Friday 25th August, 2017 at 10:52am
Tomorrow afternoon’s Community Champion, with our partners at McDonalds Maryhill, is a lady who has been involved in helping her local community for a number of years.
Margaret Thomson is a resident of the Carron estate in Springburn and she has been a Board member of ng homes since 2011. Margaret is also the Chairperson of the Housing Association’s subsidiary social enterprise company, ng2 Ltd.
Margaret has been involved in tenant committees for over 25 years, she was an office bearer and very active member of Carron Tenants Association where she campaigned for improved housing conditions within the area. Margaret worked tirelessly for the community and she was at the forefront of a stock transfer in 2001 from Scottish Homes to North Glasgow Housing Association.
During her working life, Margaret was a machinist for several large companies. She has a strong sense of fairness and was a shop steward for many years and negotiated with employers over the rights of her fellow workers. Some of the issues she challenged were holiday entitlement and unfair working conditions. She was well respected by employers and employees alike given her approachability but also her negotiation skills and became known as the ‘Best Shop Steward’. These skills stood her in good stead in her roles within the housing committees and in the lead up to, and during, the stock transfer process as she always looked into the detail of any discussion and put over the views of her neighbours. She has always, and continues to be, an advocate of tenant rights.
In 2016 Margaret won a prestigious award which recognises the contribution of women who have followed in the footsteps of community campaigner Mary Barbour. The award was presented by the Lord Provost of Glasgow at a ceremony held in the Pierce Institute in Govan.
Recently recovering from a hip operation, Margaret continues to attend all board meetings, focus groups, and associated training. She has a real sense of social justice and is proud to be Chair of ng2 which has provided employment opportunities for over 80 people, during her time on the board.
ng homes Chief Executive, Robert Tamburrini said: “Margaret is a working class woman from a working class background, very proud of her roots and her community and she is an inspiration to us all. We are really pleased that her hard work is being recognised through this Community Champion award.”
ng homes Chairperson, John Fury said: “Margaret really cares about people, she is a community activist in every way and she has demonstrated this throughout the decades through her resilience and determination for improved housing and community activities. She thoroughly deserves this Community Champion award and we are all delighted for her.”
Tomorrow afternoon Margaret will be recognised alongside our partners at McDonald’s Maryhill as a real Community Champion.
Do you know someone who deserves to be recognised as a Community Champion? Nominate them by emailing to receive more information.
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