Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Official Report 901KB pdf

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East Renfrewshire Good Causes

The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-07928, in the name of Jackson Carlaw, on East Renfrewshire Good Causes. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.

Motion debated,

That the Parliament acknowledges what it sees as the incredible and transformative work of charities in the Eastwood constituency and across Scotland; welcomes the ongoing contribution of East Renfrewshire Good Causes in providing what it considers outstanding support to vulnerable members of local communities; understands that, in the period since the charity was established and first started to offer much-needed support in August 2007 and up to September 2022, East Renfrewshire Good Causes has provided £1.6 million in goods and services and helped 5,400 individuals; acknowledges that examples of support that the charity has funded, either in full or in part, include wet floor shower adaptations for disabled pensioners, help with travel costs for cancer patients on low incomes to attend hospital for treatment, and play spaces and equipment for young people with additional support needs; considers that the set-up of the charity means that it can respond very quickly to emerging circumstances and is able to undertake essential tasks in a short timescale, such as assisting with practical home support improvements needed to allow older people to be discharged from hospital to free up beds for incoming patients; recognises that all referrals to the charity are made by frontline professionals, including teachers, housing officials and health and social care staff, from both the public and third sector; understands that the operations of East Renfrewshire Good Causes have expanded over the years and that the charity is also now active in Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and East Ayrshire; congratulates the founder and project coordinator of East Renfrewshire Good Causes, Russell MacMillan, for what it sees as the remarkable and selfless efforts that he has made for more than 15 years in driving the Eastwood-based charity forward and ensuring that vital support has been provided to people in need, and considers that East Renfrewshire Good Causes has demonstrated a strong track record of delivery and established an operating model that has the potential to be replicated in all local authority areas across Scotland.

17:11  

This is really quite an old-fashioned members’ business debate in that it is entirely unique to my constituency and the immediate surrounding area. I know that there is a fashion these days to bring national issues into members’ business debates, but this one is very local and is just about my constituency. I thought that I had better get in there quick, because if Boundaries Scotland has its way, I will no longer have a constituency. [Laughter.]

I was reminded a few weeks ago, on the Monday holiday after the coronation, which was a day about giving service, that the King’s mother’s coronation all those years before had underpinning it the concept of duty. Duty is less fashionable these days, but these two things—duty and service—are incredibly well represented in East Renfrewshire Good Causes and in the person of Russell Macmillan, who is in the public gallery this afternoon, along with his wife Yvonne.

Russell set up the charity in 2007, the same year in which I was elected, and he has run the charity successfully in the 16 years since. Why did he do that? As he lay in bed in hospital after surgery that had cured his type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes and kidney failure, he decided that he would do something in return for the life that had been given to him. He does so as a man who is registered blind.

Russell has characterised East Renfrewshire Good Causes by saying that the charity

“will start where the state stops.”

In the 16 years since he set it up, he has single-handedly raised £1.7 million for charitable causes. [Applause.] That has assisted the lives of 6,000 people by delivering “acts of kindness”—as Russell puts it—in memory of the organ donor who saved his life.

East Renfrewshire Good Causes provides real practical improvements for people in an almost limitless way, and supports individuals in hard times with essential tasks. Although the charity began in East Renfrewshire, it is now helping in Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and East Ayrshire. The charity started out in August 2007 with the provision of a new wheelchair for use in assisting carers with a disability to go out for some respite.

It has gone on to provide a very wide range of supports, including wet-floor shower adaptations for elderly individuals; tablet devices for people with learning disabilities at Cosgrove Care; assistance with travel costs for people who have been diagnosed with cancer so that they can travel to hospital for treatment, and with transport costs to enable vulnerable young people to get to and from school or nursery; baby monitoring equipment for infants with complex medical needs; play spaces and equipment for young people with additional support needs; food and toiletries for people who are homeless and living in temporary accommodation; grants to support families who are experiencing financial difficulty in providing clothing for their children; and mobility equipment, such as scooters, to allow people who are living with a disability or elderly individuals to maintain their independence.

What is remarkable is that Russell, in the way that he operates the charity, is able to respond very quickly to emerging circumstances, and he can complete essential tasks in a short space of time. The key thing that Russell has done is not to second-guess where a need exists but to seek referrals from all those who are professionally qualified to establish where that need exists and then to direct the funding speedily and directly to them.

