In conversation with Diane McGowan

Diane McGowan was a worthy winner of this year’s volunteer award. Kate Samuels, Communications Intern sat down with Diane to discuss the idea behind the project, it’s successes and the future.

Kate – “Firstly, can you tell us your background and how the project started? Did you have any previous experience in volunteering or community organising?”
Diane – “I began the project 7 years ago after meeting a lady who experienced loneliness as a result of a relationship breakdown. She had nobody to help her and was experiencing loneliness so I started looking for things for her to do in the area. There were no groups to join and so I began Dumfries Get Together, a place where women could meet, make friendships and help each other. I used to work as a mobile hairdresser and saw there the impact that a simple conversation had on people’s lives.”

Kate – “How many people are actively involved and what is their age range and location?”
Diane – “This has varied over the years, but overall we have had more than 300 different women meeting up. It’s usually about 150-100 ladies at a time with 100 meeting regularly. When we started we decided that the meet up would be for women who were 40 or over however group members have reduced the age to 35.”

Kate – “What are the current/past activities and what has been a highlight for your personally?”
Diane – “We have broadened our range of activities over the last few years and we now organise tai chi, art club, book club, coffee meet-ups, dinners, weekends away, bingo, walking groups, computer classes, Christmas dinner, fundraising, talks, fitness classes and more. Some of the things we have enjoyed have included trips to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dunoon. Our Dunoon murder mystery night was a particular favourite and we are hoping to do this again at some point. I am also looking to organise a trip to Liverpool and to Central Parks in the future as these have been very popular. There isn’t just one thing that is a highlight though, it’s everything. It’s the confidence that you see in these women after each meeting and the friendships they develop. When our members start they can attend the first three events free and often at the start they don’t even speak to others, but by the third meeting they are sharing their stories and experiences…We have two women who have developed a friendship aged 35 and 84, in our case age is not a barrier. Over the years we have also raised significant funds for charities which include Macmillan, Rape Crisis and Women’s Aid. We have held coffee mornings, fashion shows and pamper days which has increased the confidence of our participants and has helped our local community.”

Kate – “Are there many organisers and is this run locally? Is this run completely by volunteers?”
Diane – “Yes there is a small group of volunteers who organise activities. I myself volunteer as a chair, events and web organiser. I have also taught the computer classes.”

Kate – “How has the project been funded? Did you get any business or community support?”
Diane – “The project is mostly volunteer run, although we recently did receive funding and we are hoping to offer more events. We cover most costs through our membership fee (which is £20 per year) and occasionally those involved will contribute to the costs. We started the group as free, however then had to pay for the website and so this increased to £20 per year. Before paying the fee, anyone who is interested can attend up to 3 free events in the first month and this has helped us attract members. We also get a lot of community support, as part of the plan was to help out local businesses and to promote them. This means a reduced rate for our members at local hotels, restaurants and classes. I myself have negotiated this at many places so that we can meet up for cheaper and often this means a free drink or a free room hire. We have also been lucky to do reduced classes such as yoga with the members. In this case, everybody wins because the businesses get customers and our members try out and visit new places.”

Kate – “How do the members communicate and how have you increased your membership?”
Diane – “The members communicate at our meetings, but also outside. The point is that they meet others and form friendships and sometimes this means they outgrow the groups, but that’s fine as long as they make those connections. Many people keep attending our meetings for years and make friends for life. We also have a Facebook page which has been a popular way to talk to our group, they share our events. Another way is the word of mouth which has helped us increase our membership.”

Kate – “What has been the benefit to both older people and the community?”
Diane – “The older people feel they have someone to talk to and they build friendships that often outlast the groups. Also, it helps to improve their health and well-being and they socialise more. There was a woman who came from abroad and had no friends, family or connections. Our group helped her gain confidence and friends and while she no longer lives in the area, it’s given her the confidence she needed to move and take charge of her own life. Our classes also help our members gain new skills and confidence. We recently started computer classes as there was a demand from older people. I run these myself and teach the basics, such as how to use the internet. One of our participants, Mary took part in the class and has now bought her own laptop and installed wifi. She has gained tremendous confidence and is learning how to face time. Previously she has broken her leg and spent 6 weeks home alone, virtually with no contact from the outside world or help. She is happy to know that if this happens again she will be able to do things such as contacting her family or ordering online shopping. These skills have opened up a whole new world for her and have given her the confidence too. Businesses are happy to help because they are gaining new customers and exposure.”

Kate – “Finally, what are your future plans and has the GWT award made a difference?”
Diane – “In the future, we are hoping to include new activities. We plan to celebrate our award with our members from Dumfries and beyond. The award has helped the project gain more attention locally, we’ve been featured in two local newspapers and have received a congratulations letter from our local MSP David Mundell.”