16 December 2025

Member Spotlight: “We have a voice, and we can and must use it to influence change”

In this video, CrossReach CEO Viv Dickenson talks about the organisation’s wide range of services, and the importance of speaking up for those in need of support.

CrossReach delivers care and support across Scotland. Through specialist teams in Children and Families, Adult Care and Older people, they operate over 70 services as the social care arm of the Church of Scotland.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Rosie Frew recently spent time with CrossReach, visiting a number of services. The short film series ‘Love from CrossReach’ captures these visits. The series explores the motivation behind work of CrossReach, meets staff who work for the organisation, and introduces some people who receive support.

In this latest episode, ‘It’s Complicated’, the challenges within the social care system are explored. Hear from Viv Dickenson, CEO of CrossReach, about the importance of working together with other social care providers, so that we can ensure those in government are well informed about the challenges being faced in Scotland today.

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19 November 2025

Member Spotlight: Phoenix Futures on the ‘Restorative Power of the Outdoors’

In our latest Member Spotlight, Rachel Hudson, Living Skills Worker at Phoenix Future’s Recovery Housing Service in Glasgow, explores the role of nature in recovery from drugs and alcohol.

Image of author Rachel Hudson. Rachel has long dark hair and is wearing all black. She is standing looking at the camera and smiling.
Image of author Rachel Hudson. Rachel has long dark hair and is wearing all black. She is standing looking at the camera and smiling.

Rachel Hudson, Living Skills Worker at Phoenix Future’s Recovery Housing Service in Glasgow

At Phoenix Futures Scotland, we believe recovery from drugs and alcohol is not only possible, but also transformative. Our mission is to help people reach their full potential, for themselves, their families, and their communities. At the centre of this vision lies our Recovery through Nature (RtN) project, a programme that harnesses the restorative power of the outdoors to support people on their recovery journey.

A pathway to healing

Recovery through Nature is more than a therapeutic programme, it is a pathway to renewal. Participants take part in practical conservation and horticultural projects, finding new purpose in activities that connect them to the natural world. At Phoenix Futures Scotland, RtN is a core part of the programmes we deliver in our residential, housing and community services.

Research shows that time outdoors improves mental health, physical health and recovery outcomes. Getting active on a regular basis helps boost fitness, strength, and energy levels. People who got involved in RtN in our services saw an additional 17% improvement in their physical health compared to those who did not take part.

Being outdoors and moving around can also help the body heal from damage caused by substance use. Plus, sunlight supports better sleep and increases Vitamin D, which can lift your mood, and that can really help with recovery. For alcohol use, there was a 23% improvement in outcomes for those who took part in RtN compared to those who did not. We also see that people who take part in Recovery through Nature are nearly twice as likely to finish their recovery programme.

“Recovery through Nature is more than a therapeutic programme, it is a pathway to renewal.”

In nature, people discover space to slow down, reflect, and restore balance. This is especially vital during early recovery when stress levels are high. The secret to RtN’s success is simple: creating safe, enjoyable environments where learning and growth can flourish.

Trees being planted at Phoenix Forest at Glenlude

Phoenix Forest at Glenlude

Rediscovering joy

I am a Living Skills Worker in our Recovery Housing service in Glasgow. From canal banks to hilltops, we have embraced RtN as a way to reconnect with the world around us. We run Recovery through Nature as part of the programme we deliver and each activity offers a fresh perspective, reminding our residents that recovery is not just about overcoming challenges, it is about rediscovering joy.

Earlier this year, we partnered with North-West Recovery Community to deliver a 12-week programme at Hamiltonhill Claypits Local Nature Reserve. Together with local organisations, we offered sessions ranging from forest meditation and fire ceremonies to water sports. The diversity of experiences helped participants see nature not just as scenery, but as an active partner in their recovery.

One participant reflected: “I love the outdoors, but due to my addiction I had been unable to see it. Recovery through Nature has helped me get back out, and I’m able to see and appreciate it again.”

