New Chair and Board members appointed

Voice
The Magazine of Victim Support Scotland
New Chair
and Board
members
appointed
December 2014
The last word in excellence
A new Chair, Vice Chair and two executive Board
members were elected at the Annual General
Gift of the gab: Prestwick Academy pupils Amy Cairns and Fern Murphy won
Meeting held in the Glasgow offices of the
a £500 cheque for their school in the VSS Ayrshire Schools Speaking
Contest presented by South Ayrshire Provost Helen Moonie. Report — Page 3
charity in november.
Stephen Meighan, who takes over as Chair
beating heart of this organisation,
President of Victim Support
from Interim Chair Jim Dow, said
the volunteers who every day carry Scotland, asked that her warm
he was delighted and honoured to
out our vital work”.
thanks be passed to Mr Leitch for
take up the post and would work
Mr Meighan was elected
his “outstanding service to Victim
to keep victims and the work of
unopposed as Chair and Trustee
Support Scotland”.
Victim Support Scotland at the
Mr Dow said that he had agreed
heart of the justice system in
Alan Dunipace, as Vice Chair.
to step in for three months while
Scotland. Mr Meighan has been a
Interim Chair Jim Dow, who
suitable new candidates were
trustee for five years, which he
chaired the AGM, paid tribute to
the work of his predecessor Bob
identified.
said had been a privilege.
Mr Meighan had shown clear
He added that he was proud to be Leitch who resigned in August and
able to accept his new role and he
former Vice Chair Susan Mallinder.
leadership qualities in his
would work to support “the
HRH The Princess Royal,
Continued on Page 2
2
Voice of Victim Support Scotland
An incredible year for VSS
Continued from Page 1
professional life and in
chairing the charity’s
Strategy Committee which
is developing the strategic
plan for the next five years.
In his statement the new
Chair put emphasis on the
need for clear consultation
and communication with
volunteers to engage them
and ensure the charity does
not lose touch with its roots.
Mr Dunipace has been a
Trustee on the Board since
2008. He said that he had
seen the work of VSS and
its volunteers first hand and
was committed to working
to enhance the status of
victims, witnesses and
volunteers.
The new Trustees elected
at the meeting are Fiona
Young and Desmond
O’Brien.
Ms Young has worked in a
range of senior roles in the
voluntary, private and public
sectors in the UK and North
America and has extensive
experience in developing
and implementing strategy.
She said she was pleased
to bring those skills to VSS.
Mr O’Brien, a chartered
accountant, has extensive
experience in charity and
Down to business: Attendees listen to a presentation at the AGM in the Glasgow offices of the charity
Stephen Meighan
Fiona Young
voluntary activities as
Treasurer of the Glasgow
Simon Community and
Ypeople and in previous
work with other organisations. He said he welcomed
the chance to contribute to
the important work of VSS.
The AGM also formally
elected Treasurer Janette
Mitchell to her post and the
minutes of the previous
meeting in Ayr were
adopted. Mr Dow presented
the Annual Report and said
Desmond O’Brien
he wanted wholeheartedly
to endorse the statement in
it by former Chair Bob
Leitch praising the
achievements of staff and
volunteers during the year.
Acting Chief Executive
Susan Gallagher reported
that it had been an
“incredible year” for the
charity with a huge increase
in contacts with victims and
witnesses to 223,000 and
very important advances in
the campaign for more rights
for those affected by crime.
She said: ”How did we manage this? Through your hard
work and commitment. I am
enormously proud of what
our people have done and I
want to say a huge well-done
and thank-you to everyone.”
Ms Gallagher said that as
well as campaigning for
furth victims’ rights , among
priorities for 2015 were promoting better services for
people bereaved through
murder and young victims,
developing case progress
information, concentrating
on income generation, and
delivery of a new website.
The Annual Report and
Accounts were formally
adopted and the meeting
then closed.
Voiceof
of Victim
VictimSupport
SupportScotland
Scotland
Voice
3
How to win
by going...
