YOU ARE A ROCK
James Allan’s childhood troubles have helped him to write some of his most powerful songs.
The Glasvegas frontman bravely opened up about his dad leaving home at Christmas time when he was eight.
He poured the raw emotion into songs such as Daddy’s Gone and has spoken about his hurt as he tried to get through his own struggles.
Now the rocker has paid tribute to the work of a Glasgow charity after seeing first- hand the help a Comic Relief-funded project is offering to parents when they need it the most.
James was visiting Quarriers Family Support Services in Ruchazie. The resource centre and nursery have helped 139 families and 145 children in the past year.
James’s visit came as Quarriers prepare to receive vital Comic Relief funding for a perinatal worker.
Speaking during his visit to the centre, he said: “I imagined I was going to come in somewhere where there would be hard things to hear, with people having hard stuf f to go
through. I imagined it being white and square. But when I walked in, everything felt brilliant.”
Deputy manager Ruth Newman revealed how the funding will allow the service to deliver support to women during and after pregnancy.
She said: “Early parenting is so hard so we focus on a different range of support during that time.
“Comic Relief is going to allow us to employ a perinatal worker.”
Operational manager Stuart Provan said: “We knew we could do more but needed extra funding. We’ll deliver a group for pregnant women and provide one-to-one support postnatally.”
Men and women arrive to the centre by referrals and walk-ins. Quarriers have extensive services including a nursery, which means even during times of crisis there is help and support available. A shared kitchen means parents can come and just have a cup of tea to get out of the house.
For mums Donna Dott and Kiera McKenna, the centre has helped to cement the strong bond they now have with their children. Donna, 25, is mum to son Carson, four. She said: “The service changed my world. Without it, I don’t know where I’d be right now.
“Three years ago, I was severely depressed and frustrated at the lack of support. My boy cried and cried. My doctors and health visitors said I was young, naive and paranoid. I was 21.”
Tests eventually revealed Carson had a serious kidney condition and he had to undergo several operations. But even after her son’s diagnosis, Donna felt there was a lack of support.
She said: “I walked by the door here one day. I thought it was a social work centre and I had come in to say I couldn’t do it any more.
“I got taken into a room by a worker who said, ‘ Tell me what’s wrong.’ That’s when it all came pouring out.”
Donna, who now works for Quarriers, added: “Without that support, where would I have gone? The only people who listened to me were Quarriers.”
Kiera, 21, mum to Jackson, 20 months, told how the service helped her to cope with depression after being referred by a health visitor. She said: “When I became pregnant, my depression became worse. I was at the point where I felt I couldn’t look after a baby. The service helped me so much.”
James said that, after hearing Donna’s and Kiera’s story, he saw how the centre offered hope.
He added: “It’s really nice here. This is a place where people come and are delicate and are healed.
“When I was listening to the girls speaking, you can really feel the difference it has made to their lives. I feel lucky that I can be useful.”
James’s mum Elizabeth Corrigan accompanied him on the visit. The former social worker said: “It’s brilliant they are making this centre so accessible and they keep adding to it.
“One of the main things I notice is how people’s emotions are being tended to. Sometimes that’s forgotten. It’s foremost in here and, for the parents, it will be reflected in their own parenting.
“I can’t believe the resources that are here to help people – it’s incredible.”
I felt like I couldn’t look after my baby any longer. The service was a lifesaver