A group of people in a forest digging and looking at the earth

Phoenix Future’s Recovery through Nature project

Sharing stories and growing together

Our collaboration with the University of Stirling brought Recovery through Nature to a wider audience through the Green Threads documentary. This project highlighted the profound impact of nature on wellbeing, giving our participants a platform to share their voices and experiences.

At the Concrete Gardens allotment in Glasgow, our residents have embraced our ‘seed to table’ ethos and have learnt to grow, harvest, and cook their own food. This not only provides fresh, healthy meals for our residential service but also teaches valuable life skills. Growing food together shows that recovery, like gardening, requires patience, nurture, and time.

Our work at the Calman Centre at Gartnavel Hospital, alongside the Beatson treatment facility, has been especially meaningful. Our residents have helped develop gardens that support people in recovery, with one sharing: “It feels so good to get out into the community and be able to give something back.”

Celebrating recovery through nature

This year, we are proud to have been shortlisted in the 2025 Nature of Scotland Awards in the Health and Wellbeing category, alongside our wonderful partners at the John Muir Trust. For the past 13 years, participants in our RtN project have been planting trees and growing the Phoenix Forest at Glenlude to celebrate everyone who has successfully passed through one of our programmes.

“The diversity of experiences helped participants see nature not just as scenery, but as an active partner in their recovery.”

Building partnerships, building futures

Partnerships are at the heart of Recovery through Nature. By collaborating with local organisations, we enrich recovery journeys and create lasting connections within communities. These partnerships ensure that participants not only benefit during their time with Phoenix Futures but continue to engage with supportive networks long after.

Whether it is planting a seed, climbing a hill, or simply spending time outdoors, every RtN experience helps people rediscover belonging. As we continue to build partnerships across Scotland, we remain committed to creating spaces where recovery can take root and flourish.

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24 October 2025

“It’s the start of a culture shift in how Scotland supports mental health”

Member Spotlight: Ewan Hay, Service Manager at The Nook from SAMH in Glasgow, shares how the project aims to break down barriers to accessing mental health support.

The Nook is the most ambitious project in SAMH’s 102-year history. Beyond that, it is the largest mental health charity initiative in Scottish history. It’s a groundbreaking £10 million plan that aims to revolutionise access to support for tens of thousands of people.

The Nook in Glasgow, where I am manager, is the first in a national network of walk-in mental health support hubs, enabling anyone in Scotland to ask once and get help fast.

We know that Scotland is in a mental health crisis, with demand increasing, waitlists growing and services stretched to breaking point. The Nook is our response. It provides barrier-free access to mental health support, with no need to book an appointment or get a referral, in a safe, welcoming, stigma-free space.

It will also help to relieve pressure on the NHS by supporting people that may be on a long waitlist, delivering preventative care and early interventions. Before this role, I worked as a paramedic and project coordinator. I saw firsthand how delays and long waitlists for mental health support can have a significant impact on people’s wellbeing. When I heard about The Nook and SAMH’s commitment to offering support with no need for a referral or waitlist, I knew it was something I wanted to be part of.

What makes this role unique for me is the combination of professional and personal purpose. As a paramedic, I was often the first person to meet someone in crisis, but I rarely got to see what happened after that first call. Here, I get to be part of the ongoing support, seeing people move from that first ask for help to recovery, sometimes just through a single meaningful conversation.

Help at The Nook ranges from one-to-one support and group sessions to talking therapies. We will also roll out an extensive outreach programme, helping many thousands more based in surrounding areas.

But the real innovation isn’t just in what we offer, it’s how we offer it. The Nook is about human connection first and foremost. We meet people as they are, not as a referral or diagnosis. I believe that’s crucial: when you remove barriers, when you make it easy to ask for help, people actually do. That’s where real prevention begins.

A photograph of the interior of the Nook in Glasgow, showing a cosy seating area with a window seat and a red armchair next to a small table.Our expertise is non-clinical mental health support, so the space has been deliberately designed to be welcoming, accessible and inviting. I’m fortunate that in addition to my team of practitioners, I also have the support of trained volunteers to welcome anyone who walks through our doors.