TWO 15-year-old pupils from Prestwick
Academy went off the rails recently… and
talked their way to a £500 prize for their
school in Victim Support Scotland's Ayrshire
Region schools public speaking competition.
The third annual event, sponsored by British
Transport Police, was
held in a lecture theatre
at the Craigie Campus
of the University of the
West of Scotland in Ayr.
Prestwick team Amy
Cairns and Fern Murphy’s winning presentation on the theme “Off
the Rails” took the idea
of a rail crash and used
it as a metaphor for how
young people could
crash in their lives, perhaps through drink or
drugs, and how that can
affect them, their families and friends. Following a last-minute withdrawal by
the team from Kyle Academy, pupils from Queen Margaret Academy (Jordi Sergio and James Abbot) and Marr
College (Fraser McArthur and Alexander Markin) battled
it out with Prestwick Academy for the top prize.
The winners also each received gift vouchers worth £50.
The prizes were presented by South Ayrshire Provost
Helen Moonie
James Brodie, OBE, the chair of the judging panel,
praised all of the participants and said the final decision
LEFT: Winners Amy
Cairns and Fern Murphy
with Provost Helen Moonie
BELOW: Teams and guests at the Craigie Campus event.
had been difficult to reach, and that all the pupils were a
great credit to their schools, families and communities.
Inspector Lynda Lang of British Transport Police said
they were delighted that they had been able to support
the event again and felt that the standards of presentations demonstrated how young people had a very clear
understanding of the society in which they live.
Vice Chair of VS South Ayrshire Alec Mooney said: “We
were very pleased with the night and it was a great
chance to raise our profile locally.”
4
Voice of Victim Support Scotland
THE inaugural Victim Support Scotland Golf
Challenge got off to a very successful start at the
Deer Park Golf Course and Country Club,
Livingston, on Friday, October 10.
Eleven teams of competitors, ranging from
enthusiasts to local and national businesses took
part in the event which raised a significant sum
for VSS funds. The success of the day was
measured by the enthusiasm of the competing
teams for a return of the fixture next year and a
date has already been set for Friday, September
4, at the same location.
The challenge was open to teams of three or
four at £300 for four competitors which included
sponsorship of a hole.
Highlight of the competition was the chance to
win a range of prizes for a hole in one including
an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2015 US Masters, worth approximately £20,000.
Unfortunately, that prize went unclaimed, but
there was a hole-in-one victor at the par three
10th hole. Adam Heslop, of the Clydesdale Bank,
who was playing with the team from lawyers
Davidson Chalmers, scooped the prize of a
£1,000 travel voucher.
Adam said: “It was absolutely amazing. I knew
there were prizes, but I didn’t know what it was
until after I had done it. I was shaking.”
It wasn’t a first for Adam ─ in fact it was his sixth
hole-in-one. “I hit the last one in 2013,” said
Adam, “but that was the first for ten years. It was
Voice of Victim Support Scotland
The ball’s rolling...
a sweet shot, but I was stunned
involved and the feedback
when it went in.”
from those who took part has
First prize in the competition
been really positive which
went to the Search Recruitment
makes all the effort
team who each collected £40
worthwhile and means we
vouchers for the Pro Shop,
can look forward to next
while a number of other prizes
year’s challenge with
went to teams and individuals
confidence and try to make it
including an Odyssey putter for
even bigger and better.”
the Nearest the Pin shot, to
The success of the day also
Stuart Donaldson of Keegan
means that there is now a
Pennykidd and a Lynx Driver
template for organising such
for the “Straightest” Drive
fundraising days which can
won by Jim Hogsflesh of Right
be used anywhere in the
Management.
country. All that is required is
A raffle also provided the
a club willing to help provide a
opportunity to win a number of
venue and local supporters.