That has a positive effect in many other ways. Russell’s assistance with practical home improvements enables those people who are—to use the current term—bed blocked in hospital to get out relatively sooner, through instructing local contractors to undertake vital remedial works to properties, which allows the person to get home.

Russell has also worked in concert with others, such as my colleague Jim McLean, the councillor for Newton Mearns South and Eaglesham, who has himself raised more than £1 million for his local community in his lifetime and who was one of those who worked with Russell to secure a £100,000 contribution from the National Lottery, which is helping with the raising of funds just now as well.

Russell is prepared to do anything, anywhere. He appeared on “Songs of Praise” last year, explaining how his strong Christian faith has guided him in the work that he does. In 2011, he appeared in a short-lived ITV game show hosted by Gethin Jones, where he won £121,000 for his charity.

He has also secured partnerships with local developers. Cala Homes and Wimpey, which are developing a major new facility in Eastwood, in Maidenhill, are working with him, making a roof donation of £50 to Russell’s charity for every property that is built, which has contributed a further £17,100. He has also worked with technology companies to ensure that they are able to deliver and assist people.

What is interesting is that Russell says that the problem is not in the raising of funds but in being able to get the funds to people. I say to the minister that, in that respect, Russell has an ambition and a request, which is for us, as politicians, to make the pathway between those people who are able to undertake assessments and the referrals to him much easier.

Bizarrely, some of those organisations and professional services feel that, in making a referral to Russell’s charity, there is implicit criticism of them for not being able to provide the funding for the service that he is able to provide, as if that is somehow a failing on their part. That is not his concern. He is concerned simply that, with the funds that he has, he is able to offer assistance quickly and directly to the people who matter.

There will be examples of what Russell does elsewhere. I see in the chamber Paul O’Kane and Tom Arthur, who both represent East Renfrewshire, and there is Bob Doris, whose constituency is across in Glasgow. Others will be benefiting from Russell’s fantastic efforts in Eastwood, but I hope that there are people elsewhere who are similarly minded and motivated. It is absolutely extraordinary what such an individual can do, coming from circumstances in which many of us would have thought only of ourselves and our immediate situation: how we were going to cope, whether life would be the same and whether it was worth it. Instead, Russell sat there at that moment and thought, “I’m going to turn the life I’ve been given back to the advantage of others.”

I commend and applaud that, and I believe that it is exactly the sort of public-spirited initiative that we, as politicians, should applaud and support.

17:19  

I offer my congratulations to Jackson Carlaw for bringing the debate to the chamber. I will take time to record my thanks to all those in East Renfrewshire Good Causes for the help and support that they offer those in need in East Renfrewshire. As a Glasgow representative, I am always happy to commend and praise good work and support that is offered by charities outwith the city that I represent. However, there is clearly a selfish motivation in my speaking about the excellent work of East Renfrewshire Good Causes, as I note that Mr Carlaw’s motion indicates that the charity is now active in Glasgow, as he mentioned in his speech. Although I suspect that that is the case, it might not yet have reached the north of the city and Maryhill and Springburn, which I represent. However, it is still right and proper that I record my thanks.

I can see that Russell Macmillan is in the gallery with his wife. I know him from his website, which I looked at in preparation for the debate. He is the project co-ordinator and founder. By all accounts, as Jackson Carlaw said, he is a remarkable individual. I note from the website that he has been driven by his faith and the national health service support that he received during his health adversities. However, whatever the motivation, many individuals and families have been assisted for many years not only by Mr Macmillan but by the many volunteers and donors—it is important to mention the donors—who support the charity.

I was struck by the range and flexibility of the grants issued by East Renfrewshire Good Causes, which the charity reports on every six months. That is an open and transparent reporting mechanism and I was impressed with it. I will offer three examples from the most recent report.

The charity part-funded a breakfast club to enable vulnerable children to be fed and have a social group before school. That project is run by volunteer teachers. East Renfrewshire Good Causes provided 50 per cent funding for it, so it is partnership funding and involved getting funding from elsewhere.

It fully funded flooring for a pensioner with a cancer diagnosis to enable comfort in their home. That 100 per cent funding might be a small thing for many, but it was a major thing for the individual who received the grant.

It part funded an essential wardrobe for an adult with mild learning difficulties who contributes to the organisation and helps others. That individual is a self-employed worker on a low income who needs a little hand financially. The charity provided a 50 per cent grant for that.

