BLUE

PRINT

Was depressing little bedrooms

but now we have beautiful new

flats

Emotional

effects

Lucky Own space

Confidence has

grown

Refurbish old

homeless

accommodation

Pancakes

Being a

young

mother

Beach

party

Beauty therapy

as a career

Competition

winners

Sandwiches and tea

Royal wedding

Hot-dogs fruit

cocktail and ice polls

Menace to society 2

Someone to talk to

Secure

and safe

Adjust

Staff downstairs if I

need them

Relapsed

Feeling fragile

Staff have

patience

of saints

Great day

Brilliant support worker

Firing endless questions

The Magazine of the Blue Triangle Housing Association Ltd. 3rd Floor, 100 Berkeley Street, Glasgow G3 7HU. Tel: 0141 221 8365, Email: admin@btha.org.uk

Autumn Edition

Issue No: 25

For the last 2 years I have stayed with Blue Triangle at West

Bay Flats in Oban. When I heard I was moving there as a

homeless person I was delighted, because I had known people

who had rented or lived in the flats before, and therefore knew how nice they were. But for the last

2-3 years Blue Triangle have been working on a project to refurbish the old homeless

accommodation Kererra Lodge from bedsits into studio flats. What a result brand new studio flats is,

was what we were all thinking.

Over the last few months the staff have had to have the patience of saints to deal with the constant

questions about the new building “When are we moving?”, “ Can we have people stay over?”, “Are

you allowed drinking in the new flats?” . To be honest it wasn‟t always a happy transition to the

new flats, because a good few of us had built up friendships with staff and other tenants. I felt it was

Hi my name is Vikki and I live in Renfrew‟s Blue Triangle. I‟ve been living here for two months

now. I previously stayed in a hostel before coming here so it‟s a bit different from where I was. I

like to have my own space where I can just chill out but am glad that if I have a bad episode I have

staff downstairs to go for help. They have also helped me to adjust to Scottish life. I have been in

Scotland for no more than four months now. Even though I was born in Paisley I moved to Southend

in Essex near London as a child. I developed an English accent due to the fact that I have mostly

always lived in Southend. At first I was struggling to talk to new people because I was afraid that I

would get beaten up or something but being in Blue Triangle has helped me with my confidence.

When I first got the call from my homeless worker I thought I was really lucky because I had just

missed the opportunity to live in my own accommodation due to reception problems on my mobile.

I was really nervous on the way for my interview about a room, to be honest though my biggest fear

was when you had to wait around the back before they let you know you was going to be allowed to

live there or not. I was really relieved when the manager said that I had been accepted. Looking

back now to when I first moved in I am impressed at how well my support worker helped me to sort

out a few of my issues. The other staff have also helped me. For a short while now I have slipped

back to the Vikki that first moved into Blue Triangle but I know that with the support of Renfrew

staff I know that it won‟t be too long until I will be back on track….

I offered to participate in organizing this magazine because it is my way of giving something back to

Blue Triangle. I believe I wouldn‟t of managed to change so much of myself without my brilliant

support worker and all of the workers here, they manage to cheer me up even on my darkest days.

Renfrew

Introducing Thomas McKay

Page 1

quite like a family atmosphere at times, and now I and a few others felt like this was going to

be broken with the changes.

So me personally, I had mixed emotions, I liked the old flats and at a time in my life when I

was feeling frail and fragile, just knowing there was people there all the time and someone

there to talk to made me feel secure and safe, just someone being there at times is very

reassuring when you are not feeling great.

But finally it came “MOVING DAY” what a nightmare! I‟ve never seen so many removal

men do such little work!, but everyone mucked in staff and residents and we got it done.

Leaving West Bay flats for the final time had quite an emotional effect on me it had been

home for the last 1 and a half to 2 years and it had felt like it too. Unfortunately for me the

move couldn‟t have come at a worse time for me, I had relapsed and was back taking heroin

and valium and wasn‟t a very happy person. So to say I was finding it hard to get enthused

about the move is putting it lightly, which I felt guilty about as I knew how much hard work

had gone into making them nice for us lot.

So here we are all moved in to beautiful new flats, and there has been a lot of moaning about

the size of the flats and silly little things which I myself have been guilty of as well, but I and

the rest of us have to remember how lucky we are to have anywhere never mind somewhere as

nice as we have. I‟m sure people out on the streets would kill for a bed never mind a flat!

