Supporting Glasgow's people for 60 years - Moderator's Time Day 3
2 November 2022
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland reflects on visiting the Tom Allan Centre today [02.11.2022]
Rt Rev Dr Greenshields, Moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly, joined with staff and guests to celebrate CrossReach's iconic Tom Allan Service's (previously Tom Allan Centre) 60th Anniversary.
Situated in Glasgow's Elmbank Street, the centre was originally conceived by Rev Tom Allan as a rehabilitation centre in 1961. His vision was that the centre would offer a space for recovery and renewal.
Over time, and recognising the changing challenges faced by those living in surrounding communities, the focus moved to delivering high quality donation based General Adult Counselling. Then in 2006, responding to the special needs of clients expecting a baby or with a child under 3, CrossReach’s Bluebell Perinatal Service and Crèche was developed.
Today the COSCA recognised services are run by a fantastic, small staff team, along with a group of around 50 dedicated professionally trained volunteers. From April 2021 to March 2022, approximately 400 individuals and families were offered a safe therapeutic space where they received support to move towards a heathier future.
Following a tour of the building and hearing from people that have been supported through its counselling services, Rt Rev Dr Greenshields was presented with a copy of the book, Mission by the People: Re-Discovering the Dynamic Missiology of Tom Allan and his Scottish Contemporaries, authored and gifted by Rev Alexander Forsythe.
