Community champ marks 10 years in role
ACOMMUNITY champion for a Glasgow Asda store is celebrating 10 years in her role. Elizabeth Arbuckle started working in the bakery at the Toryglen supermarket and began volunteering in Asda’s Get Involved Programme before becoming a Community Champion.
She has been a Community Champion for 10 years now and before that spent 12 years working in a community-facing role in the city store.
Elizabeth said: “I must be one of the longest-serving Champions in the business with an unbroken history! To achieve all we have over this time is simply amazing, helping so many groups in so many ways. We have received top community awards and received real recognition from our MSPs and MPs over the years.”
She added: “It is heart-warming to see how many of the groups we are still working with, and through them, we meet new organisations who need our help. I have always been a people person and I love my job – I really have made so many great friendships over the years.”
Elizabeth has worked with local papers, teachers, police, fire brigade, MPs, nurseries, community halls, groups, the golden generation and more to ensure her local community receives the support it needs. Considered the heart of Toryglen, she won an award at the Scottish Business in the Community Awards in 2013.
Her other proud work includes volunteering at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and assisting a project for Orchard Grove Kindergarten which earned her a nomination for an Evening Times Streets Ahead Award in 2014.
Reflecting on the community programme, Elizabeth said: “I’m so pleased and proud that the Asda Foundation has enabled me to become a fundamental part of the community.
“This role is not just a 9-5 job – I may find myself working out of my usual hours but I have a great friendship bond with so many people, that it doesn’t always feel like work.”