography Teacher and in 2008, he enquired about becoming a volunteer - he has been with us ever since. He took to it like a fish to water and very soon became, not only a very competent and reliable member of the team, but also very popular with the customers.
Nick plays a key role in supporting the team in the delivery of this valuable service. He opens up the shop, checks the computer to see what customers are expected in and organises all vehicles to ensure they are ready for use.
Nick has a wonderful relationship with all the customers who look forward to seeing him when they come in to hire. This has been of greater importance this last year. Many of our customers have concerns about being more vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus and have at times expressed hesitance over returning. Nick’s relationship skills with the customers have been of huge importance to put their minds at ease & explain the safety precautions we are taking at the shop.
His skill as a teacher has been put to great use within Shopmobility; he is also involved in training new volunteers and many of them have benefited from his knowledge and patience.
Nick who is always smiling and is polite to everybody, is a most valued volunteer at Shopmobility and we would be lost without his help. The team at Shopmobility appreciate everything he does. We would be lost without him he is an exceptional human being and good friend.