Trust in Tullochan

There is so much to celebrate at Tullochan.

Its mission is to help young people by providing practical opportunities to learn and this has been their guiding star over the past 30 years.

Tullochan Trust was born in 1996 in a manner reminiscent of the mythical phoenix, at the funeral of the much-decorated Brigadier Alastair Pearson - known locally as the Colonel.

His daughter Fiona Stuart and an un-named mourner, who donated the original funding, felt helping local youth was the most appropriate way to honour the Colonel who often said too many fell through cracks in the systems.

With the determination of those who get things done, a practical framework was put in place and Tullochan Trust was born.

Now, 30 years and over 15,000 young people later, the Trust has grown into a very active, versatile, productive and practical organisation and, in the way of many kids, has a grown-up name - just Tullochan.

A visit to Tullochan's base for a chat with Kai, 17, Lewis, 23, and Ruari, 19, shows how the organisation helps develop resilience and self-confidence, offers varied work environments to gain skills and qualifications and provide help entering employment.

Rhona Blue, Funding and Communication Officer and Zoe Bennett, Youth Development Worker, joined us.

Not Just A Cafe

Firstly, thereʼs the Common Good Cafe offering hot rolls, cakes and drinks.

All three young men had worked there.

Lewis, a man more inclined to do than to talk, said he'd particularly enjoyed the cashing-up and accounting work, “though meeting and greeting and customer care were also good.”

Ruari added: “I really liked the knife skills and the prep work. I think I'm going to work there as a volunteer – till I find a job, anyway.”

The cafe also teaches practical awareness of a work environment: hygiene when storing and handling food, health and safety with boiling water, oil and sharp knives.

“I also got a First Aid certificate,” Ruari told me.

“It's really important to know what to do if someone cuts themselves. But best of all is baking. I make great scones.”

Zoe explained the certificates are work-place recognised REHIS qualifications. “It's important the young people know there is a standard recognised in the real world.”

“I got a hygiene certificate,” Kai announced proudly.

'Yeah, me too,” said Ruari. “I got a job interview, as well. I didn't get the job, but I'm glad I got the interview. That's a good sign. They wouldn't waste time if they thought I was useless.”

His response shows how Tullochan nurture the young people in the face of a negative outcome.

Attributes that, with my old managerʼs hat on I'd say, are as important as certificates.

Skills for Life

“I went for a job as a gamer-in-residence,” Lewis lifted his head. “I'm really good. I'll show you,” he offered and did.

First, he gave me a run-down of different online game formats, to me totally incomprehensible, then seeing my blank face said kindly “I can do old ones too.”

He then demonstrated patience, hand-eye coordination and tactics on Jenga tiles.

“We do woodworking as well,” Kai said. “I'm making a planter, and I've already made a birdhouse.”

“I did one, too,” Ruari chimed in. “I put it up on a tree in Levengrove Park. I'm proud of that because I've always been scared of heights, but I wanted to give it a try.”

What else does Tullochan offer?

“We do gardening,” Ruari offered. “We've got cabbages, lettuces, carrots, onions and potatoes, in the planters just now.”

“I like it 'cos it's calming. Sometimes your head is just buzzing with a load of jumbled thoughts, and you go out and potter about with the planters, or just walk on the grass and it sort of quietens your head,” Kai explained.

Zoe agreed: “Learning to care for your well-being is an important part of what we do. We learn we all have bad days and disappointments, so it's good to know what to do; to have someone to talk to.”

Do you talk to the staff or to each other?

Kai answered: “Both. There's always someone and we now have a WhatsApp group chat.”

So far, they have well-being for self and family, including wellbeing walks, yoga and healthy eating; then self-confidence, interview presentation and CV writing skills plus the practical skills gained doing gardening, woodwork and in the cafe.

Is there anything more?

Rhona said: “Tullochan host a monthly pop-up clothes sale with end-of-line clothing and accessories from the Debenhams Group. This includes brands such as Coast and Karen Millen sold for £3 – £10 per item.

“Using these we offer retail-based skills opportunities: layout and display, colour coordination, marketing including social media and photography, customer services, cash control.”

“Some of our young people have gone on to jobs in the retail sector,” Zoe added.

“We hold the events here, in the base. It means participants can work on displays, take photos, lay out the clothes and accessories.

“Then, once the planning is done, we clear the meeting room, layout the rails, display the clothes and accessories. Participants each have their area or task: meet and greet, customer services, cashing-up.

“The last pop-up was a wedding fayre at Dumbarton F.C, it went very well.

“Customers get some great bargains and proceeds go back into the base. A win-win, as they say.”