Awards for SSAFA Ayrshire volunteers spearheading Armed Forces support

06 May 2026

A trio of Ayrshire volunteers have been recognised for their exemplary commitment to the Armed Forces community.

Bob Whiteford, Colette Chiesa, and Bill Ponsford have received special awards from SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity in recognition of the work they do to support serving personnel, veterans, and military families in the Ayrshire area.

Bob received a Sir James Gildea Award – named after SSAFA’s founder – for exceptional contribution and commitment to SSAFA’s organisational activities and values, while Colette and Bill received Regional Recognition Awards in acknowledgement of extra endeavour as SSAFA volunteers in Scotland.

All three were presented with their awards at SSAFA’s biennial Scotland Volunteer Conference, which saw more than 100 SSAFA volunteers and staff gather together in Glasgow.

As a SSAFA caseworker Bob, 77, from Stewarton, works directly with Ayrshire residents who approach SSAFA for support. His role can see him organising food vouchers for people struggling to access necessities, helping to coordinate appointments with council and healthcare services, and supporting with funeral arrangements for Forces-experienced residents who have lost a family member.

A grandad-of-six, who has been volunteering with SSAFA for 13 years, Bob said: “I was really pleased to receive the award and to be recognised for my time with SSAFA so far. Being able to help others that are going through challenging times keeps me going, and there is no substitute for seeing the happiness that SSAFA support can bring.”

SSAFA Ayrshire and Arran Branch Chair Colette, 62, who lives in Ayr, began volunteering with SSAFA two years ago having recently moved into the area.

She said: “Volunteering for SSAFA is such a varied role; I could be chatting to a group of veterans at a breakfast club, speaking to schoolchildren about SSAFA and what we do, or attending a bingo night to raise funds for local veterans. The highlights of the role for me have been meeting so many interesting people from all walks of life, be they fellow volunteers, beneficiaries, local community and veteran groups.”

Walter Gallacher, SSAFA’s Scotland Regional Chair and Convenor of the Scottish Resource Committee, said: “At SSAFA we’re proud to be able to provide dedicated support that’s tailored to the Forces experience wherever people are and whatever challenges they face – so that the Armed Forces community never battle alone.

“It’s thanks in no small part to the dedication of people like Bob, Colette, and Bill that SSAFA can deliver on that mission. I sincerely congratulate them on their awards and thank them for their dedicated service.”

SSAFA Ayrshire and Arran Branch volunteers are available for in-person support every Wednesday from 1pm to 3pm at the Working For Wallacetown hub on George Street, Ayr. Requests for support can also be made to SSAFA’s Scottish Regional Office team by emailing ScottishRegional.Office@ssafa.org.uk, or by telephone on 01414 888552.