Once again, a year has come and gone with so many changes to report. We unfortunately lost three of our Board Members during this period. So it a big “Thank You” to Charlotte Gillies, Ann Soutar and Kitty Cairns for all the time and effort that they put into Open Gates.
Our lease at 550 Dumbarton Road came to an end also in 2024. A dear wee shop that the charity displayed its furniture and all sorts of retail goods. This was a blow for our organisation but to sign a new lease meant that our rent would have doubled. With this in mind the board decided that the risk was to great.
We got the opportunity of an abandoned Job Centre that was in poor condition and made an agreement of a rent free period which would include a restoration of the building. This was agreed and any material costs was met by the owner.
This new shop (5,000sq ft) has turned into being an amazing outlet that has seen our sale of furniture increase. It has also been a place of renovation where we got the opportunity to train our service users.
Our Cafe Walt has been closed since covid but I am delighted to say that we have renovated the whole area and put up our new “Cafe Walt” sign. It is expected that we will have it fully operational by the end of November 2025.
Our contract with the Justice Department is ongoing and we are now taking in nine service users daily.
Our vision for the coming year are plans that we have intended from the beginning but it is fair to say that by grace we will complete our vision.
I would like to thank every customer that donates furniture into our charity, for without you we could not push as far as we do.
Our service users sometimes don’t know the effect that they have coming to Open Gates. We have a mountain of “thank you” notes not only from furniture donors but also from the work that they do in local parks and schools.
Last but not least is Scottish Canals, who have continued to support us at 7 Dawson Road Glasgow and have done since 2010.
Still to come
Restoration of two Victorian Stairways.
Build a Garden Centre.
Have a public car park.
Training – To have our own accredited training team, that will do one day courses, indoors.
Bring our Seminar room up to a full booking facility.
Fondest regards
God Bless
Pat Clark
Founder Member
