Allan Robson

A volunteer with AbilityNet for the past five years, Allan Robson helps older people use technology to change their lives. With a full-time job as an IT professional for a government levied organisation, Allan’s passion for IT saw him paired with 81 year old service user, Ruth, for weekly visits.

Initially helping Ruth with her online food shop, Allan went on to help her locate her favourite song for her funeral, contacting Cambridge Choir and speaking with Director of Music to locate her favourite track, before changing her life in a truly amazing way. Separated from her brother for 21 years, Allan searched across the Internet for his details/DOB/interests and discovered that electoral roll register results were available for a small charge. Paying the cost out of his own pocket, he discovered a gentleman around the same age as Alan (her younger brother), known to be residing in Stamford, Lincolnshire. Allan passed on the information to Ruth, who wrote him a letter asking him to get in touch if he was her brother. Two days later Ruth received a phone call from Alan, and has now been re-united with her long lost brother, after more than two decades apart.

Allan changed Ruth’s life, and has encouraged many more people to volunteer with AbilityNet, to change other people’s lives.

Finalist for the IT Volunteer of the Year Award, Allan Robson has gone above and beyond his duties as a volunteer. Visit the AbilityNet website for more information about how you can help older people and disabled people use technology and the internet. To find out who won the IT Volunteer of the Year Award, visit the Winners 2016 page.