Thenue helps community with new volunteer programme

The trailblazing pilot project aims to provide community-led solutions to help families build community relationships and helps towards employment.

The project is part of what’s known as Calton Demonstration of Change (DOC), a multi-agency programme being led by Clyde Gateway as part of Glasgow’s Child Poverty Programme.

With a strong focus on early intervention, employment support, and community wellbeing this approach aims to improve long-term outcomes for families and is testing new ways to help families move out of poverty.

The latest reports show 25,690 children in poverty in the city which represents 26% of the city’s children.  More than 17,000 children are experiencing poverty in households where no one is in work. The level of poverty varies across the city with Calton ward the highest at 35%.

Now Thenue’s Volunteer Project aims to deliver local community volunteer opportunities to engage and equip local people with practical skills. The project is rooted in the belief that volunteering can be a powerful pathway to employment, wellbeing, and community connection and help families move out of poverty. It will endeavour to eliminate multiple barriers to sustainable employment.

The focus will be on:

• Empowering local residents with practical skills to boost employability and social connection
• Maximising the housing association’s important community assets such Elcho Gardens, a popular green space in Calton and the nearby Calton Heritage and Learning Centre. CHLC is run by its subsidiary Thenue Communities. The Centre was launched 12 years ago and has been a remarkable success in its drive to bring people together and create a valued community hub.
• Promoting the benefits of volunteering for individuals, families and the wider community
• Creating flexible, inclusive volunteering pathways that reflect the needs and strengths of the individual volunteers

The volunteers will be supported by a newly appointed dedicated volunteer co-ordinator, Christopher Somerville.

Christopher said: “I’m delighted to have joined Thenue which continues to play a vital role in ensuring the wellbeing of the people it serves. I’m excited to support local families find opportunities to contribute to their communities, and build their skills.”

Ruth Adam, community regeneration manager at Thenue, added: “This pilot project further underlines the important place housing associations have in their respective communities - going far beyond just collecting the rent. Working at grass roots level, Thenue places strong emphasis on supporting our tenants and the wider community and we expect the initiative to be widely welcomed across our communities.”