A Bristol-based surveyor has been presented with a national award for the helping the community in a retirement village during the first Covid-19 lockdown.
Rob Adams, who works in the hotels valuation team at global real estate advisor Colliers International’s Bristol office, was named as a ‘Superhero’ at the annual UK awards staged by property industry publication EG. 
The category was created this year to champion those who have gone above and beyond during the coronavirus pandemic.
Rob was nominated by Colliers International for the way he had stepped forward while on furlough to help at the newly-opened Your Village Shop in Stoke Gifford Retirement Village.
Husband-and-wife team Lucy and Richard Smith had opened the shop just before lockdown in response to a plea from ExtraCare, the operators of the 261-home retirement village.
Rob had originally intended to volunteer for just one day a week but instead he found himself helping out for four days every week.
On a typical day he would be on his feet from 9.30am to 4.30pm, making trips to suppliers and walking 5km around the village to drop off order sheets to residents.
He would then make the same trip again to collect the orders, before packing and delivering them to customers.
Often Rob was the only person some residents saw all day, so he made sure he took time to chat outside their homes with them and give them with much-appreciated social interaction.
He also used his professional expertise to build up the shop’s profile with wholesalers and create remote customer order and distribution systems.
Hosting the virtual awards ceremony, EG editor Samantha McClary described Rob as an “outstanding individual” who had been a “real life superhero” to those he had supported.
She said: “Rob made personal sacrifices to help others feel safe and cared for. Not only did he volunteer at his local retirement village during his furlough, but he used his skills to help build successes.”
Colliers International UK and Ireland CEO Tony Horrell added: “We are very proud of Rob for the way he did so much to help elderly people in the local community at a very difficult time. This award provides well-deserved recognition of his commitment to helping others.”
Although Rob is no longer on furlough, he still volunteers at the shop on Saturdays.
He said of the award: “I’m so happy to have won. I’d like to thank Lucy and Richard, who have helped create a strong community around the retirement village in such an uncertain period.
“For me it was about helping and continuing to assist the local community as best I can in a difficult and uncertain time, and I’d encourage anyone who can any spare even an hour of their time to volunteer, as it really can help make a difference.”
Lucy Smith said she and her husband Richard were delighted that Rob had been recognised for the support he had provided in a variety of ways.
“We are so chuffed. Rob came to volunteer at an incredibly challenging time and made a huge difference to the lives of many people,” she said.
“I really don’t think Richard and I would have been able to cope with the demands of starting up the shop and running it during lockdown if it hadn’t been for Rob.
“He did much more than bring solutions to numerous complex operational matters though. Our intention was always for the shop to be more than just a place to buy things. We also wanted it to be a way to build community and social inclusion, and this was more important than ever during lockdown.
“Rob totally understood this was about far more than delivering shopping to people. He realised that many of them were not seeing anyone for days and days and would spend time talking to people and building relationships.”
Pictured: Rob Adams, centre, with Lucy Smith and Richard Smith at Your Village Shop in Stoke Gifford Retirement Village
