Strengthening Our Community Connections
In 2024, we’ve been privileged to deepen our partnerships with several organisations, each bringing unique opportunities to our volunteers and service users.
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
In July 2024, we enjoyed a guided tour of the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, allowing participants to connect with nature in a beautiful and peaceful setting.
The Willow Tearooms
Our 2024 October outing to the Willow Tearooms was another highlight, where volunteers were warmly welcomed to a day of discovery. The event included a tour of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh building, tea and cakes, and a fun printing workshop. Special thanks go to Oliver, the National Trust for Scotland, and all the volunteers who helped make the day memorable.
The Village Storytelling Centre
Continuing from our heritage project, our partnership with The Village Storytelling Centre has grown, and we’re excited to build on this relationship through future sessions, preserving a meaningful legacy that enhances our service users’ experiences.
The Tenement House
In October 2024, services users and volunteers visited Tenement House, exploring the perfectly preserved flat of Agnes Toward, a shorthand typist and woman-about-town who lived there from 1911 to 1965. Many participants reminisced over familiar items, from “wally dugs” on the mantelpiece to arrangements of beds in kitchens that prompted them to recall memories of their own homes. A big thank you to Romy and the Tenement House team for making the day a great success and looking after us so well.
Moving Image Archive
Our partnership with the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive enabled us to join forces once again for Befriending Network’s Befriending Week 2024, where we brought together volunteers and service users for a reminiscence session that encouraged participants to share their stories and memories, and an opportunity to learn how to access the archive. We look forward to building on this relationship, making these sessions an integral part of our services.