As a team, we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to make The Nook feel different, less like a service, and more like a community. Everyone who comes through the door is treated as an equal. There’s no stigma, no judgement, and no time limits on being heard. My hope is that this approach helps people reconnect with the idea that support can be simple, human and immediate.

The Nook in Glasgow opened its doors this month, with Aberdeen to follow next year and plans for Edinburgh, Inverclyde and Lanarkshire already in the works.

For me, this is more than just the start of a project, it’s the start of a culture shift in how Scotland supports mental health. If The Nook proves anything, I hope it’s that we can build systems that put compassion and accessibility at the heart of everything.

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24 September 2025

Member Spotlight: “We have the expertise, imagination and passion and we are going to put it to work”

Mark Bevan, Chief Executive of national respite charity Leuchie House, on rethinking its response to future need – and its aim to grow impact tenfold by the end of the decade

The typical age of diagnosis of a long-term neurological condition, for those Leuchie serves, is in the late 40s / early 50s. It’s a time when most of us are mortgaged to the hilt, working as hard as we ever have done and if we have children, they need all of our support through their difficult teenage years.

It’s against this backdrop that a diagnosis occurs, often after a long process. Very soon, many will no longer be able to walk, work will become impossible and with the loss of employment comes the loss of income, friends and the opportunity to support a family.

A healthy, independent and fulfilled future can seem impossible to imagine and trying to get support from our overwhelmed health and social care service is a daily battle. A visiting GP said last week that it takes on average two years for a specialist neurological appointment.

Help with care at home is getting even harder to find. This means that ever more physical and emotional responsibility for health and care delivery falls to immediate family, who themselves can become overwhelmed, exhausted and isolated.

This is not only a challenge today for a few vital individuals. With an ageing population and reducing workforce in Scotland there will come a point, within all of our lifetimes, when there is an insufficient care workforce to meet the needs of the significant many. Some would say we have reached the tipping point already.

This is being experienced today by many who need health and social care now. It’s a concern we are beginning to address at Leuchie, with those who come to have a break with us who have a condition such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Motor Neurone Disease and some aspects of stroke.

For nearly 15 years the Leuchie House team has been developing award-winning and Grade 5/6 quality health care and support services in the face of growing demand, a challenging labour market and ever tighter fiscal constraints.

With people coming to Leuchie House from all over Scotland and further afield and with bookings running a year or more ahead, we face a challenge: how do we do more of what we do well?

Our first response was to fundamentally re-imagine respite. We had fallen into a trap of conflating our purpose, with how we go about delivering that purpose. The walls of our building had become a constraint on our thinking.

So, we took on a purpose-built holiday home with the highest levels of equipment and access standards. This enables families to have a break together. On the strength of this we worked with a manufacturer to produce a highly accessible caravan, which we now also run. These two facilities doubled the number of families we could support and broadened that support, beyond the walls of Leuchie House.

We began to look at the causes of stress in the lives of the people we support as a route into thinking and creating solutions around what people wanted respite from.

We identified health improvement, re-enablement through technology and re-connecting people to social and professional relationships as three priorities. Consequently, we invested in a highly sophisticated in-house team of allied health professionals including an in-house health care technology team. We now ensure that the impact of a break can last long beyond the break itself.

As we approach our 15th birthday in 2026, we will step up this way of thinking about future need and we will respond. Our intention is to grow our impact tenfold by the end of the decade, and to do so in four ways:

We will:

  • Provide physical, building based & specialist services where they don’t exist today.
  • Be present through technology in the homes of people who we don’t reach in physical resources.
  • Deploy and manage enabling technology to maximise independence within people’s homes.
  • Reach into the rich experience and expertise, developed over 15 years and in partnership with those we serve, their families, our NHS, universities, institutional grant makers and private sector investment to develop and deliver solutions through innovation and research.