The range and variety of grants and the flexibility shown by the organisation are remarkable. The report says that, in the six months to March 2023 alone, the combined value of goods purchased by and donated to East Renfrewshire Good Causes was more than £113,000, and 624 people benefited from that.

I am lucky to have wonderful charitable organisations across Maryhill and Springburn. I am sure that you expect me to mention one or two, Presiding Officer. It is hugely important to acknowledge them and demonstrate that they are appreciated. That is what the debate seeks to do for East Renfrewshire volunteers, and rightly so.

As I read about the various grants made by East Renfrewshire Good Causes, I was reminded of Springburn-based Glasgow Baby Foodbank, which is in my constituency. It offers a range of vital supports to families from nappies and wipes, through baby formula to baby clothes, toys and much more. However, the reason that I mention that group is that it also ensures that people get access to a variety of supports offered by the Scottish Government, whether the best start foods card, the Scottish child payment or school clothing grants. The group also knows that not everyone qualifies and, often, people who need a little bit of extra help will not receive the support that the state provides.

That is what volunteers from the food bank do, just as East Renfrewshire Good Causes does. As Mr Carlaw says, they start where the state stops. That is why I wanted to give that example of a charity in my constituency.

A week on Friday, I will be at a local awards night in Maryhill called people make Maryhill, where I will see a public acknowledgement at local level to thank many people who go the extra mile to help the Maryhill community. Such volunteers do not seek acknowledgement, but it is right and proper that they be recognised. Likewise, it is right and proper that we acknowledge and thank all those who have contributed to East Renfrewshire Good Causes over the years.

I am delighted to take part in the debate.

I call Sandesh Gulhane, who joins us remotely.

17:23  

I am delighted to contribute to today’s members’ business debate, proposed by my colleague Jackson Carlaw. He has already told us Russell Macmillan’s story, which is an inspiration.

East Renfrewshire Good Causes is success personified. Learning, growing and mastering over 16 years, the charity has delivered essential targeted support that has helped vulnerable local people, the local community and our NHS. Through effective fundraising and garnering the support of third sector organisations and businesses, East Renfrewshire Good Causes has distributed more than £1.7 million in goods and services since it started in May 2007. It has helped 6,000 people. This is a story about delivery—I ask the Scottish Government to please take note.

As a doctor, and as an Opposition spokesperson on health, I am particularly struck by the East Renfrewshire Good Causes initiatives that assist with practical home support improvements to ensure that vulnerable elderly people who are in hospital can return home safely. That is so valuable. In Scotland, we have wards full of medically fit patients who are desperate to be discharged home, but they find that care is unavailable in their home environment. That has led to health boards stopping non-urgent elective care or cancelling long-awaited operations.

Back in 2015, when she was the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, the current Deputy First Minister promised to end delayed discharge. Unfortunately, however, there are now 1,900 delayed discharges in Scottish hospitals each day. We have yet to see solutions, but East Renfrewshire Good Causes has instead taken the initiative to help free up hospital beds for others by ensuring that people can get back to their own, improved homes.

As we have heard, the charity’s set-up allows it to respond quickly to emerging circumstances and to deliver real, practical help where it is needed. We on the Conservative side of the chamber believe that our NHS should be modern, efficient, local and accessible for all. That will certainly entail internal structural reform and a willingness to embrace new technologies as well as change.

However, in order to deliver better healthcare locally, we need to do more to support local organisations, as they really understand the needs and challenges of people in their communities. I am pleased that East Renfrewshire Good Causes has expanded its reach and is now active in Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and even East Ayrshire.

The charity’s model is solution driven and delivery focused—it is one that we can all learn from and replicate, albeit while ensuring that it is tailored to local situations.

To Russell Macmillan and your team: we salute you.

I refer members to my entry in the members’ register of interests as a practising NHS general practitioner.

17:26  

I am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate, and I thank Jackson Carlaw for bringing the issue to the chamber. As he mentioned in his opening speech, it is a hyper-local issue but could perhaps have far-reaching effects across West Scotland more generally.

It is great to be talking about East Renfrewshire Good Causes in the chamber. It is an organisation that I, being an East Renfrewshire boy, know well. Having spent much time, like Jackson Carlaw, working in our community, I know that the charity is well thought of across East Renfrewshire. Most importantly, it has attracted consensus across the political divide. That can often be hard to achieve in East Renfrewshire, but it is remarkable to see the amount of support that there is for the work that Russell and Yvonne Macmillan have done over many years.