So to the rest of the tenants I say “guys just be grateful we‟ve got what we have, because I

stayed in the old Kererra Lodge and it was CARNAGE! Depressing little bedrooms filled

with people bouncing about every day drunk and out there box which made it almost

impossible to get your act together as an addict. Mostly I would just like to thank the staff for

their patience with the constant moaning and bitching from us all.

BUT COME ON GUYS FOR GOD‟S SAKE GET THE HOT WATER SORTED ONCE

AND FOR ALL!

Thomas McKay

Oban

Page 2

The Royal Wedding

Mandy - June - Liz - Sam - Kirsty

Celebrated at Bruce Court on 29th April 2011

We all celebrated the Royal Wedding and watched it on the TV –

and thanks to staff Gus who decorated the office for the big day!

Bruce Court, Paisley

At a service user meeting it was suggested that we should

have a party to mark the royal wedding. Staff and

service users worked together to prepare the recreation

room with bunting and flags with pictures of Prince

William and his bride Kate Middleton. Staff had

prepared sandwiches and tea. Each service user was

given a commemorative plate and tea cup emblazoned

with pictures of the young royal couple. Service users

and staff watched eagerly as the couple were married in

Westminster Abbey and watched the procession return to

Buckingham Palace. When the big moment arrived for

the newly married couple to appear on the balcony at

Buckingham Palace, service users and staff cheered and

waved their flags enthusiastically when Prince William

kissed his new bride.

Sauchiehall Street I bet she’s

thinking about

how much she

loves me (sigh)

What am I doing

here? Ooohh I

know let’s go for

pancakes…

mmmm syrup

Caption Competition

Congratulations

to

Christopher John Edgar

from

Hamilton

Page 3

Trip to the Museum

We took a trip to Low Parks Museum in Hamilton on 22.6.11. Here are some quotes from the three

Service Users who attended. All enjoyed the outing.

Ed

Hamilton

Very interesting it allowed me to check

out my family history and relations who

had fought in the War.

Great day out very interesting.

Cheers.

I liked the information on the soldiers.

Enjoyed my day. Thank you BT.

SUMMER BEACH PARTY

The Viewpark Project started the summer in

style with a fabulous Beach Party. The service

users all took part and had a great day playing

games and competing for the piñata. To get into

the spirit of summer we provided hotdogs, fruit

cocktails and delicious ice poles which were

enjoyed by both staff and service users. One

service user said “It was a great day and I

especially enjoyed taking part in the games.”

Viewpark

Page 4

YOUNG MOTHERS GROUP

Service User Natalie Arthur attended an 8 week programme looking at being a young mother. During this

time they studied Baby Massaging and Beauty Therapy treatments. This is what Natalie thought of the

course:

“I attended the Young Mothers group every week and really enjoyed taking part. Throughout the baby

massage sessions I realised that having a baby is hard work and a big responsibility and that I was not

ready for that. I also took part and received the beauty treatments,

which has shown me that I have a keen interest in developing my

knowledge of the subject and possibly considering Beauty Therapy

as a career.”

Angela Muir is a Beauty Therapist and is involved with the North

Lanarkshire Social Work. Angela explained that during the baby

massage sessions Natalie was very hands on and showed great

potential for both baby massage and beauty therapy.

Viewpark

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!

A big congratulations to Rosie Carroll, Project Worker of the

Viewpark Project for successfully completed a course in IOSH

Managing Safely Training. By the look in the photo Rosie was

very happy to have passed. Well done Rosie from all the staff

and service users in the Viewpark Project.

Viewpark

Before I moved in tae the Blue Triangle I

couldnae cook. Now I‟ve made ma own pizza at

the cooking and DVD night wae Rab, one of the

workers. He also gave us a DVD; we watched

„Menace to Society 2‟, which wiz good tae.

Laura O‟Malley

Clydebank

Pizza and DVD Night

Look out for Clydebank‟s pizza recipe on the back page.

Page 5

Tuesday 7th June 2011

Our HNC student Violet – Last day with the Paisley Service

Kirsty – Lindsay – Violet – June – Claire – Lisa –

Nick

I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate

our HNC student Violet who finished her placement on 7th June

– We all wish Violet the very best and good luck for the future!

Paisley

9th May 2011 – 10th June 2011

I live in Bruce Court, Paisley.

