SSAFA gives top honour to Cumbria volunteer Tracey

12 July 2024

Tracey Blake, a much-respected volunteer for the Cumbria branch of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has been awarded the Sir James Gildea Global Award.

SSAFA’s Sir James Gildea Awards were created to recognise the staff – voluntary and paid – for their exceptional contributions and commitment to SSAFA’s activities and values. The awards were presented at SSAFA’s Annual Members’ Meeting in London at the Victory Services Club on July 11 by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, SSAFA’s President.

Tracey was born in Wakefield, but – with a father in the Royal Navy – spent much of her life based in Portsmouth. She now lives just outside Carlisle with her autistic son, Luke, and his assistance dog Weiss.

Her career also followed a naval pattern, and she joined the Women's Royal Naval Service – commonly and affectionately known as the Wrens – aged 17, serving for 10 years in a variety of locations including Portsmouth, Northwood, Rosyth and “… best of all, Norway.

“I spent most of my free time climbing, walking and skiing, but unfortunately, I damaged my spine and, after 10 years’ service, was medically discharged.”

In an odd career change, she went from being a Wren to a vampire, as she explains: “Yes, I trained as a ‘vampire’, I mean phlebotomist, and health care support worker, before starting my own health and wellness business, promoting the benefits of natural products and magnet therapy.”

Her talents do not end there. She and Luke are published authors with two children's books authored by him and a pair they co-authored, while Tracey has also co-authored a best-selling book telling the stories of women in business.

Tracey started working for SSAFA in around 2010, and says: “I have an autistic son and I needed a role to give me something to do with my time when he was at school, but that was flexible enough that I could drop everything and go if, and when, he needed me.

“I also wanted something that would give me a sense of purpose and the only time I had felt that in the past was when I was in the WRNS.”

She began as a caseworker, then moved into the office to take over the post of Divisional Secretary of Portsmouth branch of SSAFA, overseeing 200 or more cases every year. Tracey also managed the Gosport office for a few months, which meant she volunteered for 40 hours a week.

“My son and I have raised about £6,000 fundraising for SSAFA. We rode our recumbent trikes from Plymouth to Portsmouth one year, then raced electric car, train, and coach from Portsmouth to Aberdeen and finally got back on our recumbent trikes and rode from Portsmouth to Mons and back to commemorate the end of WWI.”

Cancer, however, put an end to any more fundraising and prompted a decision for her: remain in the highly stressful role in Portsmouth or move to Cumbria for a more relaxed life.

She comments: “Taking over as branch secretary in a county with more sheep than people has been a literal breath of fresh air as I had lost my ooomph working 'down south'. Cumbria Branch is a small group of lovely people, who work incredibly hard with very few resources.

“At one point we only had one volunteer caseworker and one helping from the hub. With just the treasurer and I active within the Branch it was a worrying time. Now, however, we are once again a thriving branch and are more able to meet the needs of the Cumbrian veteran community.”

Reflecting on her award, Tracey adds: “I’m thrilled to have been recognised with this award. I’ve worked – actually, when you work with great people, it doesn't feel like work, really – with some amazing people within SSAFA and feel that I’m receiving this award with and for them.”

All at SSAFA send their warmest congratulations to Tracey.