1 - The Independent Resource Centre

Contents
PAGE
CONTENTS PAGE
1
OUR MAIN OBJECTIVES
2
MANAGEMENT AND STAFFING STRUCTURES
3
INTRODUCTION BY THE CO-ORDINATOR
4&5
ADVICE AND ACTIVITIES
6
AGE AND GENDER
7
TYPES OF ENQUIRY
8
AREA
9
MONETARY AWARDS 2006/07
10
MONETARY AWARDS 2007/08
11
DEBT/MONEY ADVICE 2006/07
12 & 13
DEBT/MONEY ADVICE 2007/08
14
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
15
COMMUNITY CONFERENCE LEADING TO ‘THE RIGHT TO EXIST’
16
DONATIONS
17
THE CHANGING FACE OF 627
18 & 19
MANY THANKS TO
20 & 21
1
Our Main Objectives
a)
To assist all those affected by social exclusion by providing information,
advice and support to the community of Clydebank and its environs on
matters of welfare and employment.
b)
To advance education by providing resource facilities for educational,
recreational and self-help activities.
2
Management and Staffing Structure
Chairperson
6 Centre
User/Members
2 Members
of Clydebank
Trades Union
Council
CENTRE CO-ORDINATOR
Welfare Rights Officer
Financial Admin
General/Information
Worker
Debt/Money Advisor
Advice Volunteers
Centre User/Members
3
Introduction by the Co-ordinator
T
he following report contains statistical information about services delivered at the
Centre between April 2006 and the end of March 2007.
There were many changes at the Centre throughout that period, and since then, including
harsh cuts to funding, a change of name and a new location. The Centre’s funding was cut
by West Dunbartonshire Council, greatly reduced by Community Planning Partnership and
removed altogether by Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire.
I began applying to various organisations for funding and soon realised during this process
that it may be advantageous to become a charity.
Community Links came to our aid. They drew up an application to Communities Scotland
and ScottishPower Energy People’s Trust who both agreed to match fund the Faifley
Welfare Rights Outreach service offered by the Centre. The successful application allowed
us to continue to offer the programme of advice based in Faifley and Knowes Housing
Association premises.
An organisation had opened for business near the Centre and was using a similar name to
ours which was causing confusion. This prompted discussion about changing our name,
which we duly did. We became the Independent Resource Centre and were granted
charitable status in October 2006.
A couple of months later RHI
Refractories (formerly Thor Ceramics)
notified me that due to redevelopment
of their land it would be necessary to
find an alternative location for our
Project.
We had enjoyed a very good working
relationship with Thor (especially Sandy
Barr) for many years and although sad
that the Project would have to move,
were happy to support the company with their endeavours to develop and thereby secure
employment for their workers.
The hunt began for offices that would accommodate all staff and volunteers, advice services
and educational and leisure activities, something that proved to be a long and arduous task.
4
It would not have been possible without the assistance of members of the management
committee and in particular George Cairney, who amongst other things liaised with officers
at West Dunbartonshire Council and executives from Communities Scotland.
Several buildings were considered but proved either unsuitable or unaffordable. Eventually
627 Dumbarton Road, Dalmuir was identified as a possibility and work began to make it
habitable. West Dunbartonshire Community Planning Partnership initially granted capital
costs of £35,000 for refurbishments and later gave a further £17,000 to install lighting and
heating.
Staff, volunteers and user/members were sad to leave the building where we had happily
worked, learned and played for almost fifteen years. We were nevertheless keen to take up
residence in Dalmuir during the first week in January 2008 following major renovations (and
whilst still carrying out minor ones) and were soon settling in to get on with the job of
advising and assisting members of the community.
In spite of the upheaval of moving, staff continued to deliver welfare rights and debt/money
advice, breaking only for the Christmas period. The Faifley Outreach service resumed during
the second week of January and towards the end of the month the Spanish and sewing
classes were underway again with preparations in progress for others to begin. Work has
also begun to transform the yard at the back of the building into a seated garden similar to
the one that was enjoyed by everyone who visited the Centre in Stanford Street.
We are pleased to have started working with Oxfam UK PP and have enjoyed hosting events
with them including one for approximately twenty national and international Oxfam staff
and directors.
It is a privilege (and great fun) to have met and worked with Dr Chik Collins, School of Social
Sciences at the University of the West of Scotland who is writing the story of the
Independent Resource Centre. We have struggled for recognition for years and it is so
comforting to finally meet someone who fully understands the ethos of the Centre and is
able to tell our story so eloquently.