Waiting for governments to answer the problems which we are driven to resolve is not an effective solution. We have the expertise, imagination and passion and we are going to put it to work…just like you do every day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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29 August 2025

“Care and support must be guaranteed for all those with dementia”

Member Spotlight: Jim Pearson, Deputy Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland, on the charity’s Stop the Cuts campaign and its work to build a national, consistent standard of care

At Alzheimer Scotland, it is our mission to make sure that nobody faces dementia alone.

Dementia is caused by disease processes such as Alzheimer’s disease and is a progressive and life limiting condition which, over time, affects every aspect of daily life.

A diagnosis of dementia is life-changing not only for the individual but for their family. It is Alzheimer Scotland’s view that every person diagnosed with dementia has the right to receive the proper care, treatment and support which responds to the changing, often complex, symptoms and needs as the illness progresses.

However, too often we hear from people living with dementia and those who care for them that they are left alone to deal with the changing and increased levels of need dementia brings, with often limited or no help.

While illnesses such as cancer, chest, heart and stroke all have clear pathways mapping out exactly how a person will be treated and cared for at every stage – dementia has no such pathway in place. There is often no offer of regular care reviews or annual check-ups with health professionals.

Right now, in some of the most extreme funding cuts ever seen, vital health and social care services supporting tens of thousands of people living with dementia, their families and carers are being forced to reduce the support they can offer, or in many cases close completely.

In a desperate bid to plug predicted budget gaps, Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) across Scotland are having to find millions of pounds of savings. Much of those savings are being planned by cutting funding from their older people and community care budgets, where the mainstay of community support and dementia-specific services can be found.

These cuts are both unacceptable and short sighted. They will inevitably lead to more people experiencing avoidable crises, increased levels of need, and growing demand on an already overstretched health care system through avoidable and more expensive hospital admissions.

Scotland is sleepwalking into a dementia care crisis.

It is these issues that inspired Alzheimer Scotland to launch a new national campaign to ‘Stop the Cuts’ to community dementia care funding. In a matter of weeks more than 12,000 people have signed our petition in support of the campaign.

We have also been inundated with messages of support and high levels of engagement on our social media posts, helped by support from our CCPS partners.

The campaign calls for the introduction of a guaranteed national pathway where evidence-based interventions are offered to everyone with a dementia diagnosis throughout the progression of their condition – every time, everywhere throughout Scotland.

It is estimated that around 90,000 people in Scotland are living with dementia, and this number is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. As the population ages, the demand for dementia services will inevitably increase, making it essential that we have robust systems in place to support those in need.

It is not right that dementia care is left to a postcode lottery.

We have written to all MSPs, MPs and council leaders across the country, as well as to ministers and local government body COSLA calling for urgent action.

As we look ahead to the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026, we will continue our campaign to stop the cuts, protect dementia services, and build a national, consistent standard of care that ends the postcode lottery for good.

To find out more about Stop the Cuts and to sign our petition visit https://www.alzscot.org/StopTheCuts/

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8 May 2025

“In whatever we do, the person always comes first”

Member Spotlight: 200 years after Right There began its vital work to prevent homelessness, CEO Janet Haugh celebrates the charity’s successes, while reflecting on the inequalities that persist for too many in society today

Over the last year Right There has celebrated its 200th year, a year that allowed us to celebrate and reflect on our roots, and the journey our charity has been on, supporting people experiencing and challenged with homelessness.

As we move on from this significant milestone and focus on the next part of our journey it strikes me that the issues that drove our founder David Naismith to start our charity back in 1824 to provide a lifeline for young men in Glasgow who were suffering from growing inequalities, are no different from the issues faced by so many in society today. And that is a reality that saddens me but also causes me intense frustration.

At Right There, as a charity we are driven by the desire to help individuals through preventing and tackling homelessness, one person at a time. Over two centuries the charity has expanded its demographic to support anyone of any age facing a tough time, with the vision that everyone deserves an equal chance to have a safe and supportive place to call home. Our support is tailored to the needs of each person, and we pledge to be right there for as long as it takes. We rarely think of this support in monetary terms; we measure our impact by the journey each individual takes, and the difference we make to their lives.

