The Preshal Trust
Our Aim
We actively promote social inclusion to ensure those who come to The Preshal Trust as socially excluded individuals, families and young people, have the best opportunities to become active citizens within their community. We do this through our priority support programmes as follows:
Through our Family Support Programme we deliver and develop a range of activities providing practical skills, emotional and personal support to vulnerable adults. These services are tailor made to meet the individual needs of our families and service users and we are constantly listening to their feedback to adapt and develop our services accordingly.
Through our Community Learning Programme we provide opportunities for local people to take part in learning and training courses which will help build confidence, develop a skill base, promote healthy living and support progression. Our literacy volunteers spend one to one time with people who cannot read or write. They help them to read practical things that help them with daily life and to be able to check their change from money spent in a shop.
Through our Specialist Support Programme we have received referrals from a number of local agencies in the community and have delivered a structured activity programme for those suffering from issues such as mental health, physical disability and addictions. These diversionary activities have been designed to raise self-esteem and build confidence leading to active citizenship. These activities include arts and crafts, IT, digital photography and learning to play guitar or drums.
Through our Additional Outreach Programme we have responded to the needs within the community and have provided a large static caravan at Sandylands Holiday Park in Saltcoats. About 200 individuals were able to take the opportunity to get out of Glasgow and spend time in a family environment away from the stress caused by poverty and exclusion.
We have welcomed those from local homeless units and engaged with these units on a regular basis, speaking to residents and encouraging them to come to visit us at Preshal. For many, the first step can be traumatic and we have offered as much support as we can to encourage homeless individuals and families to use our services. We have many service users who have moved on from homeless units to permanent accommodation.
Through our Food Provision Programme we offer breakfast to vulnerable service users and homeless persons and have 3 lunch clubs each week where a two course hot lunch is served to all comers. As a result of current economic conditions, our lunch club has seen a rise in attendance of both individuals and families. Should any individual or family require emergency food aid, this is provided through a small food bank provision.
Through our Partnership Working Programme with some business colleagues, who have donated their time and expertise, we have been able to build some raised gardening beds next to the car park at our Aboukir Street site.
Our Memorial Garden which was opened in 2019 has a small area for children to play along with, lovely trees, shrubs and flowers and a vegetable garden which provides veg for our cooking classes. There is also outdoor seating for our elderly clients which was a great asset during covid.
Through our Equality and Diversity Programme we offer a Special Needs Day every Friday where music is used as a mechanism for personal development and confidence building. Clients from our in-house music club provide music and song and our special needs clients can participate and be involved. We also encourage our special needs clients and their carers to take part in our cookery classes where they can learn to make a delicious, nutritious meal.
