Our Journey… so far!

2009 See it.

Include Me 2 Club was set up by Ashley and Paul McIlvenny after many years of working in the Social Care sector, knowing what was there and identifying what wasn’t. They undertook a consultation with potential members from across local day centres and supported housing projects.

With over 12years of working in the social care sector, Ashley identified the need for some sort of social club or activity-based programme in the community for adults with additional support needs as there was very little on offer. With over 15yrs of working in Community Development, Sports Development and Youth Work sectors Paul established the foundations, structure and governance models to take the organisation forward.

2010 Change it.

Starting in November 2010, the first night attracted around 40 people, within 6 weeks which had doubled to 80 within the first 6 months, again increasing to 100-120 each week within the 9-12 months period. The Club continued to grow and a venue change was needed to accommodate the increasing membership, with an average of 150 members attending weekly the club was going strength to strength.

We used to joke about it, if any more members joined we would be using the SSE Hydro each week. Alongside the weekly social club, there were special events, fundraisers, trips and outings along the way.

2017 Grow it.

After 7 years of Include Me 2 Club, it became clear that there was a bigger need amongst our community and members that sadly wasn’t being met. Through getting to know, building relationships and knowledge of our members, they would share with us the challenges, barriers, hopes and aspirations for their lives that just weren’t being met or overcome.

it was decided to take on this challenge, Include Me 2 Club would need to change, from the one night a week organisation into a charity that could grow and build the services, activities and capacity it would need to make a difference. We became an SCIO and were given the charity number SC047911, leading to our new strategy to expand our range, take on assets, build creative approaches, and set up a range of social enterprises to deliver what our members needed in their lives.

2019 Dream It.

Following on from the Prime Ministers - Points of Light Award in 2018, both Ashley and Paul were awarded the East Renfrewshire Citizens of the Year 2019 award by Provost Jim Fletcher recognising their hard work across many years in the East Renfrewshire Local Authority area.

Our Chairperson Paul was awarded the first-ever All About Barrhead Awards - Barrhead Star Award and the Charity scooped the Impact in the Community Award for 2019.

This cumulated in the Charity being awarded the Queens Voluntary Service Award (QVSA) a group MBE Award, announced on the Queen’s Birthday. Awarded by Lord-Lieutenant Peter McCarthy at an Awards Ceremony at Eastwood House, this was a fantastic recognition to the team of dedicated volunteers who had served the charity over the previous 10yrs.

2020 Believe It.

In March 2020, we completed the renovation of the James McGuire Building on Barrhead Main Street. After an 18 month project to transform the B-listed Building, which had laid empty the previous 6 years, we opened our new community Hub, housing our Social Enterprise Coffee Shop, Gift Shop, Meeting Spaces and Office Space.

Little did we know, that a worldwide pandemic was about to hit, impacting all of our lives, in ways which we never knew before. Three weeks after launching the Hub at James McGuire, the doors had to close due to a national lockdown.

But that’s where it really changed, having the keys to a space and the motivation to make a difference at such a difficult time, seen the charity and its volunteers shine through like never before.

2022 Achieve It.

As 2022 arrived we were still working our way around Covid19, but knowing it was finally moving in the right direction. Our attention was able to look ahead, having grown so much over the past 18 months, expanding our projects and our staff team to cope with the additional demands and need in the communities we serve.

2022 sees us planning for the handover of the new renovation “Hub at Cowan Park Lodge” to add to the Hub at James McGuire and Hub at Lammermoor Ave, which came along during Covid19 to cope with the restrictions, demands and capacity.

It has also seen our Social Enterprise - Social Blend awarded Initiative of the Year, Sofia Asif winning Employee of the Year, Runners Up in Impact in the Community, Young Volunteer Kira Henry scooped Young Person of the Year and Marissa Roxburgh picking up the Barrhead Star Award for her amazing community work!