When I moved into Bruce Court my support worker helped me to

get on to the Princes‟ Trust Training and The City of Glasgow

College Training. During this time I was placed in the Radisson

Hotel for one week catering which I really enjoyed.

At the end of the course I have achieved my Health and Safety ,

Food and Hygiene, Professional Cookery Skills, Effective Team

Work and Industry Awareness certificates. My support worker

came to the awards ceremony on the 10th June. With this I can

use this on my CV for applying for jobs in catering.

I have since been offered a tenancy and by the time this goes to print I will be in my own

home and will miss the project….. but I am looking forward to being in my own house and I

thank my support worker for his help and all the staff at Bruce Court!

Samantha

Bruce Court

to Eleanor Cummingham from the

Kilmarnock Project who won the

West of Scotland Carer of the Year.

Congratulations from all at Blue

Triangle and Blue Print.

Kilmarnock

Page 6

Head Racing! Heart Pounding

Don't understand my new surroundings

Born Again like a baby from the womb

or a million year old mummy from his tomb

Colours seem lighter, smells seem fresher

As the pain inside gets less and lesser

The shadow is fading and so is the craving

So knew to me this behaviour

Its ADDICTIVE ironic I know

but want it to carry on coz I've got so much more to give

and even more to show,

Lets just say you've watched the trailer

now sit back and relax and like I do

hope its everything you've waited for

Thomas McKay - Shore Street Flats, Oban

Page 7

The finish line is now in sight

Even if I reach will it be what I thought it might,

Or is it still miles away is it just my mind that‟s at play,

Only one way to find out take it day by day

Where did I go wrong

Its all such a mess

Once so dead against them

Now I've done it, with the best of them

I'd seen it all with those before me

but couldn‟t have looked or listened closely or carefully,

so there only myself to blame I'd seen the full show

and was still silly enough to want to be an idiot and have my go,

Once you mess in the wrong circles

its not long

before you're part of those circles

where when things go bad there‟s no way out

just like a real circle, no corners to hide

You've just got to face where you are and accept there's nowhere to hide,

But I go out the circle, looking in seeing what could have been

It's scarier than any horror flick its truly terrifying

Sat here I think I've almost made it

but I'm not so stupid to realise one wrong turn and I'll be right back in there

Thomas McKay - Shore Street Flats, Oban

Page 8

Educating Young People in our Communities

The third year pupils at Belmont Academy have been taking part in an initiative that will

make a difference to homeless people in Ayrshire. As part of their RME course, they have

been exploring the issues surrounding homelessness and how different charities have

responded to these issues.

Hayley Cameron, manager of Kilmarnock Project,

and Fiona Shanks, outreach support worker,

happily accepted an invitation from the school to

deliver a short information session to around fifty

pupils about the challenges and issues faced by

those affected by homelessness, and the ethos of

the services we aim to provide.

Not only have the pupils been learning facts about

homelessness they have organised a project that

would provide one of the local charities with starter

packs that will help some of the most vulnerable

people in our community. These packs include

toiletries, food and other general items which are useful to a homeless person when they

enter the homeless system, as they often have nothing.

Pupils managed to create 20 starter packs for the Blue Triangle Housing Association,

who are a nationwide charity that work with and provide a service to homeless

people. Ian Watson, one of the RME teachers within Belmont, said “ it was fantastic to

see the pupils engage with the topic in a way that not only informed them about the

problems of homelessness, but gave them the opportunity to contribute positively to

these problems.”

The management, staff and service users of BTHA Kilmarnock were once again delighted to accept the very kind donation of starter packs from the third year pupils at Belmont Academy.

Project Manager, Hayley Cameron, said “Each pack contains essential toiletries and food items and makes a huge difference to young homeless people moving in to the supported accommodation we provide. The young people we are supporting have been extremely touched and overwhelmed that the pupils have cared enough to make such a lovely gesture. No item will go unused and we would like to convey our appreciation”.

Kilmarnock

Page 9

My name is Alanna I live at Somerset Place with 7

other service users. Recently we went on a trip to

M&D's Strathclyde Park. We got up at 9am and we

left the project at 11am and headed to the bus station.

When we got there we discovered that the buses only

ran at the weekend so we had to get taxi's. Lucky we

raised lots of money at the car boot sale :) lol.

