Our Mission
Mearns Kirk Helping Hands: Committed to providing a range of high quality services and activities to improve health and wellbeing, reduce social isolation and loneliness and promote community led support.
The aims of Mearns Kirk Helping Hands are:
- To provide a range of high quality support services to those most in need in the community; improving health and well being by reducing social isolation and promoting community self-help.
Key current support services include:
- The provision of a safe and stimulating environment to people living with dementia.
- Support for people journeying with their grief.
- A range of support services for those experiencing social isolation.
- Activities to promote lifelong mental and physical wellbeing.
Our Groups, Activities and Services
Our Supporters
Mearns Kirk Helping Hands would be unable to carry out it’s work without the generous assistance of our funders and supporters:
- The National Lottery Community Fund
- ASDA Foundation
- Coop
- Connecting Scotland
- East Renfrewshire Good Causes
- Cheshire Community Foundation
- Age Scotland
- Befriending Networks
- Scottish Government
- Arnold Clark
- Scotmid Community Grants
- Virgin Money
We also regularly receive donations from individuals and organisations to whom we would like to express our thanks and gratitude.
If you would like to make a donation or support us in some other way you can Contact Us email hello@mkhelpinghands or phone 07858 552 767.
You can also make a donation via our Crowdfunder page
Governance
Mearns Kirk Helping Hands is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) SC046646.
About Us
As such we are registered with OSCR, the Scottish Charity Regulator www.oscr.org.uk
Board of Trustees
Mearns Kirk Helping Hands is governed by our Board of Trustees, chaired by Fiona MacLeod. Our Treasurer is Robert Paton, C.A. Other Trustees are:
Isobel Dawson
Pat Kedslie
Aileen Louden
Heather Smyth
You can see a copy of our Constitution here.
The Board is clear about Mearns Kirk Helping Hands values, aims and objectives and ensures these are being delivered effectively, as well as providing strategic leadership.
The Board makes sure that its decision- making processes are informed, rigorous and timely and that effective delegation, control, risk assessment and management systems are implemented and monitored.
The Board of Trustees leads the organisation in being transparent and accountable.
Who we Report to
Mearns Kirk Helping Hands reports regularly to our funders.
Annual Reports
We produce an Annual Report prior to our AGM each year. You can see a copy of our 2022 Annual Report here.
You can also see a copy of our independently audited accounts for 2021 here.
Our History
Mearns Kirk Helping Hands evolved from the good work being carried out by volunteers from Mearns Kirk for over 20 years. In 2016 it was decided that Mearns Kirk Helping Hands be established as a registered charity, to develop and grow these three established volunteer led groups (The Friendship Club, The Lunch Club for People Living with Dementia and the Eastwood Bereavement Group).
The three original groups continue to develop and thrive. Over the last five years we have expanded the range of services and activities we provide to include one to one befriending for older people, more social activities each week and increased opportunities to access groups which promote mental and physical wellbeing.
Our Staff Team
Our current staff team are:
Project Manager: Vicky Attwood
Volunteer Coordinator: Laura Watts
Project Worker (Befriending Project): Liz Highet
Project Support Worker: Venus Choi
CURRENT VACANCIES
