The founding chief government of Johnstone-based charity Lively Communities has introduced she is stepping down.
Susan McDonald took Lively Communities from a Paisley jogging group to a big charity serving communities throughout Renfrewshire.
And with the opening of the charity’s new £ 1 million neighborhood hub, Station Seven, Susan stated she felt now was a superb time to step down and let another person take the helm.
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Susan, mum to Jennifer and Craig, will formally step down in early October and hand over to an interim chief government for six months earlier than her everlasting alternative is appointed.
She stated: “I’m taking a little bit of day trip after which I’ll take a look at what I need to do subsequent.
“With Station Seven full and up and operating, it’s the correct time for a change. I’ve taken Lively Communities all the best way into Station Seven, it’s in a extremely good place.
“We’re engaged on our marketing strategy for the following three to 5 years so it’s a superb time at hand over to another person.
“I like delivering and being concerned in teams so possibly I’ll look into doing that once more. I haven’t been ready to try this for the final 12 months and a half.”
Earlier than she arrange Lively Communities, Susan, from Paisley, arrange the Glasgow Ladies’s Operating Community, helped organise the Glasgow Ladies’s 10k and in addition labored with Jog Scotland.
It was whereas she was at a toddler group in Ralston again in 2003 she realised there have been no operating teams in Renfrewshire and a few of the different mums have been eager to get began.
From that, Jogging Buddies was born and it quickly had lessons throughout the district in addition to issues like Buggy Buddies for brand spanking new dad and mom to deliver their infants alongside to; Lively Ageing which focused older adults; and was concerned with Have a Coronary heart Paisley.
In 2009, Susan, collectively along with her former co-founder Helen Moir, modified the group’s identify to Lively Communities to raised mirror what it did and it’s continued to develop and thrive ever since.
She stated: “I’m so happy with what we now have achieved at Station Seven. We had our open day and the constructing was completely buzzing.
“There’s a extremely robust staff at Lively Communities and we now have a file variety of board members.
“I’m leaving feeling actually assured issues will probably be stored entering into protected fingers. It’s a very nice legacy.”
Regardless of having the concept, imaginative and prescient and eventually serving to to ship the venture within the former Johnstone police station, it’s not Station Seven that Susan is most happy with.
“It’s the people who find themselves concerned,” she stated. “The volunteers that we now have, watching individuals develop and develop. You see individuals come alongside to the teams then they begin volunteering then they begin main them. They’re on reception, within the pantry.
“They see it as their constructing, their organisation. Lively Communities isn’t simply me, I don’t really feel after I depart it’s all going to cease.”
Reflecting on her practically 20 years with the group, certainly one of Susan’s fondest reminiscences is their involvement with Glasgow’s Commonwealth Video games 2014.
“Really feel Good Renfrewshire was a legacy venture and so lots of our volunteers have been baton bearers, that’s a beautiful reminiscence. Receiving the British Empire Medal was additionally particular.
“Station Seven is a spotlight, the alternatives that offers Lively Communities is unbelievable.
“I typically say we punch above our weight and what we’ve accomplished with this constructing is simply wonderful.
“I've met so many unbelievable individuals and have beloved seeing individuals develop in confidence and obtain nice issues. I wish to thank everybody who has supported me and Lively Communities.”
A spokeswoman for Lively Communities stated Susan can be a lot missed by everybody on the charity.
She stated: “On behalf of the board, employees and volunteers we’d prefer to say thanks to Susan for every little thing she’s accomplished.
“Susan is Lively Communities, she’s introduced the organisation a protracted, good distance and has made a elementary distinction in our neighborhood.
“She’s left a marvellous legacy with Station Seven and all of the programmes she’s delivered over time. Susan has positively left her mark on communities throughout Renfrewshire and supported them over various years.
“We'll all miss her terribly and we all know this gained’t be the top of her time with Lively Communities.”
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