Stroke Club celebrates anniversary

The first ever stroke club in Scotland continues to go from strength to strength as it celebrates its thirty fifth year of service in the East End.

Lightburn Harmony Club, which started in 1973, holds the unusual record for the length of time the organisers have served in the voluntary sector.

The seven core volunteers have given 111 years’ service among them. Jean Miller, founder member of the club with 30 years’ service said: ‘We are a club for the forgotten people in society.’

Every Monday between 12pm and 3pm they gather to give those affected by a stroke the chance to regain their confidence and to help them integrate back into society.

In May the club was dealt a blow when they lost their home in Shettleston Halls when it was gutted by fire. However, they have found new accommodation in nearby Shettleston Community Centre.

Jean said: ‘In the past, if someone had a stroke, they went home and were told not to talk about it. We set out to give people somewhere to speak of their experience instead of bottling it up.’

Currently the club runs one bus from Easterhouse and one from Shettleston to shuttle people to the centre with donations and goodwill enabling willing volunteers to continue their work.

Anyone in the area affected by a stroke and looking for more information can contact Jean on 0141 774 5635.