36 mins
The Big Question
Maria Wilson, Project Co-ordinator, Glasgow Day Opportunities.
Mairi Baker, worker at Whiteinch Move- On Service.
“Our service is provided to the older community of Glasgow living in their own homes.
“We aim to help older people stay in their own homes by supporting them on a one to one basis.
“We provide befriending, social interaction, conversation, escorting, assisting with hobbies and outings. It helps them mix with others and stay interested and active.
“The impact on the service users from Glasgow Day Opportunities is amazing.
“It prevents them from becoming socially isolated, they can remain within their own communities, they can also be escorted to go out, shop, go to the theatre, leisure activities, visit places of interest and so on.
“The service allows our users to remain in control of their support – that is that they can choose the level of service that is suitable to them.
“We are truly blessed to have a good staff team who work very hard to ensure that all our service users have a high quality of support to them.
“It is quite humbling when we get feedback from the service users and their families, to know that what we do supporting them to remain in their own homes has a huge impact on their lives.
“Every day working with our service users is a true blessing. To be able to make a huge difference and have a positive impact on their lives is what our service is about.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever forget standing at Croy train station in autumn 2012. The high speed trains had become something of a morbid fascination.
“On this one particular day however a thought occurred to me stronger than normal, that I was literally a few steps away from making everything stop.
“It was a couple of months later, in November that I ended up in CrossReach’s Rainbow House.
“I had just turned 25 and couldn’t understand how I had ended up in such a desperate state.
“Only a year and a half earlier I had graduated from university. I arrived at Rainbow House with a few basic belongings and the firm belief that two weeks would be enough to ‘sort myself out.’
“The first week was a blur but slowly I was coaxed out of my shell by staff and peers. I think I had forgotten what it was like to have a conversation, to laugh with someone, to sit down and eat a meal. I worked closely with my keyworker and came to see the reality of my addiction.
“The Project was an amazing bridge between residential rehab and moving into my own lat. It offered me a supportive base for nine months where I could build up support networks, conidence and life skills. staff helped me to help myself.
“Today, thanks to the grace of God, the fellowship of AA and the people from CrossReach, I have the privilege of working at the Whiteinch Move-On service.”
Liann Weir, Managing Co-ordinator, Glasgow Children’s Services
Paula Pinda, Heart for Art Manager, CrossReach
Fiona Cockburn, former client, perinatal services, CrossReach
“I have worked for CrossReach since 2005, mostly in services for children and families. Since last year, I oversee our Children’s Services in Glasgow.
“I have been around for a while and had the privilege of seeing many many lives changed and the impact of the commitment and dedication of those providing CrossReach services.
“Within our services for children with additional support needs, I have watched children come through the doors aged eight and leave at age 18 ready to move on to whatever adventures their adult lives hold.
“I have seen relationships building at Daisy Chain between the team and parents. I’ve looked on as parents conide their struggles with mental health or domestic violence, often for the first time and are comforted and supported to move forward and thrive. I’ve observed little ones come through the doors and beam from ear to ear as they see our fantastic play leaders waiting for them with a smile and a hug. I’ve witnessed children in our school nurture groups slowly open up and connect with the team.
“I’ve been inspired as our teams have walked with families through some of their darkest times, the death of a child, diagnosis of disability, marital breakdown, a child’s cancer diagnosis, sudden and unexpected homelessness.
“For so many of our families, CrossReach has been a lifeline and I am proud to be part of the family.”
“Heart for Art is a creative service for older people living with dementia, supported financially in part by Life Changes Trust. Those who attend create their own selfdirected body of creative work. This allows people to take control of their self-expression; their identity; and feel empowered in the face of a dementia diagnosis.
“The service is so important to people who use it. One client, Sam, told us: ‘I really enjoy coming to this group because I am deined as an artist rather than an older person with Alzheimers.’
“There is a huge social aspect to Heart for Art: it brings people out of complete isolation, or allows them to spend rare quality time with their families and friends.
“We were told by one woman how much her mum’s participation had helped.: ‘My Mum died in August. Thank you for helping open up a whole new lovely chapter in Mum’s life, which I am convinced, helped to finally bring a bit of stability and contentment. I will always cherish those moments.’
“We also exhibit in local and national settings across Scotland.
“For us, this is an opportunity to reach out to others, and to openly tackle the stigma attached to dementia by boldly displaying the achievements of each individual. It also explores how the act of both viewing and making art can be a powerful way of connecting with self, forging meaningful connections with others, and improving the general well-being of those living with the condition and their carers.”
“I was diagnosed with postnatal depression after the birth of my daughter Jenna in 2016. Prior to this, we had struggled to get pregnant and then suffered miscarriages. I also had a potentially life threatening complication with the pregnancy.
“My health visitor suggested CrossReach. I had severe anxiety, and even getting to appointments was dificult. I attended Palmerston Place. The crèche team immediately put me at ease, as I was anxious about leaving Jenna.
“My counsellor was an expert in perinatal health and I found myself making progress relatively quickly. It was great to see other mums coming and going too, knowing that I wasn’t alone with PND. I began to gain in conidence, to sleep better – as much as my baby allowed! – and to socialise more.
“The impact CrossReach had on my life was essential, as the panic, anxiety and insomnia I had felt so bad sometimes that I felt overwhelmed, and needed Jenna with me at all times. Working through the traumas of the past few years was key to my recovery. The crèche was outstanding and Jenna was blessed with love and care from very special ladies.
“CrossReach is vital in providing expert care for mums like me. It helps us when everything is new, frightening and not as joyous as it should be. Without it, I would have struggled for much longer.
“As a Christian, I believe all good gifts come from God – I’m so grateful to Him for His provision of this service.”
This article appears in the January 2019 Issue of Life and Work
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