SSAFA gives top honour to Tonteg’s Wayne

12 July 2024

Wayne Cullen, the Divisional Secretary Rhondda & Taff Ely Division of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has been presented with 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.

Born in Rhondda, but now resident in Tonteg, Wayne (77) began formally volunteering for SSAFA in 2012. He had an extensive military career before this, which saw him enlist into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in March 1965 as a private and leaving the Regulars in 2001 as a lieutenant colonel.

He was then commissioned into the Non Regular Permanent Staff Quartermaster post with 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital (Reserves) leaving on reaching 60 in October 2007 with 41 years’ military service under his stable belt. Then, as a civilian, from 2007 to 2013, he was Station Adjutant and Facilities Manager at Maindy Barracks in Cardiff.

Wayne takes up the story, saying: “I was aware of SSAFA from my Army service when I encountered and sought the advice of SSAFA ladies when dealing with the welfare of soldiers, and carried out some SSAFA volunteering work when I was Station Adjutant at Maindy Barracks.

“In 2012 I was recruited by the-then Chairman of the SSAFA Mid Glamorgan branch as a volunteer caseworker for the Rhondda and Taf Ely Division. Shortly after this, I became Divisional Secretary with responsibility for recruiting and managing volunteer caseworkers in Rhondda and Taf Ely.”

He notes that his focus has always been casework and assisting former service personnel and their families – which, along with supporting serving personnel, are key tenets of SSAFA’s work.

On why he began volunteering, he comments: “It was because I’d identified the need for assistance for those in the veteran community, and thought that the most effective way of assisting my fellow service personnel was to join SSAFA, which provides tangible and practical assistance to former service personnel through its network of volunteer caseworkers, who visit, provide advice, practical help and above all let the veteran know that they’re not alone and can speak to someone.”

Some successes out of many in his voluntary career with SSAFA over the past 12 years include obtaining grants for the £27,000 refurbishment of the home of a WWII widow and £50,000 for a veteran suffering from Motor Neurone Disease.

Reflecting on his award, Wayne says: “I was honoured, and slightly perplexed, that I was selected from so many outstanding SSAFA caseworkers, and so must acknowledge the help and assistance I’ve received both from fellow SSAFA volunteers and staff within SSAFA Wales.”

All at SSAFA send Wayne their heartfelt congratulations on receiving his award.