However, to mark our 200th anniversary we commissioned a study to evaluate just how much our support saves the public purse. We thought that was important given the current economic climate we are working and living in, and at a time when public finances are under more strain than ever. Our study illustrates the difference that our unique approach makes to taxpayers as a financial saving. Essentially, this defined our support in financial terms, with the hope that it would reinforce the vital role charities play in Scottish society. The research showed us that for the 4,000 people we support each year, the saving to taxpayers, using a social return on investment approach, is in excess of £300m. Given the current climate, the significance of this cannot be underestimated.

Our overarching focus at Right There is to prevent people becoming homeless and separated from their loved ones. But homelessness is part of a vicious cycle which can include people living with the effects of poverty, addiction, or broken relationships – essentially those who are most at risk of social inequality.

CEO Janet Haugh pictured at the launch of Right There’s social impact report last year

The evaluation was carried out in the context of economic, political, social, and environmental factors that have and are continuing to shape the third and public sectors, to show the social benefit to society achieved through our work. It looked at savings to the public purse through the likes of long-term health and social care, unemployment benefits, emergency accommodation and by helping to stop people’s problems from worsening.

Savings that were measured include the cost of NHS treatment for issues such as substance use and poor mental health; the avoidance of future interactions with the criminal justice system; the benefits of individuals moving into longer term, more sustainable accommodation and savings to the Scottish economy in supporting individuals towards employment.

Knowing that the work we do is saving taxpayers a significant amount of money is great, but knowing that our work helps people feel happier, safer, and more confident to take steps to improve their own lives is even better. And we know our approach works. By understanding that every person’s story is unique, and everyone’s route home is different, we tailor our response to the individual. In whatever we do, the person always comes first, and we are supporting more than 800 people each day with this approach.

While we can celebrate our achievements, we can’t get away from the fact that Scotland’s housing crisis is intensifying. We’re not at risk of crisis; we are living it. As a charity that has existed for over 200 years to help prevent homelessness, we are in no doubt that our work is far from over. Yes, our work is saving the public purse but that does not negate the need for investment, and the need to invest in this sector right now is more critical than ever.

Janet Haugh is CEO of Right There

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5 February 2025

“Staff in social care go above and beyond, regardless of the weather”

Member Spotlight: Angela Bonomy, Chief Executive Officer at Sense Scotland, reflects on Storm Éowyn and the people who risk their own safety to provide essential support to others

Friday, 24 January 2025 is one of those dates we’ll all remember in the future – the day that Storm Éowyn and a Met Office danger to life red weather warning descended on Scotland.

It was the day that schools and nurseries closed; the day that Tesco wasn’t open; the day that the bins weren’t emptied; the day that there was no public transport; the day that GP appointments weren’t available; and the day after the Government sent an emergency alert message to all of our phones. It was enough to remind us all of lockdown.

Everyone was told: stay at home. Don’t travel. Stock up on candles and bread. Keep safe.

Everyone, that is, except social care organisations, including my own, Sense Scotland.

At Sense Scotland, we support people with complex learning and physical disabilities and sensory impairments, most of whom are also non-verbal. Many of the people we support live in their own homes, supported by Sense Scotland staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Staff are there to enable them to live their best lives, do things that most of us take for granted, and keep them safe.

For many of our services, closing was not an option.

Thursday, 23 January was a critical day for us. The day before Éowyn descended on Scotland is when the planning started – closing the services we were able to, and for all others, making sure staff were available for all shifts, establishing whether they could get to those shifts (with no public transport available), contingency planning for those who might not be able to make it despite their best efforts, and acknowledging that staff would also have logistical difficulties in their own lives. Staff communication had to be clear and fast-moving, and strike the balance between serious, but not scaremongering.

When the 24th dawned, we were as prepared as we could be, but still knew that the best laid plans gang aft agley…

Our fantastic teams were in constant contact throughout the day, checking in on staff and people supported. Miraculously, for our services that remained open, all shifts, no matter the time of day or night, were covered, and everyone remained safe. Absolute bloomin’ legends!

