Bipolar UK volunteer wins ‘Volunteer of the year’ award

After dedicating over 25 years of his life volunteering for Bipolar UK, George Baugh, has been named ‘Volunteer of the year’ at the 2025 The Mental Health & Wellbeing Awards.

George, 70, now retired, lives with bipolar and co-facilitates the monthly Cardiff Bipolar UK Peer Support Group.

“I was diagnosed with bipolar in 1999 whilst reading for a degree in Genetics at Cardiff University,” says George.

“Before completing my final year, I experienced the symptoms of mania: racing thoughts, pressurised speech, losing touch with reality. I was hospitalised for about two months."

“It was a relief to be given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder as I was able to begin the process of understanding and learning about the illness.”

After seeing a poster for the Cardiff peer support group (founded in 1988) while he was in hospital, George attended his first meeting where he found it a “revelation” to hear the experiences of others living with bipolar and learn more about their management tools.

Speaking about George’s commitment to the charity, senior peer support officer, Helen Hancock said:

George’s recognition at the Mental Health & Wellbeing Awards not only celebrates his personal journey but also highlights the power of peer support, the importance of lived experience and the dedication of our community.

Bipolar UK would like to thank Ajuda and everyone at the Mental Health & Wellbeing Awards for this well-deserved acknowledgement of George’s incredible commitment to the bipolar community in Cardiff.