other prizes including wine,
The companies who took
umbrellas, and vouchers for
part
at Deer Park all said that
Triumph: Adam Heslop was “stunned” when he sank his hole-in-one at the par three 10th hole
four-balls at a number of
they had found it not only an
to holding similar successful events, both at Deer enjoyable day, but also one which had allowed
different courses, plus one for the Ten-Pin
Park, but also potentially around the country. “I
Bowling at Deer Park.
them to entertain and network with guests while
want to thank everyone who helped organise and at the same time supporting a very worthwhile
VSS Director of People Development Andy
took part in the event. Their participation is much
Heapy, who helped organise the event, said it
cause. If you would like to organise a golf day,
appreciated. It was a great day for everyone
had been a marvellous day and opened the way
email david.sinclair@victimsupportsco.org.uk
Has the eagle landed? A competitor on the 9th green Will it or won’t it? A difficult putt on the 18th green
5
6
Voice of Victim Support Scotland
I know what it’s like to be a target
Sandra Haggerty has been a victim, volunteer and staff member and can share insights from all viewpoints
Q How did you get involved with VSS?
I was a victim of a stalker and Victim Support Hamilton was
just being formed at the time. I was in church and the
minister said they were looking for volunteers and I thought
it would be right for me. I was a volunteer for 12 years and
they kept asking me to take a job and as I got further and
further into training, the more I wanted to become involved.
I decided to take a job and it was the best thing I ever did. I
have been a victim, a volunteer and a staff member so I
have seen the reality at every stage. I can shake
someone’s hand and know how they have felt.
Q How does your day unfold as a Service Delivery
Officer at VS Hamilton?
Every day is so different and that’s what I like. There are
emails to check, CRM work, dealing with volunteers and
checking referrals. We share first contacts if there are
no volunteers available and then pass them on.
Staff have more opportunity to work with victims
since the last changes to VSS and that’s
important because we have a lot of
experience to share.
Q What is the most important part of
your job?
Reaching out to victims and helping others to
do the same. It’s great to bring volunteers on
and see them progress. I also like helping with
campaign issues, working with victims who want
to help make the system change.
Q What’s the most difficult aspect?
Not being able to do as much as
I want – to get as much
change as I would like to see. There are practical
difficulties too: one is housing which can often be a real
problem with anti-social behaviour. Victims trying to escape
violence often find it very difficult to find alternative homes.
And dealing with the Not Proven verdict can be hard. Some
victims can feel re-victimised. Although I can also think of
cases where it has been a help.
Q What’s the most rewarding?
Enabling victims to come out of their darkest place and
then seeing them move forward. That’s a great feeling – it
tickles my heart. We don’t differentiate between minor and
major crimes, but with the major crimes you deal with
victims for longer and get to know them well.
Q What would you change?
I want more power for victims. We have pressed things
forward a lot but there’s so much more we could
do. And the Government is listening at the
moment, so there is an opportunity. I’d like to
get more visibility for issues and build up
co-operation with partner agencies. Things
are working well, but we need to keep at it.
Q What wouldn’t you change?
Our relationship with victims – home visits
are so important because it establishes a
personal relationship. And empowering
volunteers. I love to see them become engaged
and develop. Whether it’s a student looking for
experience or a pensioner looking to use
their’s, they all have all got
something to give.
Change: Sandra Haggerty
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Voice of Victim Support Scotland
Team talk proves a winner
ALMOST 40 VSS staff
came together recently to
share knowledge and skills
and identify good practice
options to help us deliver
better services.
North Strathclyde, South
Strathclyde and Glasgow
and Strathkelvin teams held
an inter-regional team
development day.
Among the issues being
debated were equalities;
implementing the Victims
and Witnesses Act and
what it means in practice;
and identifying ways of
reaching victims of serious
crime who have not been
referred to us via ADT.
A number of five to 15
years long service awards
were also presented and
Jim Andrews, Chief
Executive of the Victims
Fund, paid tribute to the
commitment and input of
the recipients.
Staff got wholeheartedly
stuck into workshop
discussions aimed at
scoping out new and
different ways of tackling
some of the challenges
they face in delivering our
services.
