Pioneering support pack officially launches at Glasgow Fort

A groundbreaking initiative called Responsible Retailer Pack (R.R.P) was officially launched on Tuesday 14th March 2006 at Glasgow Fort Shopping Park by Councillor Jim Coleman, Deputy Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of the East Community Health Care Partnership.

Help to sustain employment

The first of its kind, the RRP is an essential element of Greater Easterhouse Development Company’s aftercare service to help local people sustain employment.  It offers easy-access advice and local support services to the 1400 employees at Glasgow Fort Shopping Park in Greater Easterhouse. In a coordinated and user-friendly way it points people in the right direction should they need help and guidance on health, wellbeing, money advice or childcare issues. 

The pack is quick, uncomplicated and discreet and has been designed with the specific aim to get the community working together and support those in work and those providing employment.

For that reason, the RRP initiative is unique in seeing voluntary and social economy organisations supporting the commercial sector.  In total there are 14 agencies included in the RRP that are currently funded to deliver professional and specialised services for and on behalf of the Greater Easterhouse area.

Councillor Jim Coleman, Deputy Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of the East Community Health Care Partnership said:

“This is a first for Glasgow where a major regeneration project i.e Glasgow Fort, having created in excess of 1400 jobs, has now put in place a full employee support programme involving many agencies.

This R.R.P is something completely new, we know from experience many people who have been unemployed for long periods of time sometimes find it difficult to sustain employment for various reasons whether it be childcare or unforeseen social problems occurring.

This pack will ensure not only that Glasgow Fort employees have access to assistance but also that the employers can benefit from the uninterrupted employment of people at Glasgow Fort.”

Gaille McCann, Project Manager of Greater Easterhouse Community Health Project said:

“Glasgow Fort employers have been proactive in assisting in the development of innovative practice to support their workforce and the voluntary sector has been heavily involved in providing the support services required by both employers and employees.

I am sure that the R.R.P will become a model of good practice across Glasgow and Scotland.”

Ronnie Saez, Chief Executive of Greater Easterhouse Development Company said: 

"The R.R.P developed with the Glasgow Fort Partnership will provide that extra bit of support that employees may require when starting a new job.”

Ronnie continued “the organisations participating in this initiative have collaborated very effectively and should be commended.”

Phil Goodman, General Manager, Glasgow Fort Shopping Park, said:

“Creating the right working environment takes many forms, and providing a sense of community is very important to us at Glasgow Fort. The RRP is a key part of that. Providing the correct help and advice is crucial and should be handled discreetly and effectively, and the RRP is a stepping stone towards getting the right support for both tenants and their employees.”