And the point I haven’t mentioned so far? All of these people who risked their own safety and disrupted their own lives to keep the people we support safe are paid the princely sum of £12 an hour, which equates to just over £22k per year.

Storm Éowyn isn’t an isolated event – staff in social care, like our staff at Sense Scotland, go above and beyond, regardless of the weather. They’re driven by their compassion and drive to make a difference; to ensure that the people they support are safe, happy, and healthy. But the events of the 24th January 2025 really put into perspective just how far staff in social care will go to make sure this is the case.

I hope you will join me and the rest of CCPS in calling for the Scottish Government to invest more in the social care sector and reward staff proportionately to their efforts. We can’t control the weather. But we can all play our part in making sure social care staff get what they deserve – a fair wage.

Angela Bonomy is Chief Executive Officer at Sense Scotland

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3 December 2024

“To help shape the future of social care, it’s vital that we act on the right voices”

Member Spotlight: Carr Gomm’s National Involvement Group is showing how to place the perspectives of those who navigate the system every day at the heart of change, says Becs Barker

Amid ongoing discussions about the future of Scotland’s social care, listening to the voices of those with lived experience has never been more vital. Debates around the National Care Service, fair work, equal access, and person-centred support often dominate the headlines. But it is vital that these conversations are grounded in the perspectives of those who rely on and navigate the social care system every day.

At Carr Gomm, we are dedicated to ensuring these voices are heard, amplified, and acted on. Through our National Involvement Group, we champion the involvement of people we support in shaping not only our organisation but also the wider social care landscape.

Pictured right: Charlotte from the National Involvement Group chats with Lucy Wren, Chief Executive for Carr Gomm and Becs Barker, Operations Manager, Involvement

Elevating Voices, Shaping Change 

Our National Involvement Group plays a vital role in shaping both our organisational strategy and broader social care policy. They are instrumental in developing our Strategic Plan, ensuring that the perspectives of those receiving support remain central to Carr Gomm’s strategic direction. Recognising that connection and learning are fundamental rights, they have championed digital inclusion, enabling us to expand opportunities for people to connect, learn, and maintain their wellbeing through digital platforms. They also continually refine our Welcome Handbook, making it more accessible and truly reflective of the people we support.

The group’s impact extends far beyond our organisation, with our members serving as vocal advocates at the national level. They provided critical insights to the Independent Review of Adult Social Care, with one member describing a powerful moment of feeling directly heard by the Health and Social Care Minister. They actively participate in Scottish Parliament consultations, particularly around Self-Directed Support, boldly challenging the complex language used in the bill that was “clear as mud” and obscured understanding. On the National Care Service, the group consistently emphasise one crucial message: Government and Parliament must listen to and include people who need social care — they are the genuine experts.

Community and Connections

A sense of belonging is important to the group who, whilst valuing their opportunity to influence Carr Gomm and wider social care policy, have developed a sense of connection with one another. Recently, the group connected with Enable Ukraine, a social care organisation in Ukraine, demonstrating that shared humanity transcends borders. In their inaugural meeting, members from both countries connected through hobbies and shared interests, seeing each other as individuals, rather than being defined by circumstance.

Our National Involvement Group represents more than a consultation mechanism. It’s a dynamic network that proves what’s possible when we genuinely listen and act on lived experiences. We’ve seen tangible results from this group’s involvement. Concerns about our bi-annual questionnaire’s accessibility led to a complete redesign. Members’ desire for more community involvement prompted us to create a dedicated Involvement Development Manager role in our organisation.

Looking ahead

As we stand at a critical moment in Scotland’s social care landscape, one thing is crystal clear: people must sit at the heart of the conversation.

The people supported by Social Care have stories, insights, and wisdom. They know the intricate realities of navigating social care. They understand its strengths and its profound challenges. They are the true experts on Social Care.

It’s time we amplify these voices. Not just hear them but centre them. Because true person-centred support isn’t something we do to people — it’s something we do with people.

