Grant Campbell is facing a busy few weeks ensuring homeless people and families in Glasgow get at least a taste of Christmas cheer

What are your charity’s plans for Christmas?

Our main Christmas dinner party will see us serve more than 250 three-course turkey dinners to men and women who come to our city-centre project. On Christmas Day, we’ll serve another 60 or so. In addition, our child and family centre will see a host of Christmas parties, nativity plays and a trip to see Santa. It’s a difficult time of year for many as you can imagine and so we strive to get alongside people, involve people in what’s happening and provide hope for the way forward. By enjoying food together, sharing presents and enjoying each other’s company, we celebrate Christmas together.

How many homeless people does your charity hope to help this Christmas?

Our city-centre project provides practical care to an average of 200 people per day. A significant proportion of people have been or currently are homeless. Meanwhile the Glasgow Winter Night Shelter that we co-ordinate will see up to 40 guests a night, people who would otherwise be sleeping rough on our city streets.

What are your own personal plans?

With a family of young children we’ll no doubt be up far too early, opening presents that were probably only wrapped a few hours before. We’ll catch up with family and friends, whilst remaining on call for the Glasgow Winter Night Shelter.

Why do you work in the third sector?

I love working where there is real creativity, fast pace and you know there is a tangible difference in people’s lives. I also love the working environment where staff and volunteers have come together for a significant purpose.

Is it better to work for a big or a small charity?

Not the question for me. I think it’s about being effective in relation to your size and scale.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Certainly in my role at Glasgow City Mission I’m most excited about the change in the landscape in Glasgow in our relationships with other organisations, charities and the local authority. I think our work at the Glasgow Winter Night Shelter has been instrumental in challenging and shaping future service provision. Co-founding the City Ambition Network has been pretty exciting as it seeks to work with some of the most vulnerable people in the city. We’re not there yet, but things are changing.

Who is or was your role model?

I think I’ve grown up in a generation of people who increasingly don’t have role models. That being said I think my dad has had the most influence in my life, shaping my values, world view and a compassionate attitude toward others.

If you could give one piece of advice what would it be?

You’re always more capable than you think you are

How did you end up in your job?

I’m a bit of a jack of all trades and master of none. I spent the largest portion of my career in the software industry working primarily for Adobe Systems. I went on to study theology as a mature student, then pastored a church in Bishopbriggs and am now at Glasgow City Mission.

Is this a step on the ladder to success or your final destination?

I don’t think this is a step to success, I would describe what we’ve achieved each day as successful, and incredibly satisfying. However maybe I’m a bit more of a pioneer than a settler.

What motivates you?

I have a deep rooted Christian faith that has a healthy dissatisfaction with a broken world, and a belief in restoration. There’s a fighter in me that wants to shout “It doesn’t have to be this way”. The world is always changing, and you can participate in making it better or worse – your choice.

What’s your most memorable Christmas and why?

I have no idea what year it was, but I must have been eight or nine. Like many we had a family tradition of visiting one side of the family on Christmas day and the other side of the family came to our home on Boxing Day. Every year we co-ordinated the meal so that everyone brought a different course. Starters, main course, dessert. One year in a communication mix up everyone brought dessert… that’s a good Christmas.

Any New Year resolutions?

I really don’t do New Year resolutions, too many times I’ve committed to something and within a week it’s forgotten. Maybe my resolution should be to learn to forgive myself for failed resolutions?

Which Brian Cox?

Close run thing, but Brian Cox the scientist just edges it.