Helen McGregor Award Winner 2009
The cream of Scotland’s social enterprise and social housing management committee volunteers gathered in St Andrews on Friday 23 October 2009 as the winner of The Helen McGregor Award 2009, sponsored by Tenants First Housing Co-operative, was revealed. This prestigious event, in the town’s Fairmont Hotel, honoured the very best volunteers in what are very challenging environments for volunteers.
The Helen McGregor Award 2009 was a glittering occasion, with an audience of over 300 enjoying a great meal together and humour provided by Jane McCarry, Scotland ’s best known and funniest OAP on TV, Still Games’s Isa Drennan and Granny Murray from CBeebies children’s programme, Me Too! Jane presented the winner’s award to Jean Black, Chair, Pineview Housing Association. Particular applause was received when Jean’s win was announced, since Jean was a finalist last year and Jean has practised the old adage of “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!”
“ I’d like to congratulate the award finalists and winner and also to thank all those who entered the award”, commented Martin Van Der Lee from sponsor Tenants First Housing Co-operative, and himself a former winner of the award. ”It is very important that this award should celebrate success, commitment and dedication, from volunteers, to improving services, housing and local communities”.
Fellow finalists included, William Wilkie, Chair, Eildon Housing Association Ltd, Laura Grant, Chair, Moray Housing Partnership and Liz Ruine, Management Board Member, Cube Housing Association Ltd.
About Jean Black
Jean is the Chair of Pineview Housing Association based in Drumchapel, Glasgow and has demonstrated unwavering commitment to Pineview for over 17 years. She came onto the Committee following a public meeting where she was complaining about something and was told that she should come onto the Committee and do something about it-so she did!
Over the years, she has held the post of Chair, Treasurer and been a Representative Member of EVH, SFHA, PAIH, SIP Board, Local Housing Forum and Drumchapel Community Ownership Group.
Her knowledge and support proved invaluable during Pineview’s merger with Glengarry and during the set up of the LHO Committee.
She has helped change the face of Pineview and has been its face at award ceremonies for design and during the SFHA Build a House Campaign. She has mixed with the great and good over the years including Donald Dewar and Alistair Darling and in her down to earth way was able to put over her case for social housing. She has featured in two videos-one relating to the Government’s Social Inclusion Strategy and the second relating to the Housing Association Movement in Glasgow.
Jean is a mother and grandmother too, who also supports her 80 year old mother. Jean simply is a model Committee member who leads by example. Both tenants and owners recognise the amount of time Jean spends working on their behalf. Jean is the public face of Pineview, never failing to impress whenever she represents the Association at the many meetings and events she attends. Whether making a speech or standing behind a stall to raise funds, she never loses her enthusiasm.