We are all excited about the launch of Chik’s book in May.
Everyone is settling in to the new Centre. Summer is just around
the corner and we are all looking forward to having lunch in the
garden once again. Plans are underway for lots of new ventures
and for the first time the funding situation is actually positive.
5
Advice and Activities
There were four thousand, five hundred and nine enquiries made during 2006/07 in relation
to the many different types of advice and facilities offered at the Independent Resource
Centre, all of which are detailed throughout the report.
There are four full time members of staff including the Co-ordinator and three advisors
offering welfare rights, debt/money advice and assistance towards education and
employment. In addition there is a part time financial admin worker with the responsibility
of maintaining all the Centre’s accounts and a part time cleaner.
The Centre is responsive to the needs of its User/members and offers a wide range of
services as identified by the local community.
Staff are very ably assisted by welfare rights volunteers who offer advice and form filling
assistance and carry out reception duties. The volunteers undergo in-house training on the
welfare benefits system and occasionally attend external courses via organisations such as
the Legal Services Agency (LSA). The LSA offers courses and seminars on a wide range of
matters relating to the legal and welfare systems.
As well as working from the main office in Dalmuir, the volunteers assist with the delivery of
an outreach advice service from Knowes Housing Association and Faifley Housing
Association premises in Faifley on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday of every week.
The Centre also offers a volunteer service offering advice, assistance and counselling to
individuals with Autism, ADHD, Aspergers and related disabilities. The service is available to
anyone with a disability or behavioural disorder and is extended to include family members.
It takes place in the sensory room which is furnished with specialist equipment that the
volunteers have been trained to use.
Educational courses are arranged via liaison with West Dunbartonshire Council Community
Learning and Development department and are delivered by tutors from Clydebank and
Anniesland colleges. Ten new computers were recently installed in the multi-purpose
activity room, where the sewing and art classes also take place.
Individuals seeking employment have access to advice on back to work benefits including
Working Tax and Child Tax Credits, as well as assistance to compile CVs, covering letters, fax
information and complete application forms.
All services and activities take place in warm, bright and friendly surroundings.
6
Age and Gender
Of the four thousand, five hundred and nine enquiries made in the period covered by this
report, two thousand and three were recorded as male and two thousand five hundred and
six as female.
GENDER
MALE
2003
FEMALE
2506
The areas that resulted in the four highest totals of enquiries were Faifley, Dalmuir,
Whitecook and Drumry. There were more enquiries made from within the fifty to fifty-nine
year old age bracket than any other. Four hundred and eighty of them were health related
and in particular were for Disability Living Allowance and Incapacity Benefit advice and
assistance.
Age Chart
1194
1200
1087
1000
813
800
502
600
582
400
200
44
153
101
32
1
0
Birth
to 9
10 to
19
20 to
29
30 to
39
40 to
49
50 to
59
60 to
69
70 to
79
80 to
89
90 to
99
In the Birth to nine year old bracket there are forty four enquiries detailed. They are also
mainly for assistance given in relation to Disability Living Allowance. The greatest number of
enquiries relating to Council Tax and Credit Card Debt were within the forty to forty-nine
year old group which is also the second highest.
7
Types of Enquiry
The services available to the community of Clydebank include debt, welfare benefits,
education and employment advice. The following table details the various types of
assistance given between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2007.
TYPE OF ENQUIRY
SUB HEADINGS
NUMBER
OF
ENQUIRIES
MALE
FEMALE
Benefit Advice
Benefit Advice and Benefit Check
336
146
190
Benefits
Child Benefit, Child Maintenance, Hardship
Payments, Income Support, Milk Tokens, Pension
Credits, Social Fund, Benefit Overpayments, Child
Maintenance, Child Support Agency, Private Benefits,
Social Security, Discretionary Fund and Internal
Referrals.
Bereavement Allowance, Funeral Payment,
Department of Work & Pensions Notification,
Procedural Advice
Bursaries, Grants, College Queries, Access to
Vocational and Non-Vocational Courses.
Benefit Check, Industrial Injury, Job Seeker’s
Allowance, Redundancy, Related Allowance Earnings,
Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Sick Pay, Working
Tax Credit, CVs, Job Applications, Covering Letters
and support into employment.
