Charity is up for a top award
A Hamilton charity set up following the tragic suicide of a Hillhouse girl in 2018 is in the running for a top award.
Supporting our Community (SOC) was set up by a group of volunteers from Hillhouse, Burnbank and Blantyre, including couple Mark and Donna Rouse.
The initial plan was to open a centre to provide support to families who were struggling to access the statutory services required regarding mental health.
But, following the tragic death of Mark and Donna’s 16-year-old daughter, Darian, from suicide in December 2018, the plan was strengthened and included many more services for the local community.
These services include offering programmes designed for full family engagement, allowing everyone to be involved.
Now SOC are being recognised for their work and have been shortlisted by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) Scottish Charity Awards – an event that celebrates the best of Scotland’s voluntary sector.
Taxi driver Mark, project coordinator with SOC, told the Advertiser : “Supporting our Community has been recognised as a finalist in the Celebrating Communities category and we are encouraging those in Hamilton, Blantyre and beyond to please vote for us.
“Supporting our Community was set up by a group of volunteers from Hillhouse, Burnbank and Blantyre.
“The initial plan was to open a centre to provide support to families who were struggling to access the statutory services that already seemed unable to cope with the ongoing mental health crisis in our community and beyond.
“The need for our charity was reinforced when on December 10, 2018, my 16- year- old daughter, Darian, took her own life.
“This tragedy strengthened our resolve to make a difference within our community and provide a safe place for other families to receive support and be signposted to other agencies.”
Darian, a pupil at Calderside Academy in Blantyre, had suffered her own mental health issues over the years and had struggled with anxiety.
Her death was a major turning point for the Rouse family who, with a group of fellow activists, set about providing the vital communitybased service that also runs classes such as guitar and crochet lessons, community gardening and arts and crafts sessions for all the family.
Mark added: “We, like many other families, had battled with local services trying to get support. However, because Darian did not tick the appropriate boxes these doors were closed until it was too late.
“All involved in SOC knew it had to focus on helping as many people in the community as possible.
“In designing our activities, we engaged with local people and listened to the needs of the community.
“It was decided the best way to help would be to provide classes, training programmes and support groups.
“We hoped that by using these non-clinical methods of engagement a wider range of people could access some support, however limited that may be.
“We leased a building in Hillhouse from the Hamilton Baptist Church, who have been supportive in everything we are trying to do. We opened in June 2019 and already we have hosted training courses in suicide awareness and suicide talk – these were attended by 40 members of our community.
“We have also helped 12 of our service users gain a qualification in Indian head massage.”
To date their largest achievement, however, is getting 16 people to complete the Scottish Mental Health First Aider course.
Mark continued: “Darian was always keen to help others in need, despite her own struggles with anxiety and depression, and this is a charity she would have been proud to be part of.”
Voting for the Celebrating Communities award has closed and the winner will be announced on September 25.