Glasgow Old People's Welfare Association

There are only three certainties in life; taxes, death and GOPWA maintaining its place at the top of the pile as champion of the elderly in this fair city of ours! An idle boast? Most certainly not! Who else can rightfully claim to be as dedicated and aware of their obligations to such a large and ever expanding section of our community as we can?

Come; spend some time with me if you will, as I take you on a grand journey of discovery through GOPWA 2009-2010.

So where to begin? Well, given that my responsibility lies primarily with supervising our 5 day centres it would seem wise to wax lyrical on the antics and escapades of those fine establishments, veritable epicentres of the GOPWA universe that they are!

I'll begin this informal review with The Fred Paton Centre for no particular reason other than its close proximity to Head Office, the beating heart of our fantastic organisation. Fred Paton Centre and Manager Michael Reilly are veterans of the Social Care game but continue to progress towards their ultimate utopian goal! Along the way Mick has welcomed entertainers of all flavours and has organised pleasure trips to the far flung reaches of Helensburgh, Largs and beyond!

Moving swiftly along the Great Western Road to the Temple area of the city, we find ourselves on the doorstep of the Gatehouse Centre. The past 12 months have very much been a year of transition for the Gatehouse as Tricia and co settle into life on board the mighty GOPWA bandwagon! Perhaps the single most significant event of the year has been the charity partnership with Rangers F.C. This joint venture has witnessed a number of superlative functions attended by staff, all with the intention of accruing enough money for the purchase of a new minibus for the Gatehouse Centre. Indeed staff from all areas of the organisation took to the stands of Ibrox prior to the Old Firm game on 28th February 2010 and raised a magnificent £2407.22.

There have been further collections at Firhill, home of Partick Thistle F.C. and at the Braehead Shopping centre that once more have observed staff and volunteers from Head Office, Cargill House and Gatehouse's sister centres give up their free time for the cause. Surely there can be no greater salutation to the close knit family unit that we as an organisation so richly cherish than the commitment and endeavour shown by all involved on those occasions!

A stone's throw away lands us in the knightswood/Yoker area, heartland of the Donald Dewar Day Centre. Like the Gatehouse, there has been a lot of adjustment down Dornal Avenue way recently but manager Tony Thomson and his staff have coped admirably. I know from my tenure at the centre that Donald Dewar staff and service users have a proud history of creating enjoyable and successful fund raising events. Well it seems Tony has determined to continue this tradition, franking this practice with his own stamp in the process. Probably the most innovative and exciting edition to the roster of fundraising spectaculars has been an evening of dance and live music performed by Tony (who is a musician of some renown in his other life) and his band partner Eric. On May 21st this year, Tony and Eric, who form the duet, Perfect Strangers, performed to an audience mesmerised by their unique take on the hits of popular music down through the decades. With Senior Elsie Elliott using her contacts to secure Yarrows Bowling Club for a nominal fee, revellers settled down to enjoy a night of scintillating entertainment that raised a grand total of £500.00.

South of the river, at the David Cargill Centre, Claire, her staff and her volunteers have had to endure many trials and tribulations, not least of which have been internal disputes within the council that unfortunately resulted in the Cargill Centre losing transport for some time. However, in the face of adversity, so emerges spirit and fortitude, and to their enormous credit, the “Cargill Crew” have managed to maintain a 1st class service despite the obstacles placed in their path! Cargill Centre has also played the perfect host to many annual competitions that attract teams not only from sister centres but also from the many clubs throughout the city. These events offer the chance to make new friends and acquaintances in addition to allowing entrants to test their mettle in disciplines of dominoes and carpet bowls!

Finally, Charlie McDonald's Eastenders have enjoyed a fine year, rich in the pursuit of entertainment, much with an educational attachment. Such is Charlie's passion for history; the theme of much of the Mattie Carwood leisure activities has focused on marking landmark historical occasions throughout the calendar! Charlie has also welcomed Lynsey McDonald to his team to as a part time Neighbourhood Visiting Co-ordinator. Lindsey will trek the East End of the city offering advice to Senior Citizens on the plethora of benefits that may be available to them.

So concludes my round up of our day centres, but before I sign off, on behalf of my family and I, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sheena, Eileen, staff at Head Office and throughout the organisation for the support offered me throughout what has been a difficult year for me personally.