Electricity, Gas, Winter Fuel, Heating, Rebates,
Energy Trust Fund, Personal Debt
Assist, Care & Repair, Child Support Agency, Credit
Union, Criminal Injuries, Custody Issues, Divorce,
Insurance, Retirement Pension, Social Work, Sure
Start Maternity
Attendance Allowance, McMillan Nurse, Carer’s
Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Health Care 1,
Incapacity Benefit, Maternity Allowance, Motability,
Occupational Health, Occupational Pension,
Prescription Charges, Sensory Hearing
Homeless, House Purchase, Housing Application,
Housing Benefit, Mortgage, Nursing Home, Grants,
Tenancy Agreement
Child Tax Credits, Council Tax, Insurance Tax, Inland
Revenue, Poll Tax, Road Tax, Overpayments.
Blue Badge, Bus Pass, Passport, Travel Pass, Visa
365
163
202
21
8
13
119
39
80
244
130
114
152
69
83
187
83
104
1336
734
602
355
126
229
564
218
346
47
279
25
101
22
178
44
17
27
446
142
304
7
7
0
2
7
5
4509
Enquiries
2003
Male
2506
Female
Bereavement
Education
Employment
Fuel
General Advice
Health/Care
Related
Housing
Tax
Travel
Bank Related
Bankruptcy/Trust
Deed
Credit Agreement
Insurance
Assisting Local
Organisations
Arrears, Bank Charges, Bank Loans, Overdraft,
Cheque Fraud, Ombudsman, Personal Loan.
Charge for Payment, Sequestration (Scottish Term
for Bankruptcy), Trust Deed
Car, Catalogue, Conditional Sale, Credit Agreement,
Credit Card, Mobile Phone, Motor Loan, Sky Box,
Personal Credit, Store Card, Store Credit
Insurance
Internet Access for Employment and General, Use of
Fax, Use of Photocopying facilities
Totals
8
Area
The Centre offers advice and assistance to the residents of Clydebank and outlying areas.
During the reported period this included four thousand, three hundred and thirty four from
Clydebank and one hundred and thirty two from Glasgow. A further forty three requests for
assistance were from West Dunbartonshire and further afield.
Stirling
2
Argyll & Bute
4
37
West Dunbartonshire
132
Glasgow
4334
Clydebank
0
2000
4000
6000
The Clydebank based enquiries were from the areas as shown below. As with previous
years the greatest number of enquiries came from the Whitecrook, Dalmuir and Drumry
areas, although Faifley is notably higher than usual, undoubtedly as a result of the outreach
surgeries delivered from the Faifley and Knowes Housing Association premises.
1200
1046
1000
716
800
400
200
585
530
600
195
23
85
133
227 209
170 208 162
44
1
0
9
Monetary Awards 2006/07
1st April to 31st March 2006/07
Between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2007 Centre staff and volunteers assisted individuals
to apply for unclaimed benefits, reduce or clear debts and obtain grants, loans and rebates.
The figures for the period were as follows:
Welfare Rights Yearly Awards (a)
Backdated Amounts (b)
£1,414,108.57
£ 360,388.79
£1,774,497.36
£1,414,108.57
£1,500,000.00
£1,000,000.00
£360,388.79
£500,000.00
£112,320.00
£0.00
Welfare
Rights
2006/07
Yearly
Backdated
Housing
Benefit
£34,000.00
Council Tax
The sum gained in relation to Housing Benefit and Council Tax that in turn directly benefits
West Dunbartonshire Council and local housing associations is detailed below:
Housing Benefit (c)
£ 112,320.00
Council Tax (d)
£ 34,000.00
£ 146,320.00
Housing
Benefit
6%
Backdated
Amount
19%
2006/07 Awards of Benefits
Council
Tax
2%
Yearly
Amount
73%
£1,414,108.57 (a)
£ 360,388.79 (b)
£ 112,320.00 (c)
£ 34,000.00 (d)
£1,920,817.36
(Total for 2006/07)
10
Monetary Awards 2007/08
1st April 2007to 31st March 2008
The following information is presented in the same format as that for 2006/07.
Welfare Rights Yearly Awards (a)
Backdated Amounts (b)
£1,922,414.99 (a)
£ 303,546.41 (b)
£2,225,961.40
£1,922,414.99
£2,000,000.00
£1,500,000.00
£1,000,000.00
£303,546.41
£500,000.00
£264,960.00
£107,000.00
£Yearly
Welfare
Rights
2007/08
Backdated
Housing
Benefit
Council Tax
The figures for 1st April 2007 to 31st March 2008 demonstrate that the amount of Housing
Benefit and Council Tax rebates gained is more than double the amounts for 2006/07.
