News -
ng homes Board Member recognised by Scottish Premier League football club
ng homes Board Member and ng2 Chair Margaret Thomson was recognised for her years of hard work for the North Glasgow community at the Partick Thistle vs Aberdeen football match on Saturday 26th August. This is part of Partick Thistle's Community Champion initiative, in partnership with Maryhill McDonalds.
Margaret is a resident of the Carron estate in Springburn and she has been a Board Member of ng homes since 2011. She is also the Chairperson of our subsidiary social enterprise company ng2 Ltd.
With over 25 years of involvement in tenant committees, Margaret has been an office member and active participant in the Carron Tenants Association where she has campaigned tirelessly for improved conditions in the area, also helping to lead a stock transfer in 2001 from Scottish Homes to North Glasgow Housing Association, now ng homes. Her dedication to her community doesn’t begin and end with her work in housing either.
Margaret was also a machinist for several large companies and helped negotiate with employers over workers rights on issues such as holiday entitlement and unfair working conditions. She was well respected by employers and employees alike due to her fair and approachable attitude, earning her the title of “Best Shop Steward”. This experience and these skills form the foundations of her work within housing committees and on the ng homes Board. Margaret has always keen to put tenants first in any discussion and has always been an advocate of tenants’ rights.
In 2016 Margaret won a prestigious award which recognises the contribution of women who have followed in the footsteps of community campaigner Mary Barbour. The award was presented by the Lord Provost of Glasgow at a ceremony held in the Pierce Institute in Govan.
A recent hip operation has done nothing to slow her down and Margaret continues to attend all board meetings, focus groups and associated training. She has a real sense of social justice and is proud to be the Chair of ng2, which has provided employment opportunities for over 80 people during her time on the Board.
ng homes Chief Executive, Robert Tamburrini said: “Margaret is a working class woman from a working class background, very proud of her roots and her community and she is an inspiration to us all. We are really pleased that her hard work is being recognised through this Community Champion award.”
ng homes Chairperson, John Fury said: “Margaret really cares about people, she is a community activist in every way and she has demonstrated this throughout the decades through her resilience and determination for improved housing and community activities. She thoroughly deserves this Community Champion award and we are all delighted for her.”
Everyone at ng homes is delighted for Margaret and wants to congratulate her on her latest in a long line of amazing achievements.