As I was sitting here, I was reflecting on the times when we come together across political lines to mark the sad passing of Jo Cox. In the great get together, we reflect on her words:

“we ... have ... more in common than that which divides us.”—[Official Report, House of Commons, 3 June 2015; Vol 596, c 675.]

I think that that gets to the heart of what we are talking about with regard to East Renfrewshire Good Causes.

The work that Russell has done, which is rooted in his faith, is about finding our commonality and our shared humanity, and recognising the fact that all of us, at different times in our lives, experience adversity and often need the helping hands of neighbours and friends to get us through. We have heard some practical examples of the way in which Russell and East Renfrewshire Good Causes have, as good neighbours and good friends, reached out and supported so many people in all the communities of East Renfrewshire.

It was good to hear Jackson Carlaw refer to the support for the organisation across the local council. When I was a councillor in East Renfrewshire, my colleague Councillor Alan Lafferty—now a former councillor—was very supportive of the charity’s work. I know that, as well as Jackson Carlaw, Paul Masterton, the former Conservative member of Parliament; Kirsten Oswald, the current Scottish National Party MP; and Jim Murphy and Ken Macintosh—names from Labour’s past—were all supportive of that work, which, again, shows the breadth and depth of the support in the community.

However, it goes far beyond that, because it is about the people in our community as well. In preparing for the debate, I reflected on some of the cases in which the organisation has made the most difference. Back in 2009, a young girl from Netherlee with cerebral palsy, who was a wheelchair user, was able, using a power-assisted walking frame, to stand upright and gain her independence and travel to different places. Without the technology and the equipment, she would have been unable to do that. It was East Renfrewshire Good Causes that came to the aid of that family by providing money towards that facility, enabling her to get her own standing frame, which increased her independence and cut down her reliance on others.

I also reflected on the amount of work that East Renfrewshire Good Causes does for young people, in concert with our local schools, and I thought that I would share a testimonial that I read from the depute headteacher of Mearns primary school. She said:

“East Renfrewshire Good Causes charity never fails to bring about positive change in our community. Without their support and contributions, it would not be possible for some of our pupils to participate in activities with their peers.”

Likewise, the manager of the East Renfrewshire Carers Centre offered a testimonial. He said:

“East Renfrewshire Good Causes is a true friend of the Carers’ Centre and has over a number of years supported many carers to purchase vital equipment without which their caring role and life generally would be much harder.”

Those are two excellent examples of community testimonials about the difference that East Renfrewshire Good Causes makes to many people across the area.

I know that Russell Macmillan’s reason for starting East Renfrewshire Good Causes was to say thank you in terms of his life experience and the gift that he was given. It is important that we, in this chamber—and the community in East Renfrewshire—all take the opportunity to say thank you very publicly in the Parliament to Russell, Yvonne and all those who are involved in and who support the work of the charity for everything that they have done and will continue to do not only in East Renfrewshire but beyond its borders, and we must also, once again, offer them our support in all of that work.

17:31  

I am delighted to have been asked to close this debate on behalf of the Scottish Government, and I thank Jackson?Carlaw for bringing the issue to the chamber. As he said, it is great to see a members’ business motion about a local issue, because, too often, these debates focus on national issues. It is great to be able to recognise the impact that Russell Macmillan and the other volunteers have been making in their local area. Their work is truly inspirational. On the point that Jackson Carlaw made about local service and duty, it is sometimes too easy simply to accept and acknowledge that and not think about it more deeply. We salute Russell Macmillan for the work that he has done over a long period of time.

I thank my fellow MSPs for attending and taking part in the debate. They have all given examples of the work that has been done. In preparing for the debate, I was humbled by the range of activity that East Renfrewshire Good Causes carries out. We heard from Jackson Carlaw that the charity is reaching out beyond its boundaries, which shows its ambition. It is having a positive impact on the lives of many. It has provided more than £1.6 million in goods and services and has helped more than 5,500 people. That shows us the range of work that is being done.

Often, what might be seen as a small gesture or helping hand can turn someone’s life around. The drive, determination and creativity that has been displayed by Russell?Macmillan in his fundraising efforts is exceptional. We thank him for his passionate commitment to improving the lives of his neighbours and to supporting vulnerable people in East?Renfrewshire and the surrounding areas.