Housing Benefit (c)
Council Tax (d)
(a) £1,922,414.99
(b) £ 303,546.41
(c) £ 264,960.00
(d) £ 107,000.00
£2,597,921.40
(Total for 2007/08)
During 2007/08 there
was an increase of
£225,640.00 gained
from the previous year.
£264,960.00 (c)
£107,000.00 (d)
£371,960.00
Awards of Benefit for 2007/08
£264,960.00
£303,546.41
£107,000.00
Yearly
Backdated
Housing Benefit
Council Tax
£1,922,414.99
11
Debt/Money Advice 2006/07
All types of advice and assistance given are recorded on a central database. The system is
used to ensure delivery of accurate and efficient services and for monitoring and evaluation
purposes. The following charts illustrate the types of enquiries made during this period.
There were 1,454 Debt/Money enquiries.
BANK
RELATED
28
2
Bank Arrears
Bank Charges
Bank Loan
Bank Overdraft
Bankruptcy
Cheque Fraud
Ombudsman
Overpayment
Personal Loan
12
36
3
1
1
227
The Debt/Money Advisor dealt with a total of
£1,232,064.98 between 1st April 2006 and 31st
March 2007. The amount of debt cleared was
£449,638.91.
During 2006/07 the Advisor dealt with £47,335.30 in relation
to Bankruptcy/Trust Deeds. Through experience of dealing
with bankruptcy, the Advisor promoted this, when
appropriate, as this as a better option in the clients best
interests.
Benefit
Overpayment
Child Maintenance
BENEFITS
Child Support
Agency
Income Support
2
9
8
Private Benefits
2
10
Social Fund
1
2
Social Security
CREDIT AGREEMENT
BANKRUPTCY/TRUST
DEED
16
28
Sequestration/Bankruptcy
Trust Deed
The advisor
assists individuals to negotiate repayments on
Social Fund, overpayments, outstanding Child
Support Agency and Child Maintenance
payments.
Car
Catalogue
Conditional Sale
Credit Agreement
4 16 2
1
1
1
1
5
Hire Purchase
32
54
Credit Card
80
Mobile Phone
Motor Loan
3
Sky Box
245
Debt in this area is often due to
unemployment, loss of Working Tax
and Child Credits, breakdown of
relationships and illness.
Store Card
Store Credit
Telephone
Visa
12
Debt/Money Advice 2006/07
EMPLOYMENT
National
Insurance
Contributions
3
Wages
6
Working Tax
Credit
1
HOUSING
FUEL
Electricity
54
26
Energy
Trust Fund
Gas
13
Homeless
2
6
There are occasions
when the
Debt/Money Adviser
is able to assist
individuals who fit
certain criteria to
access financial help
from the Energy
Trust Fund.
Of the 141 Housing enquiries made,
37% were from Faifley, 17% from
Dalmuir and 13% from Drumry.
Housing
6
8
Housing Benefit
32
70
Mortgage
Mortgage to Rent
12
The remainder were from throughout
West Dunbartonshire and from
Knightswood and Anniesland in
Glasgow.
Personal Debt
Rent Arrears
5
1
Secured Loans
Building Insurance
There were 207 enquiries for assistance in relation to
Council Tax debt amounting to £136,682.90.
With the advisors assistance clients were able to clear
£33,856.19. The balance is currently being paid via
weekly or monthly repayment agreements that have
Child Tax
Credit
TAX
Council Tax
1 3
64
Inland
Revenue
3
207
continued into 2007/08 and are reflected in the greater
amount of debt cleared for that period.
Poll Tax
Tax Credit
Following the preparation of a financial statement, the decision on the amount of repayment is
made by West Dunbartonshire Council and Sheriff’s Officers, based on prioritised debt and an excess
of income.
VARIOUS OTHER
CATEGORIES
2
6
GENERAL ADVICE
Multiple Debt
GENERAL ADVICE
Nursery
7
112
HEALTH/CARE
RELATED
Incapacity Benefit
INSURANCE
Insurance
Multiple Debt is the category used to
record assistance given to an individual
who owes money to more than one
creditor.
13
Debt/Money Advice 2007/08
1st April 2007 to 31st March 2008
There were 1,435 enquiries during this period as shown in the following table.
Category
Bank Related
Bankruptcy/Trust Deed
Benefits
Credit Agreement
Child Support Agency
Education
Employment
Fuel
Housing
Insurance
Tax
Number of
Enquiries
174
111
10
674
2
1
3
101
131
7
221
The total amount of debt owed was £897,808.38.