If you’re interested in chatting further or connecting with the National Involvement Group, please do reach out, becsbarker@carrgomm.org

Becs Barker is Operations Manager: Community Contacts, Involvement, Quality and Innovation, at Carr Gomm

Additional Resources:

Charlotte from the National Involvement Group chats with Lucy Wren, Chief Executive for Carr Gomm and Becs Barker, Operations Manager, Involvement

https://youtu.be/S3hTqcEnt_I?si=fGug4xkag8ij4Cw6

https://youtu.be/QVTripsODVE?si=1Iko7Mi4CHXloYvv

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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28 November 2024

“Can I have a bearded dragon?” What William’s question reveals about attitudes to social care

Member Spotlight: Julie McNeill, Visual Storyteller at C-Change, on why the charity’s work, like all of social care and support, means seeing the extraordinary in supposedly ‘ordinary’ lives

There’s a temptation to think that social care is something that happens ‘over there’, separate from the reality of the majority of the population’s daily lives. The truth is that all of us may be in contact with social care: this may be as a supported person, a family carer, an employee or volunteer or member of a community organisation.

Social care covers such a vast spectrum of personal and practical support for children, young people and adults in our society, supporting independence and improving quality of life. This undervalued, and often misunderstood, sector represents the very core of what it is to be human: what it is to care, respect, advocate and uphold the human rights of everyday citizens.

I’d like to share with you the story of William Rae, the Vice Chair of the Board at C-Change Scotland. William was previously supported by C-Change in Aberdeen. Over time he found that he no longer required support and was able to manage his own day-to-day life. He was determined at that point – instead of riding away into the Aberdonian sunset – to put his energies into using his experience, skills and knowledge to help social care organisations be the best they can be.

He started volunteering on the board at C-Change as well as other local charity organisations. His outlook and knowledge were invaluable. Earlier this year William was elected to the position of Vice Chair where his insight, his ideas and his lived experience have become a vital component of the decision-making processes of the organisation.

He has recently taken on the role of ‘Roving Reporter’, with a regular news bulletins disseminated to colleagues and people we work for to increase the visibility of the work of the board and help keep everyone informed of any changes/ developments/ good news. His dry wit and punchy headlines have made these reports an instant hit!

When C-Change first started working for William he asked the CEO Sam Smith if he was ‘allowed’ to get a Bearded Dragon. She looked at him a little baffled, wondering why he would need permission from her to have a pet of his choosing. He then went on to explain that he had been told previously that he needed to ‘prove himself’ with a goldfish first before he could care for a Bearded Dragon.

The Goldfish and the Bearded Dragon – C-Change

Needless to say, William got his bearded dragon and inspired a poem in process:

The Goldfish & The Bearded Dragon – Poem – C-Change

The message of ‘Why would you want a goldfish when you can have a bearded dragon?’ resonates wider than William’s story. We should be in the business of providing opportunities for growth, excitement, adventure and colour not simply ticking a ‘good enough’ box.

I don’t think it’s too grand to say that social care is noble work: it’s an immense privilege to be invited into people’s lives, walk alongside with empathy and creativity and be trusted to support someone to live the life they choose. Seeing the extraordinary beauty in the ‘ordinary’ lives of individuals is a rare gift. It is at the very heart of what it is to be a compassionate, rich, inspiring, cohesive community, but it requires hard work.

Social care is noble work – a career where you will always learn more than you impart. The lifeblood of the kind of society we should be striving to build with people like William showing us the difference between a life with a goldfish, and one with a bearded dragon.

Read more about William’s story in his own words here 

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21 November 2024

“We’re finding joy in the ordinary and focusing on the power of human connection”

Member Spotlight: Gerry Donnelly of Support for Ordinary Living celebrates the charity’s achievements, and explains why investment in the social care could allow them to do even more

I’m really pleased to be asked to contribute to CCPS’ Member Spotlight series. Our organisation takes part in many of the groups that CCPS facilitates, including the Communications Member Advisory Group, of which I’m a member. I wanted to share some of the work we’re doing at SOL and how we are striving to make our organisation the best it can be.