And there was even some
long service celebration
cake to sweeten the day!
Thanks to Magnificent Seven
Working it out
GRAMPIAN, Highlands and
Islands Operations Manager
Malcolm MacBean recently spoke
to third year pupils at Alness
Academy Hannah Cochran, Jenny
Grant, Ana MacPherson, Hannah
Welch and Jerrica MacDonald on
the work of VSS which they have
picked as their charity for the
Youth and Philanthropy Initiative.
STAFF at Victim Support Lothian and Borders held their
regional team day recently and celebrated seven members
of staff who all received long service awards. Fiona
Thomson, Claire Cunningham, Karen Lawson, Cornelia
Trogmann, Tracey Curran, Laura Baxter and Gill Cain,
who have 58 years of experience between them, were
presented with their awards and thanked for their work
and commitment over the years.
Family day
g VS BORDERS held an
International Family Day in
the Langlee Community
Centre, Galashiels, and
Area Chair Liz Johnson
and Polish volunteer
Izabela Lipok were there to
help run the stall.The event
aims to bring people from
different cultures and
backgrounds together for
an afternoon of fun
activities, entertainment
and good food.
Tight lines!
g DIRECTOR of Finance
Nigel Fairhead is leaving
VSS at the end
of January
2015. Nigel,
who has been
with the charity
for just over
three years, since
November 2011, says he
has decided to retire “to
devote more time to my
fishing” and we wish him all
the best.
8
Voice of Victim Support Scotland
Glasgow hosts Turkish visit
THE role and work of Victim
Support Scotland as the
leading charity supporting
victims and witnesses of crime
in Scotland was the focus of a
high-level delegation from
Turkey who visited our
Glasgow office on December 9.
The delegation comprising
judges, public prosecutors and
the Head of the country’s
Victim’s Rights Department
spent two days in Glasgow
learning about Scotland’s legal
system and how our services
are delivered.
Presentations from the
Scottish Government, Crown
Office and Police Scotland
complimented a day of
information provision on our
partnership involvement with
justice agencies in Scotland.
Voice is published by
Victim Support Scotland
15/23 Hardwell Close,
Edinburgh EH8 9RX
Tel: 0131 668 4486
Fax: 0131 662 5400
Email:
voice@victimsupportsco.org.uk
Website:
www.victimssupportsco.org.uk
VSS is a company limited
by guarantee
Registered number 110185
Scottish Charity No SC002138
Information: Pictured with the delegation are (centre) A/Chief Executive Susan Gallagher and Scottish
Government A/Director of Justice Neil Rennick and (left) VSS Partnership Manager John Evans
The delegation also visited
our Glasgow Service Office
and Glasgow Sheriff Court
to see the important work
that is carried out by VSS
staff and volunteers.
Susan Gallagher, A/ Chief
Executive, said: ”We
are delighted that
international delegations
continue to come to
Scotland to see at first-hand
how support services are
provided to victims and
witnesses. It is a testament
to our reputation as the
leading support organisation
and our key role in working
in partnership with other
criminal justice agencies
in Scotland.”
Families’ fantastic fundraising feats
TWO families bereaved by murder have
made fantastic contributions to VSS
fundraising efforts with recent events.
The family of a woman murdered in Ayrshire, who wish to remain anonymous,
raised a magnificent £1,300 by organising a raffle at the Haven Craig Tara Caravan site on the Ayrshire coast.
One anonymous giver donated £300 and
Haven Holidays gave a four-day break at
the site next year which VS Glasgow has
put up as a prize in a local raffle.
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Fife couple Corinne and Kevin Turner
have raised £320 by organising a football
match for friends and family in memory
of their son, Daniel, who was murdered
in Glenrothes in October 2013.
Mr and Mrs Turner said they wanted to
give something back for the help they
had received from VSS. It is planned to
make the Daniel Turner Memorial Cup an
annual event and VS Fife ASB Co-ordinator Mary Cassidy said the charity was
very grateful for the family’s efforts.
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