When we got there we got our wristbands and rushed

to the rides. We went on the bungee ball and it battered

our heads about but it was a laugh. We went an the water

logs and got pure drenched then we went on the pirate

ship and a wee guy wanted tae stand up and Scott had a

panic attack. The staff made all the young people go on

the baby elephants which was a brass neck. We also went

on the Tornado roller coaster and it was rather scary. We

went on another ride which was good but I canny

remember the name. Then we had a break for something

to eat then got back to having fun on the rides. Poor May

couldnae get on some of the rides because she was too

small hahahaha. We also went on the bomber which was

a lot higher and scarier than what we thought.

We had a brilliant time can‟t wait tae go again =).

Alanna

Somerset Place

Page 10

Sunday 15th May - Paisley Service

Rangers Foot Ball Club

Conner – Samantha – Tom – William – Kirsty – Gus Tom – Samantha – Kirsty – William – Gus

Car Boot Sale

For someone who struggles to get up for a 7am start at work,

getting up at 5am for a car boot sale was never going to be

easy. I could have probably made a fortune by just getting

staff at Somerset Place to bet on the chance of me making it

at all. But, make it I did. Not only that; my glamorous assistant

Marie was so ill I had to do the work of two people (well, one

and a half). We got to Polmadie Market at 6.20am and tried to

set up the stall but the bargain hunters were circling the van

like hawks looking for prey. „Any computers?‟ says one; „any camera equipment?‟ said

another; „any big pants?‟ said a third. Well, maybe not – it was easy to get confused with

all the movement and noise. After selling some stuff to the early birds from the back of the

van, we eventually got around to setting up our stall. Trade was brisk, with the electronic

stuff going fast and the DVDs selling well. Everyone was looking for a bargain and we had

to come and go a bit on price, although the guy offering 20p for the golf clubs was taking it

too far. By 1 o‟clock it was pretty much all over; we made £275, which wasn‟t bad as it was

cup final day and it was much quieter than usual. The guy at the stall next to us only made

about £5. Mind you, he was literally selling pants.

Somerset Place

Page 11

Connor & Co. to the Rescue

On Sunday 5th June I was travelling back from Fox Bar with 3 other residents. When the bus

turned into Queen St I saw two men fighting and the bus driver shouted that one of the men

was being mugged. We jumped off the bus and ran as fast as we could to see what was going

on. As I got up to them I saw an older Asian man lying on the grass and he was shouting for us

to help him, he had a young guy on top of him. One of the girls I was with ran over to the guy

and pulled the other man from him by this point we noticed that the mans hand was bleeding.

We phoned for the police and an ambulance, by this point the other guy had ran away. The

older man had some money stolen from him and could not breathe properly and his inhaler had

been broken during the attack. We managed to break a bit from it so he could use it. We

waited until the ambulance and the police came.

Since this my support worker has been in contact with the Renfrewshire Provost about

nominating us for the community award which would take place in February. We also had a

story piece in the Paisley Express and we were mentioned on the radio news. We have since

been told the man was recovering in the hospital and had to have stitches in his hand. We

really hope the police are able to find this man who did this.

Connor

Bruce Court – Paisley

Leeann and Roberto came and got us at 2.30pm and we headed tae

Kelvingrove Park tennis courts. We booked 2 courts for 3pm but we could

only get 1 as it was busy. We started off wae just a hit aboot then tried a

proper game. We got bored heavy quickly and decided to have another hit

aboot this was much more fun. The boys were more interested in

hitting each other wae the ball.

We stayed there till half 5 coz I was greeting tae get up the road.

The boyz wanted tae stay but I said no and we all headed up the

road.

Somerset Place

Page 12

Residency of Blue Triangle

Since being here I‟m really clean

It‟s more then people have ever seen

But if I do need help

I don't have to act like a dog and yelp

I feel as if I‟m completely new

And I‟m no longer stuck with glue

Since being here I know I have changed

And I no longer feel deranged

I am a lot more confident

Even with my English accent

I wake up every morning feeling happy

So it saves me from buying more lipchappy

I've started to feel a lot more positive

And everything I do feels constructive

All the staff are friendly

And they don't talk to you coldly

Vikki Brown

Renfrew

Page 13

RIP Chik

Paisley Service – Bruce Court, sadly lost one of our service users, James (Chik) Walker.

Chik was a real character within the project, everybody knew and liked Chik and we always

knew when he was in the building!

Chick is sadly missed – Service users and staff attended Chik‟s funeral on 5th April 2011.

