Without volunteers, young people wouldn’t have the chance to transform their lives after cancer. Volunteers are the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust's heartbeat.
Whether supporting fundraising or providing an extra pair of hands on trips, our volunteers make an immeasurable difference.
Sometimes one supportive word or simply just being there can be the difference in a young person taking a life-changing step. You could be that hero.
To see the young people grow in confidence in a few short days makes my heart burst! It's a 'Ctrl+Alt+Del' on life; a complete reset.
"You never expect it because you’re not in it to win it, you’re just in it to help people and see the results of what you do." - Michael, 2025 Volunteer of the Year
The Luke Gilbert Volunteer of the Year Award was introduced in 2017 to celebrate the life of young person and volunteer, Luke, who sadly passed away in 2016.
Nominations are open for all volunteers, whether you met them on a trip, at an event or in another capacity, and anyone can make a nomination.
The only criteria are that a volunteer embodies Luke’s incredible personality, sense of humour and fun, enthusiasm and compassion. An independent panel, including Luke’s mum Julie, judges the nominations.
| 2016 | Paul Gavin | 2020 | Wen Stone | |||
| 2017 | Rosie McIntyre | 2021 | Juliet Sykes | |||
| 2018 | Rosa Coker-Burnett | 2022 | Gareth Sellors | |||
| 2019 | Alex Rickman | 2023 | Martin Graham | |||
| 2024 | Adam Brombley | 2025 | Michael Green |
Every trip I have done has been unique, but all have included belly laughing until there are tears, heated discussions about Uno rules, and so much food!
Our trips don't just change young people's lives - as a volunteer, Anniela says her professional life has benefitted from more than ten years of taking part in sailing adventures.
Find out more about Volunteer Anniela
Find out more about the trips Support the Trust
The Volunteer of the Year Award was introduced in 2017 to celebrate the life of young person and volunteer, Luke Gilbert, who sadly passed away in 2016. Nominations are now open for this year. Anyone can make a nomination.
The only criteria are that a volunteer embodies Luke’s incredible personality, sense of humour and fun, enthusiasm and compassion. An independent panel, including Luke’s mum Julie, judges the nominations. The winner is announced at the Trust’s annual Volunteer Training Day.