Govan is an area of high deprivation
The organisers of a campaign set up to help keep children warm will distribute vouchers to enable families in Govan to buy school coats and shoes as part its latest initiative.
The Help Keep Wee Govanites Cosy campaign, which is being run by Together for Childhood Govan, launched during Challenge Poverty Week two years ago. Since then, children in the area have received packs containing blankets, hats, scarves and other warm clothing, as well as mindfulness activities.
The Together for Childhood Project team has also been working with teachers at primary schools in Govan to deliver Emotional Resilience and Mindfulness sessions to help the children understand their thoughts and feelings.
The sessions support the pupils to develop resilience skills to help them to cope better with challenging situations and improve their wellbeing and emotional development.
Together for Childhood staff use their local knowledge and relationships with the local community to research the links between poverty and inequality – as well as carry out charitable initiatives.
As part of this campaign, staff from Together for Childhood Govan spoke with GP surgeries, family support groups, schools, families and other community groups to decide the best way to spend £2,000 which was donated by the Reo Stakis Fund, which was set up by self-made multi-millionaire Sir Reo Stakis.
Families who qualify for the scheme will be given ‘one4all’ vouchers which can be used to buy schools clothes at participating shops.
The vouchers will be bundled with some leftover stock from the winter programme. About 60 packs will be distributed to families in Govan.
Asda vouchers have also been supplied with some remaining budget from the Reo Stakis donation which families can use to buy food and other essentials.
Caoimhe Walsh, development support officer at Together for Childhood Govan, said: “Through speaking to local partners and families in Govan, it became clear that support with school clothing would be of great benefit to the community.
“We have established close links within the Govan community, which gives us a unique opportunity to find out the best way to help children and families in the area. By distributing vouchers, we are giving families the choice to shop where best suits them.
“We are incredibly grateful to Reo Stakis for the donation that has made this possible.”
Reo Stakis arrived in the UK in 1928 as a penniless 14-year-old selling his mother’s lace door to door.
He came to Glasgow in the 1930s where he built his fortune by setting up an affordable café which led to a chain of restaurants and Scotland’s first casino, followed by hotels which were later sold to Hilton Hotels.
Andros Stakis, of the Reo Stakis Charitable Trust, said: “We are delighted to donate to Together for Childhood Govan and help them with their incredible work supporting the community.
“We’re sure these packs will be greatly appreciated by those who receive them. It’s been a pleasure to work with Together for Childhood Govan on this project.
“It’s great to know these packs will help children and families in Govan and we are proud to have played a part in offering support to them.”