Fifty seven percent of this debt was cleared amounting to £515,011.28.
The advisor deals with a wide range of creditors, personal finance companies, mobile phone
companies, catalogues, banks, local authorities, sheriff’s officers and government
departments.
Council Tax Debt
2006/07
Number of Enquiries
207
Actual Debt
£136,682.90
Debt Cleared
£ 33,856.19
2007/08
Number of Enquiries
Actual Debt
Debt Cleared
153
£66,886.21
£35,938.38
14
Education and Employment
Of the two hundred and forty four employment related queries made, one hundred and fifty eight
concerned either employment advice, benefits, insurance or tax.
The remaining eighty six sought CV compilation, assistance to fill job applications, help to write
covering letters and references to prospective employers and various other practical means of
assistance towards employment.
INSURANCE
National Insurance -4
EMPLOYMENT
ADVICE
BENEFITS
Industrial Injury
Advice
1 6
Wages
71
2 1
4
TAX
Working Tax Credit -49
3
2
15
Redundancy
86
Benefit Check
Job Seeker's
Allowance
Related Earnings
Allowance
Statutory Sick
Pay
Statutory
Maternity Pay
78
49
27
4
PRACTICAL
ASSISTANCE
EMPLOYMENT
ADVICE
BENEFITS
When required an individual is referred to
local and national groups or organisations for
expert advice, including Learn Direct, Action
Team for Jobs, Job Centre Plus, Lennox
Partnership, ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and
Arbitration Service) and relevant trade unions.
Four males aged between nineteen and sixty,
and two females between forty and sixty
notified the Centre that they had gained
employment. They had secured five full time
and one part time positions.
INSURANCE
TAX
Non-Vocational Courses
Art
19%
17%
64%
Intro to
Comps
Spanish
Vocational Courses
Intro to Comps
12% 17%
Spreadsheets
13% Internet
45%
13%
Sewing
Spanish
15
Community Conference Leading to ‘The Right to Exist’
On Friday 3rd November 2006 the Centre hosted the fourth in a series of community
conferences on regeneration. The first three had been held in Govan, Partick and
Inverclyde.
The conference was organised by Clydebank Trades Union Council and the Centre and was
named ‘For a People’s Clydebank or Sold Doon the Watter’ and asked “What does
‘regeneration’ of our town mean for ordinary working class people?”
It was chaired by George Kirkpatrick, Clydebank Trades Union Council and the speakers
were Danny McCafferty former CoSLA spokesperson on Education and Children’s Services,
Dr Chick Collins Lecturer of Social Sciences at the University of the West of Scotland and
Mike Dailly Principal Solicitor at the Govan Law Centre.
Since this event there was a successful conference at Renton, with another planned for
Sighthill in March and a further one in Paisley in May.
Following the conference, Oxfam approached Dr Chik Collins to write a report about the
Centre’s history.
Chik began to research the Centre’s history with a view to compiling a report. He began
poring over the Centre’s archive material and interviewing people who had been involved
with the Centre over the years.
Within a few short months he had enough material to write a book. The story covers three
decades to the point where the Centre moves to its new premises in Dalmuir in January
2008.
The book will be launched on Thursday 22nd May 2008. We can’t wait.
16
Donations
On 27th March 2007, GEII donated 150 Easter eggs to the Centre for distribution amongst
volunteers, user/members and affiliated organisations including the Kirkpatrick’s Project
and Breakaway in the Carman Centre in Renton.
The eggs had been purchased by the staff and reps at GEII, European Tool over a period of
weeks leading up to Easter.
Mary Collins, pictured above right, said at the time “I would like to say huge thanks on
behalf of staff and users at the Independent Resource Centre everyone and GEII European
Tool Centre for their generosity. It is always heartening to know that there is such goodness
and kindness in the world and that people not only take the time to consider those less
fortunate than themselves, but actually do something about it”.
The same company also donated hundreds of Selection boxes during Christmas 2007 that
went to Centre volunteers and user/members, the sheltered housing tenants in Second
Avenue and to the Kilpatrick School. They have just delivered hundreds more eggs for this
Easter which have gone to Clippings school in Renfrewshire and have been distributed to
the sheltered housing tenants in Dalmuir.
Thank you once again to everyone at GEII European Tool Centre.
17
The Changing Face of 627
As mentioned at the start of this report the project moved to 627 Dumbarton Road in January 2008.
There was a huge amount of work carried out including repairing leaks, combating dampness,
creating new office space, replacing windows, replacing lighting, inserting reception windows and
decorating throughout.
