Chairperson Report 2011/12
I am delighted to present this years Annual Report after a busy year at the centre, with some highs and some lows.
Let me talk firstly about our lows, this year we received another budget cut from our funders but managed to maintain services for the people of Govanhill and its environs. We also had to say goodbye to our popular caretaker Elaine Cowan who had been with us for six years and was an asset to the centre with her outgoing personality and always being able to turn her hand to anything. It wasn’t through choice that Elaine left but for health reasons and I would like to take this opportunity to wish her well and that she is sorely missed by all at the centre.
As the current financial situation begins to hit other organizations who have used the centre for several years we have lost a couple of regular lets but on an upbeat note there are expressions of interest from others to utilize the free spaces, so although its sad to lose a regular let its good to see new relationships being fostered with others.
We had a very successful Easter Event with lots of children and adults’ attending the Larkfield Centre and it gets busier every year as the word spreads around the community. I am sure you will enjoy some of the pictures taken at the Event that will appear in our Annual Report.
Unfortunately our Christmas Events had a cancellation this year also due to adverse weather which saw the pantomime being called off at the last minute as the cast could not make it in from Edinburgh due to the red alert for travelling at that time, hopefully this year we can see our full Christmas Programme restored back to its former glory.
We continue to work with Hollybrook Academy and what a delight it was when they performed at our Christmas Lights Switch-on Event, they went down a real treat and left their audience wanting to hear more and I look forward to their participation in this years Switch-on Event at the Centre.
We have worked with many people, organizations over the past year and I won’t name them all as there has been so many and I wouldn’t want to offend anyone if I missed them out. However, I would like to take this opportunity to thank, Glasgow Life, Glasgow City Council Integrated Grants for the financial support in 2011/12.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Staff Team for their work over the past year and also to the Management Committee for their support to me in my capacity as Chairperson it has been greatly appreciated. Finally I’d like thank you the centre users for supporting us so that we can maintain a valued Community Asset.