Wirral volunteer devoted to helping the homeless has been nominated for a Your Champions award

Sep 7 2011 by Linda Foo Guest, Heswall News

A WIRRAL volunteer devoted to helping the homeless has been nominated for a Your Champions award.

Wirral News has teamed up with ScottishPower to highlight the good work of an individual or group which has benefited the community.

We want to find people who have made life just a little better and Ian Metcalf, of Bromborough, certainly fits that bill.

The 55-year-old, who works at ICI, gives up his time to run Acts 4 U, a homeless outreach centre in Birkenhead which gives out food and helps people find a way forward.

Acts 4 U is a group of Christian people from different churches around Birkenhead who meet at King’s Church.

The voluntary organisation has been running for five years. Volunteers work three nights a week and Ian steers and manages it.

His wife Bridget nominated him in the Champion Volunteer category for his tireless work to help others in need.

Bridget told the News: “Ian runs the outreach, keeping all the volunteers happy.

“He and his team work three nights a week, unpaid, to feed homeless people.

“They get donated food to give out from two Sainsbury’s stores in Birkenhead and Upton which would otherwise be thrown away.

“Ian keeps all the volunteers enthused. He is faithful and quiet about it, doesn’t want any fuss or anything in return. He never lets anyone down.”

There are five categories – champion of the year, volunteer, young person, team and sporting.

Our champions will be honoured at a presentation ceremony at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Chester on Friday November 18, where they will also be in the running for a regional Champion of Champions award.

To nominate, log on to www.wirralnews.co.uk or send this form to Your Champions, Wirral News, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool L69 3EB.