GHA Press

YOUNG mums are turning their lives around - thanks to a lifeline project supported by Glasgow Housing Association.

The ‘Making A Difference’ programme equips young women, most of whom are GHA tenants, with a range of life skills including cooking, healthy eating and money management as well as improving their literacy and numeracy.

The mums, aged 16-25, are often at an all-time low, isolated and struggling to cope. The project provides them with vital child care, a support network and classes two to three days a week. The women’s confidence grows and gradually their sense of hopelessness is replaced with a can-do attitude.

The programme, delivered by Rosemount Lifelong Learning and other partners, makes the women better neighbours and better parents and opens up new training and employment opportunities they would otherwise have struggled to access.

Parents from the projects in Gallowgate and Royston were presented with their Completion Certificates at the “Making A Difference’ Christmas event at the Millburn Centre (on Thursday 10 December).

The children were given Christmas presents from GHA contractors Morris and Spottiswood who sponsored the event.

Kelly Ann MacFarlane, 19, is mum to James, 3, and, thanks to the course, is now looking forward to going back to college to complete her hairdressing qualifications.

Kelly Ann, from Gallowgate, said: “The course taught me so much. I didn’t just learn about cooking, beauty and parenting skills - it has also made me a much more confident person rather than shy.

“I’ve learned how to access funding to go back to college and - best of all – I’m now the only person in my family who can cook.”

Tina McHugh, 23, from Bolornock, who is mum to one-year-old Callum said: “It has given me so much - new friends, more confidence as well as skills such as first aid. I have just been accepted on to a Princes Trust course for youth work and want to be a youth worker. The course has helped me see what I want to do – and that I can do it.

“My son Callum has also benefitted so much from getting into nursery. He has come on so much. Instead of waking up in the morning and thinking ‘I can’t be bothered’ I now think I can do something with my day and my life.”

Laura McHugh, 23, who is mum to Marcus, 2, and Colin, 4, said: “We also have so much fun on the course. Before I came here I was really down and had no confidence. Now I’ve grown in confidence and won’t let anything bother me. My boys are also doing really well and are so bright. I wake up now with a smile on my face.”

Lorraine McLaren, GHA’s Neighbourhood Renewal Manager, said: “The Making A Difference project makes a huge impact on the lives of these young parents and we are very pleased to support it.

“The project covers a wide range of topics such as confidence building, cooking, child development, money management, home safety, literacy and numeracy.

”It also provides support and guidance during and after the project with achievable life goals and personal targets.”

Making a Difference has now been chosen as GHA’s charity of the year for next year and will see staff fundraise for the programme through a range of activities.

Dougie Bennett, Managing Director of Morris and Spottiswood’s Housing Division, said: "We have a long-standing relationship with GHA and we believe that truly engaging with the communities in which we work is a key factor in developing this relationship.”

The Making A Difference Programme is funded by GHA, Big Lottery and Scottish Government Wider Role.

Picture caption: (left to right) Kelly Ann MacFarlane and her son James (3); Laura McHugh and sons Colin (4) and Marcus (2); and Tina McHugh get into the Christmas spirit.