The photographs below illustrate just how much has been
done to improve the standard of the premises.
Main Entrance to the Centre
Reception Area
Main Office
Debt/Money Advisors Office
Welfare Rights Office
18
Committee Room
Multi Purpose Room
Main Corridor
Kitchen
Garden Area
19
Many Thanks to:
I would like to extend my thanks to the many people who have offered support and assistance to
this Centre during the past couple of very tense and hectic years, to those who have been involved
for many years and to those who helped make the transition from our old building to the new one a
lot easier and smoother than it might otherwise have been.
George Cairney – for his tireless, dogged determination, commitment and dedication in ensuring
that the new building was brought up to scratch and made habitable for staff in record time. It is
only with the encouragement and support given and the work carried out by George that the Centre
was able to re-open to the public so quickly.
Patricia Rice– for her continued, invaluable input, advice and support as the Chairperson of the
Centre particularly in the many struggles to secure funding. Patricia is an inspiration to everyone
Chik Collins –for taking the time to listen, for his brilliant account of the Centre’s history, but mostly
for just being Chik.
Jim Boyle – for his assistance through our work with Oxfam UK PP, including the Regeneration
Conference held in November 2006 and Oxfam’s wish to document the Centre’s history as part of its
work with the Poverty Programme.
West Dunbartonshire Council – For the award of Core Grant to the project every year. Thanks to
Alan Troup at Community Learning & Development for assistance in obtaining educational provision.
West Dunbartonshire Community Planning Partnership – For awarding a grant to help carry out
major renovations to the new offices in Dalmuir and for further financial assistance to renew the
lighting and the heating systems.
Volunteers – Catherine, John, Isa, Jacqueline and Pam – for their hard work and commitment to
ensuring the smooth delivery of services to the community including an outreach service, by
assisting staff and helping to lighten the ever increasing load.
User/Members – For supporting their Centre and each other. Huge thanks to those recently
involved in making covers for the computers.
Clydebank and Anniesland Colleges – Thanks to the tutors involved in delivering the programme of
education – Kim, Madge and more recently Norma. Special thanks to Madge for going above and
beyond the call of duty by volunteering her services for a full term.
Management Committee – For playing an active role in the running of the Centre, supporting staff,
Volunteers and User/Members and for promoting the Project within their own community.
20
Faifley and Knowes Housing Associations – For working in collaboration with the Centre in
order to focus on the needs of those residents in the Faifley area affected by fuel poverty,
low income and debt. The established surgeries have helped to ensure the greatest
accessibility is provided for local clients as evidenced by this report.
CommunitIes Scotland – For their financial assistance through Wider Role money that enables the
Centre to offer the Outreach Service to Knowes and Faifley Housing Associations.
Community Links – Callum Smith and Stephen Horsburgh – for helping to secure Wider Role funding
to enable the Centre to carry out the Faifley Outreach Service.
Ellen Hamilton - I am very sad to report that one of our volunteers Ellen Hamilton, died in March
2008. Ellen had been unwell, but true to the kind of person she was, never complained about her
illness and played it down when anyone asked how she was. She continued to volunteer, carrying
out statistical input on the Centre’s database and spoke of how she hoped to gain employment as a
result. It was an honour and a great privilege to have worked with such a kind, warm and generous
woman.
Staff – I wish to extend my sincerest thanks to the staff for their support during the last couple of
difficult years. When various funding bodies simultaneously cut their allocation to the Project in
2006 they agreed that if necessary they would work voluntarily until the problem was resolved. In
addition they worked all hands on deck to pack up at Stanford Street and move into Dumbarton
Road. The loyalty and commitment from the staff has enabled me to continue through the very
difficult periods in the Centre’s history and ultimately allowed us to continue to deliver valuable
services to the community.
RHI Refractories (Formerly Thor) – for tremendous support to the Centre and the community at
large since the early 1990s. Significant recognition should be taken of the partnership between the
Centre and Sandy Barr which was crucial to the Centre’s continuity during drastic cuts to its funding,
throughout its life at Stanford Street. During the sixteen years that the Project was in Whitecrook,
Thor Ceramics offered very generous terms for rent. The story of the Centre’s history ‘The Right to
Exist’ by Dr Chik Collins would probably not have been possible without support from Thor Ceramics.
RHI Refractories is one of the last remaining large manufacturing companies left in Clydebank and it
is my hope that it continues for many years to come.
Mary Collins
Centre Co-ordinator
21