Chik-a-dee - 1987 – 2011

We will awe miss you Chik-a-dee

Fulla cider n‟ singin‟ like a banshee!

“Mon teddy bears”!..... you wid sing,

Alang wae aww the laughter you wid bring

Who‟d make ma tea the night?.... You wid think

Even though we wid never catch ye near a kitchen sink!

When we awe heard we were awe roarin‟ n greetin‟

Then the staff awe had us in a wee meetin‟

n‟ we were awe remeberin‟ the way ye were

n‟ its awe agreed it doesnae seem fair!

Rest in peace now oor pal Chik-a-dee

With the Angels you will always be…..

In awe our hearts you will never ever leave

Claire Crosbie

Paisley Service

James “Chik” Walker –

Commemorative brick at Ibrox

from everybody at the Paisley

Service as arranged by Gus

Hamilton Paisley Service –

Housing Support Worker.

Page 14

Women’s World Cup

Since I moved into the Blue Triangle I was given

the opportunity for trials at football.

I was really down because I did not make the

First team, and then I received the call to go for

a re trial and now in 6 weeks time I will be

going to Paris to represent and compete for my

country in football against other countries.

I am overwhelmed and thank the Blue Triangle

Hamilton Project for giving me a chance like no

one else would.

Thanks – Kerry Glencross – Hamilton Project

Management / Staff and other Service Users would

like to congratulate Kerry on her achievement and

wish her the best of luck in Paris.

I am Salih from Sudan and have lived in Glasgow for approximately 6

months. I have no family here but I have many friends from Sudan,

Scotland and other countries. I like Glasgow.

I have finished the Level 2 course at Cardonald College. I want to come

back next year to Cardonald College and do Level 3. I am learning

English here over the summer.

Salih Ahmed

Sauchiehall Street

This is my certificate from North Glasgow College. I enjoyed the

course. I am going to college again in September. I am really

happy. I have hope for the future.

Altahir Abduljelil

Sauchiehall Street

Page 15

Page 16

Vikki‟s poem:

Truly Homeless

If I was truly homeless

Who would help me out this mess?

Living on the streets would be cold

And having to eat food covered in mould

Where my life would lead I am uncertain,

How would I keep dry and escape the rain?

Every shadow at night would be scary

And I would always have to be weary

How would I find the energy to survive?

I wish I was a bee living in a hive.

How would I carry on when I‟d always be tired?

Would any job accept me, what would happen if I didn't get hired?

Where could I go to rest?

I could use some cardboard like a nest.

Being truly homeless would make me sad

And I know in the end it would drive me mad

Renfrew

The winner of this sudoku puzzle will win a £10 voucher of their choice

and also appear in the next edition of Blue Print.

Please send your entries to: The Blue Print Team, Blue Triangle Housing Association,

150 Holland Street, Glasgow G2 4NG

Page 17

1 x Pizza Base + tomato

base sauce

Main Topping:

Chicken

A Selection of fresh

vegetables of:

Sweetcorn, Onion,

Mushrooms,

Red/Green Peppers

Topped with Mozzarella

Cheese.

Cook for 15 mins in

pre-heated oven at

220°C

Pick ‘n’ Mix Pizza recipe donated by Clydebank Project

Have a go at

3 6 7 1 2 4

9 4 6 2 8 7

2 7 9 3 5 6

4 2 5 8 6 3

7 1 2 4 8

6 8 4 7 1 2 5

5 2 1 8 3

3 8 6 5 4 1

1 7 2 8 9 5 6

The goal is to fill each square in the grid

with a number from 1 to 9. Each

number can only appear once in each

row 3x3 box column , and .

Good Luck!

The Scottish Housing Regulator wants to hear your views Scotland has a new, independent housing regulator. From next April its role will be to safeguard and promote the interests of tenants and others who receive housing services from local authorities and housing associations. Before taking on its role, the new Scottish Housing Regulator is consulting on its approach. It wants to hear the views of tenants, homeless service users, landlords and others with an interest in social housing.

The consultation runs from early September. You can respond until late November.

There will also be events across the country, open to tenants and others, to discuss the proposals. You can get a copy of the proposals and find out more about the events by visiting the new Regulator‟s website, following the consultation on Twitter or contacting its office.

website: www.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk/newregulator phone: 0141 271 3810 e-mail: consultation@scottishhousingregulator.gsi.gov.uk twitter: www.twitter.com/SHRconsultation