Scotland is fortunate to have a richly vibrant voluntary sector. There are more than 46,500 active voluntary organisations in the country. The sector’s turnover is around £8.5 billion, which illustrates just how important the sector is to the economy and to the wellbeing of people and communities.

Bob Doris mentioned that people make Maryhill, and I would say that people such as Russell help to make Scotland the country that it is. Some 89 per cent of voluntary organisations are local. They include small grassroots community groups, art and sports clubs, preschool and day-care facilities, village halls, culture and arts venues and major housing, health and social care providers. Part of the challenge for us all—in our constituencies, in our local authority areas or in Government—is to ensure that the sector can work as closely as possible with Government. I would like to come back to Jackson Carlaw on that point.

Every day, hundreds of volunteers give their time for free and of their own free will, just as Mr?Macmillan and his team do. Their unpaid efforts help us to address some of the biggest challenges that we face, from mental and physical ill health to social isolation and loneliness. Through thoughtful acts such as checking in on a neighbour, participating in a local litter pick or doing a few hours behind the counter in their local charity shop, volunteers make an amazing contribution to their communities. We all know that and can probably name lots of volunteers in our constituencies.

Volunteering is the invisible thread that binds our communities together, but it can often be taken for granted. Every day, people make vital contributions—to their families, to their communities and to society as a whole—doing what they believe in without fanfare or reward because they believe in a fair society. Paul O’Kane talked about a shared humanity, and I think that volunteers embed that principle across Scotland.

It is right and important that we take this opportunity to acknowledge the true value of volunteers, and that value has never been more evident than over the past few years, as we recover from Covid. We have seen the vital role of volunteering during times of crisis: the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, severe weather events and the rise in the cost of living. In those situations, volunteers have undertaken many different roles and provided practical help, including food distribution, shopping, medicine delivery and making welfare calls to vulnerable people. When Covid first struck, we saw resilience groups appear literally overnight. There are lessons to learn from that about the way in which Government and local authorities work. We have probably all heard people say, “It was easy to do it then, so why can’t we do it now?” We all need to learn from what was done.

Volunteers have shown incredible community spirit. Their kindness and generosity have helped thousands of people across Scotland and really have made a difference. That is another reason why I am pleased to be able to praise the efforts of East Renfrewshire Good Causes in this chamber. Scotland should be proud of its volunteers. We are proud of Russell, and I am glad to respond to Jackson Carlaw in those terms. Volunteers help to make us a better country.

However, volunteering is not just about giving; it is good for the volunteer, too, as it builds skills, enhances their employability and supports their mental wellbeing. It can offer unique opportunities to gain new skills and experience and to be part of something special.

“Scotland’s volunteering action plan”, published last year, was co-produced with partners across the third sector. The action plan aims to support people to volunteer throughout their lives, from school to retirement. People who can gain the most from the experience of volunteering often perceive barriers to their doing so, and we want to tackle stereotypes around what volunteering is and who does it. We want to increase the opportunities for volunteering, widening the breadth of opportunities and increasing access for under-represented groups.

Jackson Carlaw mentioned the importance of referrals and the creation of pathways that make it easier for charities to provide support as soon as possible. Again, I will come back to him on that, as I think that that is vitally important.

The Saltire awards are the Scottish Government’s way of celebrating, recognising and rewarding the commitment, contribution and achievements of volunteers in Scotland aged between 12 and 25. Participants gain nationally recognised certificates, signed by Scottish Government ministers, for the hours of volunteering that they carry out. In 2022-23 alone, more than 470,000 Saltire volunteer hours were logged, and more than 11,000 Saltire certificates were issued.

We all know how important local recognition events are in our areas, so, during volunteers week, which runs from 1 to 7 June, we encourage everyone to recognise the efforts of Scotland’s past, present and future volunteers and say thank you. I call on colleagues across the Parliament to recognise the skills, kindness and commitment of Scotland’s volunteers. I encourage them to share volunteers’ stories and highlight the enormous breadth of volunteering opportunities that are on offer, to help to inspire others to get involved.

Once again, I thank Jackson?Carlaw for highlighting the important work of Russell?Macmillan—I salute Russell again for his work in East Renfrewshire and beyond—the volunteers at East Renfrewshire Good Causes and, more broadly, the volunteers across the country who help to glue our society together and make Scotland stronger.

Meeting closed at 17:38.