Volunteers’ Week 2019: Elspeth Millen, Chairperson, Elderpark Housing

Elspeth Millen has given 23 years’ service to Elderpark Housing and personifies the dedication and commitment to community-based housing.

Fifteen of these years have been spent as Elderpark’s Chairperson, on no fewer than four separate occasions.

Elspeth is now planning to retire from her role with Elderpark later this year, having helped to guide the organisation through a period of significant change.

But Elspeth remains a vibrant voice for the Govan community and is a respected and much-admired advocate for her community, like so many other housing association management committee and board members.

Such was Elspeth’s contribution in her voluntary work in community-led housing that, in 2017, she won the Helen McGregor Award for volunteers serving on a management committee or board of a Scottish social employer.

Before retiring, Elspeth had a long career within the residential care sector, providing support to, among others, vulnerable young people and homeless people.

Elspeth said: “Volunteering, in its many forms, must surely be one of the most rewarding aspects of life. To be able to help your community and, through that, help the people who live there is a truly enriching experience.

“I can genuinely say I have loved every minute of my time doing voluntary work, especially with Elderpark Housing.

“Everyone deserves a decent home, and to have been part of that journey to deliver new homes and improve existing ones in Govan over the last 23 years has been wonderful.

“Volunteers’ Week 2019 allows us to shine the spotlight on the essential role volunteering has in so many people’s lives – not just those who give of their time and abilities but others who benefit from the work of volunteers.

“I would encourage anyone to do some volunteering – no matter how small it is – especially younger people. We need the younger generation to follow the lead that others have set and carry the torch forward.

“Everyone has such busy lives these days, but there is always room to do a little bit of good work.”