Key Celebrates 25 Years of Housing and Support

Around 500 people attended a special event in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in November 2003 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Key Housing Association.

People supported by Key, our workers, and friends of Key from the Statutory and Voluntary sectors enjoyed a varied programme of presentations, films, art and music, including a special film that had been made to chart the Associations growth and development as a support and housing provider for people with learning disabilities.

There were presentations from people living in Key about their lives, about involvement in Key as tenants and also as trainers, and about wider involvement on the national stage in taking forward "The Same As You", the national strategy for learning disability services.

Key is now one of Scotland's largest voluntary sector organisations in the social care field, supporting almost 1000 people (700 of whom live in Key's own housing), and employing over 1200 staff. A further 130 people are supported by our sister organisation Community Lifestyles, based in Glasgow.

The Association's film, "So Much More..." reflects our journey over the 25 years, and the radical changes that have come about for people with learning disabilities. For Key, the involvement and active participation of the people that we support at all levels in the Association has been the most important development, and continues to fashion the nature and direction of the organisation.

Key's first chairperson, Jack Crombie, spoke of the early days of Key when there were few services and fewer housing and support options for people.

Key's present Chairperson, Gillian Anderson reflected on the changes in social policy and the real sense of momentum that has been building in recent years. "We are at the start of a new phase of our journey, and it feels as if there are many other organisations walking with us. The signposts are clearer than they have ever been, and we move forward with enthusiasm, with hope and with optimism".

Copies of Key's film, and also videos on Tenancy Agreements and Complaints made by and for people with learning disabilities supported by Key, are available - contact Jim Kearns on 0141-342 1831.