A COMMUNITY volunteer has been working at vaccination centres - spurred on after his grandfather died days before he was booked in for his vaccine.

Faz Patel, from Blackburn, who works in fire prevention for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS), was heartbroken when he lost grandad Moosa Ebrahim Jangaria, 83, on December 15.

When he found out the vaccination centres were seeking volunteers from the fire service, he described it as a "golden opportunity" to help the community while remembering his grandfather.

He said: "He had been excited to receive his vaccine and had been telling a lot of his friends within the Asian community to go when they were called to do so.

"Therefore, getting involved in the vaccination programme seemed like something he’d have wanted me to do and I did my first volunteering shift on December 22 in Darwen.

"I have met and spoken to lots of people who have come for their vaccine and the one thing I have noticed is the feelings of hope.

"People aren’t just getting the vaccine for themselves but for their loved ones and their community to ensure we get back to normal and that has seemed like such a selfless thing to do."

Meeting people from all corners of the world, with some from Finland, Panama and New Zealand that are now residents in the UK, Faz said this reminded him fondly of his grandfather who moved to the UK in 1961.

And Faz, who was awarded an MBE for his services in community work and community cohesion, speaks four languages fluently, helping him communicate efficiently with patients to reassure them.

He added: "It just goes to show what a diverse county we live in and I’ve spoken to lots of interesting people whilst they have been waiting in the queue.

"I speak fluent English, Arabic, Gujarati and Urdu which has also come in handy when working at the vaccination sites and have been able to help translate for the NHS nurses or provide reassurance.

"I will put Finnish and Spanish on my list to learn next!"

Since last March, Faz has been working with various charities including Benefit Mankind and One Voice Blackburn providing food packages to homeless and elderly.

He said: "I am proud to volunteer wearing my fire service uniform, explain to people why the service is involved in the vaccination programme and give fire safety advice to people waiting in the queue too!

"I am proud that I am ensuring as many people as possible, and as many people from a BAME background, are able to get the vaccine and hope that the work I am doing encourages as many people as possible to do so.

"It’s what my grandfather would have wanted and I am proud to be able to do this in his memory."

Faz is also well known for changing the clocks in the homes of the elderly every March and October, however last year he was unable to do this due to lockdown measures in place.