Announcing our inaugural Connect Hub Development Board 

Over the last year, Simon Community Scotland have been on an immense journey developing and designing a brand new space – The Connect Hub – for women in Glasgow experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The Connect Hub aims to meet women at point of access; promote harm reduction and wellbeing, address women’s needs and recognise the lack of dedicated safe spaces that currently exist. Central to this journey has been upholding the voices of women with lived and living experience in the development of care, support and connection. The Connect Hub development has prioritised women’s voices to shape its continuous evolution, from design through to support services, drawing from women’s resilience, creativity, and passion to improve support for others.  

To support the growth of The Connect Hub and with continued emphasis on keeping women’s voices central, we are now delighted to announce the launch of the new Connect Hub Development Board (CHDB).  This is a brand new initiative giving women the opportunity to help shape the future of this safe space for women. The Board will support The Connect Hub’s evolution through connecting with key contacts, organisations or partners who would want to support our vision. As a development team of 4, members are hoping to bring their skills, expertise and contacts together to use their collective passion for this initiative to develop programmes to offer more opportunities for women accessing the space. They will focus on initiatives which connect and harness the combined power of business and community to help improve the lives of women in Glasgow. 

Currently The Connect Hub has funds to open 3 days per week to support women in the community. The main aim of the board is to develop a series of fundraising initiatives, to allow for expansion of opening days and times within The Connect hub going forward. Funds raised will help drive more social inclusion, growth and expansion and demonstrate the power of coming together to make a real difference to the lives of women experiencing or at risk of homelessness in our community. 

Introducing the team who are hoping to bring their diverse and extensive skills, expertise and contacts together and use their collective passion to develop programmes of support connecting business with community:

Jennifer Millar, Partnerships Account Manager (Jewsons Partnership Solutions – JPS), brings over 15 years experience in the Social Housing sector and has led on many community projects with her public sector contracts to benefit local communities. JPS have been a key partner of The Connect Hub having supported the renovation through co-ordinating material donations from their supply chain along with a cash donation to support the renovation. 

Marie McShane, (previously Marketing – Scottish Power) brings over 20 years experience at Scottish Power where she was involved in  developing and supporting the national partnership with Cancer Research UK (CRUK).  Marie has extensive experience in marketing campaigning, branding and fundraising with businesses and consumers. 

Lesley Smillie, leads government and public services business (Deloitte), focusing on operational transformation, social value, and community benefits, and has led initiatives in inclusive and economic growth, diversity, digital skills, and the transition to net zero.

Susan Campbell (Scottish National Investment Bank) brings her public sector and social housing experience, having spent 20 years in roles within a community based housing association, Scottish Housing Regulator, Scottish Government and the Scottish National Investment Bank. In her current role at the Bank she works with others across the public, private and third sectors to explore new investment models to address place-based inequalities.

All members note that whilst they are bringing their professional skills and expertise to the role, they are joining in their own personal capacities. This reflects the passion and keen interest they have in a positive social and community impact through this project as individuals and their specific desire to support Simon Community Scotland in bringing this much needed safe space to women experiencing homelessness. The board has been working in the background to help kick start the fundraising activities and there are already several exciting projects and initiatives in development which we will be announcing soon.

 

l-r; Marie McShane, Olivia Connor (Women’s Development Practitioner), Lesley Smillie, Jennifer Millar and Susan Campbell