Appreciation Badges

At SOL our teams are empowered to innovate and work in partnership to provide high quality care and support. We are intentional about fostering a culture of appreciation and peer support that is driven by our values. In the last year our employees handed out more than 500 appreciation badges to each other, recognising the contribution they make to the lives of the people we work for. Through our HR system, we introduced appreciation badges to encourage recognition among staff. Each badge represents one of our core values:

  • Do the right thing
  • Make a difference
  • Take responsibility
  • Challenge the status quo
  • Look at the world from different perspectives
  • Find joy in the ordinary.

Staff can award these badges to colleagues along with a personal message. We can then see staff interactions in a social media style feed. This initiative has received positive feedback, making employees feel valued. Each month, one exemplary staff member is chosen as the “SOL Star,” recognising their contributions and values that embody SOL’s mission.

The Quality Checkers

Our Quality Checkers group, comprising people we work for and their staff, recently delivered feedback to SOL managers. The group gathers information from four audiences: the people we work for, SOL staff, friends and family, and external stakeholders. They previously gathered this feedback through paper questionnaires, but after receiving training based on the Care Experience Improvement Model, they now conduct face-to-face interviews. Their findings are then analysed, documented, and presented in video format, allowing managers to hear directly from the people who receive support. This powerful feedback session has led to the formation of an improvement group, with Quality Checkers playing a pivotal role in driving positive change.

SOL Connect

Our SOL Connect team continues to explore new and creative ways for people to use their support budgets. With a new office in Glasgow and our work across eight local authorities in Scotland’s central belt, it’s been a busy few months for the team. SOL Connect operates around the clock, 365 days a year. Support is provided through touchscreen hubs with a simple interface that users can tap to connect with our team. Those with dexterity issues can use a green button or SOL Connect watch pendant.

Our team assists with daily routines, medication reminders, social interactions, and connects users with emergency responder services if needed. When SOL Connect began 12 years ago, it served a small group with social support needs; today, it serves numerous people with diverse needs. Usage surged during the pandemic, especially for social interaction, prompting us to form the UPTAE? friendship group. Additionally, more people with mental health needs have started using the service.

SOL Connect succeeds because our team members come from care, not tech, backgrounds, ensuring they prioritise human connection. The technology we develop serves as a bridge between users and our trained staff, as well as friends and family. As the SOL Connect slogan says, “Connecting the things that matter.” We envision technology-enabled care becoming integral to Scotland’s social care landscape, balancing innovation with face-to-face support.

Watch a Scottish Learning Disability Week 2024 video about SOL Connect

UPTAE?

During the pandemic, we launched UPTAE? (as in “whit are you up tae?”) to foster connection amidst social restrictions. With funding from North Lanarkshire Council and the Lottery Community Fund, we created an online events group through SOL Connect hubs. Activities include dance, mindfulness, arts and crafts, Makaton, music, karaoke, and bingo. We provide participants with necessary materials, delivered to their homes.

The group’s success led to daily online events and in-person gatherings like “UPTAE Nae Good,” a Friday social with music, karaoke, and games. Initially a small online group, attendance has since tripled, including members outside of SOL who purchase memberships to join. Another highlight is “UPTAE Animation,” where participants collaborate with Nemo Arts to create stop-motion films, from writing the script to producing music. The project culminates in a premiere event where everyone can watch the final film and a behind-the-scenes documentary. We’re currently working on a second animation with a new group of creatives.

Watch a short animation about UPTAE?

The Future

Recent years have posed challenges for social care, but our team’s dedication and creativity have enabled us to continue supporting people in building the lives they want. However, the social care recruitment crisis makes it hard to attract and retain like-minded, innovative staff. While we focus on staff wellbeing through initiatives like mental health support packs, proper terms and conditions are essential.

If we had one Christmas wish, it would be for better staff conditions and investment in Scotland’s social care system. Resolving the staffing crisis would help us reach more people, relieve the health system, and ensure those in need receive proper support within their own homes and communities.

Find out more about SOL

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