Tressa Burke, chief executive of Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA), on the huge difference even a small charity can make
How many hours do you normally work in a week?
Apparently I don’t work enough as my to do list is like the Forth Road Bridge! In all seriousness, I work long hours just like many chief executives and people in our sector and this is simply a fact of life and necessary to get the work done. Work life balance takes on a different kind of meaning when the job is vocational.
Is it better to work for a big or a small charity?
The size of charity is less important than the culture and the people. If these things are right, it shouldn’t matter. GDA is cause driven- it’s about tackling inequalities and making a difference with and for disabled people. It’s about increasing their confidence, their connections and helping them to make their vital contributions and working collaboratively with others to drive forward the changes needed to make this possible. Given the level of need amongst disabled people and the exclusion and injustices they experience on as daily basis, it would be brilliant if GDA was much bigger with more staff and resources. On the other hand, growth is a risk and sustainability is already a challenge. We’re a modest sized team – 11 in total with six full time and five part time workers. Small but mighty and being smaller allows us to be extremely flexible and responsive so I firmly believe this gives us an edge and also enables us to stay completely focused on our mission and vision.
Why do you work in the third sector?
Working in the third sector is a privilege – because GDA is community led, we remain close to the people we aim to support. We are also controlled by a board of disabled trustees. Being in this sector has the benefit of enabling me to do something I believe in. It used to be that this was a much higher risk and felt scarier than a permanent situation. My background is in social work so I look at the cuts now - for example, to social care - and I feel that a bigger risk would be having to implement cuts and work in a way that is counter-intuitive to my beliefs and values. I feel extremely lucky to be where I am.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
The 10 years I have spent working alongside a fantastic board, staff team and members, growing GDA and what we do, is by far the highlight of my career so far. Seeing the difference made - sometimes in seemingly small ways - to a disabled person’s life. Whether it’s that they come to a course or event, just seeing people raising their aspirations, their hopes and dreams. Some people go on and get a degree. Others might play a more significant role in their own family. Others again get involved in one of our clubs or in the Drivers for Change. But every day in so many ways, the highlight is knowing that disabled people are supported to be in control of their own lives, to be better connected and to make the contributions they want to make.
GDA won an award at the National Diversity Awards – what does the recognition mean to you?
There are so many great organisations doing work that is never properly seen and I think it’s really important to recognise that. So for us, the award is an opportunity to showcase GDA as an example of this type of work - work which supports people in the simplest of ways where they would otherwise fall at the first hurdle because there is no transport or assistance or access normally. The award for community organisation in the category of disability was an honour because there were over 20,000 applications in total and over 600 in this category. So this was the opportunity to show the model, based on community development, which GDA uses to build disabled people’s confidence, connections, and contributions, and at the same time work with others to promote equality and diversity.
What’s the most exciting thing you will be working on this year?
This coming year we’re continuing to build on our work and develop programmes and supports based on learning and feedback of what works best. We’re also working closely with the Scottish Government to coproduce the new social security bill and systems in Scotland. And we’re working closely with partners in Glasgow including Glasgow City Council on the Glasgow Independent Living Strategy.
Who outside of your family is or was your role model?
There are so many excellent role models who’ve made a difference to the lives of disabled people and who’ve championed equality and human rights. A fantastic role model for me was a friend and colleague called Maureen McPeak who passed away recently. Maureen was also a disabled woman and her passion and commitment led her to work with others to establish both GDA and Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living- two brilliant disabled people led organisations. I couldn’t have had a better role model when I found myself as a young disabled woman 20 odd years ago and Maureen was a wonderful friend and mentor to me then and over this time.
How did you end up in your job?
After working in social work for many years, I went back to do the social work diploma and masters. When working on the masters part time, I ended up doing some work for GDA’s predecessor organisation in 2000. Maureen was the one who got me involved in this. I then went on to run a community forum in the Gorbals for five years and during this time became involved in a voluntary capacity with GDA and Inclusion Scotland. When the job came up at GDA, Maureen and others who were around at the time persuaded me to go for it and the rest is history!
What motivates you?
Making a difference, helping people to take raise aspirations, take control and have a better life. Injustice and inequality motivate me to make things better.
Is this a step on the ladder to success or your final destination?
I’d like this to be the job I do forever. It’s always changing and growing and there are new challenges and projects and people to hold my attention. I don’t feel the work is done yet - disabled people still have so much to overcome and we’re at exciting points with partners working on things like the Glasgow Independent Living Strategy which aims to work differently and collaboratively to make best use of all available resources so that disabled people can live the lives they want to live, with the support needed to do that.
What does your perfect weekend look like?
One without deadlines at the start of the week!
Would your 18-year-old self be impressed with where you are now?
I think my 18 year old self would be quite proud. GDA’s members are achieving so much and we started so small- from small acorns and all that! Now we have over 3500 members many of whom are achieving more than they ever thought possible. And it’s not rocket science - it’s just about having a little support.
Which Brian Cox is your favourite?
The scientist - he makes things which are really complex very easy to understand and entertaining!
Tressa Burke is chief executive of Glasgow Disability Alliance.
