Sir Harry Burns, born and raised in Barrhead, was joined by Peter Kelly, chief executive of the Poverty Alliance.

The packed AGM was attended by tenants, local residents and stakeholders and partners of the housing association, which owns and manages more than 1000 homes across East Renfrewshire.

Chairman John Hamilton said: “The AGM was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the past year, celebrate achievements and look ahead to strengthening further our relationships with customers, stakeholders and partners.”

Sir Harry, professor of global health at the University of Strathclyde, shared insights and learnings from his remarkable career in medicine and public health. He served as Scotland’s chief medical officer from 2005-14 and continues as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers in Scotland.

Mr Hamilton said: “From his early days as a surgeon at Glasgow Royal Infirmary to today travelling the world lecturing and sharing his knowledge and experience, Sir Harry has dedicated his work to understanding and tackling health inequalities. 

“He spoke passionately about how communities themselves hold the power to address these challenges.”

Peter Kelly has dedicated more than 30 years to campaigning for progressive social change. From leading the Scottish Living Wage Campaign to championing Challenge Poverty Week, Peter highlighted the importance of grassroots voices in shaping a fairer Scotland. His commitment to tackling poverty and inequality resonated strongly with the audience.

The AGM also provided the opportunity to highlight the contributions throughout the year of Barrhead tenants, including:

• Eddie Welsh and John Gaffney, who shared the Good Neighbour Award;
• and Robert Burns, who won Best Garden Award.

Other award winners, unable to attend, will receive their presentations soon.

Chief executive officer Lorna Wilson said: “It was a privilege to share the achievements of our tenants and team. As importantly, we were able to highlight our ongoing commitment to working in partnership with tenants to deliver excellent services and real value for money.

“We were inspired by the conversations, shared stories and the strong sense of community that makes Barrhead Housing more than just a social landlord, but an organisation committed to making people and communities thrive.”

Watch the AGM videos ‘Our Customers’ and ‘What it Means to be a Barrhead Housing Board Member’ here.