When June McDonald first attended Tullochan’s after-school club with her son Ross she had no idea how the charity would change both of their lives.
June is set to leave Tullochan this week after 22 years – having started as a volunteer before becoming a youth worker, project leader and then chief executive – during which time she’s supported an estimated 15,000 young people.
And her journey started when Ross, who struggled with his confidence from a young age, dragged his mum along for his first session. Reflecting on two decades involved with the Dumbarton-based youth charity, June said: “It’s absolutely mental that I’ve been here for 22 years.
“I only started after Ross was referred to Tullochan while he was in primary school.
“He refused to go unless I attended with him.
“He’s to blame for every single second of this!
“I only intended ever to go to the after school club Hop, Skip and Jump that Ross was involved in.
“They were doing a show that they wanted Ross to be part of. And from there the volunteering got more and more.
“I was asked if I wanted to go through my youth qualifications and they would pay for it. I did. And the rest, as they say, is history.”
It marked a huge change for June, who had previously worked in retail - but found her love for youth work on the streets of Haldane.
She continued: “I didn’t ever see myself working to help young people in this way. It was never my intention. I didn’t have a passion for it.
“The first paid job I had with Tullochan was doing what’s called detached work.
“It meant going out and walking the streets of Haldane and Balloch on a Friday night to deal with the older young people hanging about. I absolutely loved it. I stay in Haldane and I’d see them at the shops and think they were really scary. But they weren’t at all. They just needed a bit of support.
“Because I was from the Haldane, the relationships built really, really quickly.
“I was a single parent for 10 years so I knew the struggles that people had who were single parents with kids to look after.
“That first job was a real eye opener.
“I had a great dane at the time who I would take with me.
“And the kids loved him. He was huge and really helped to break the ice.”
From there June went on to become a qualified youth worker. And it was an experience that opened her eyes to the struggles young people across West Dunbartonshire face.
June explained: “When people see young people in the street acting up, shouting or swearing or whatever then what they don’t realise is that there’s always a reason behind it.
“99.9 percent of the time they just feel a wee bit lost in life and need a bit of help.
“ There are not a lot of bad young people in the world.
“I’ve worked with thousands and there are not a lot who are bad.
“There are a lot who are frustrated. A lot who are lonely. A lot who are scared. But not a lot of bad young people. There are a thousand stories I could tell. I’ve never ever seen it as a job though. It’s part of my life.
“I’m incredibly proud of our young people. From where they were as kids to when you meet them as adults, with jobs, houses, kids.
“Every young person I speak to has a story. They always ask me if I remember something we did together.
“It’s nice when you walk away and think you made a difference to someone’s life. That’s really special.
“There is no other job in the world that would give you that feeling.
“There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the difference you’ve made to someone’s life.”
June’s time at Tullochan not only saw her help positively impact the lives of local youngsters, it also saw her make memories of her own – and push herself outwith her comfort zone.
She laughed: “I used to do a lot of outdoor education with the kids to build up their confidence over weekend residentials.
“That was a total culture shock for me.
“I’m used to doing my hair and my nails, not hanging off a rope!
“I remember doing that thinking it was madness.
“I’d tell the instructors I wouldn’t do things, and they’d tell me I needed to. Because if I didn’t do it then the kids wouldn’t.
“Abseiling was definitely the scariest thing I’ve done. We did it up at Glen Coe, it was pouring sideways with rain.
“I had to go first. My legs were like jelly. I couldn’t control them at all.
“There were tears streaming down my face. But I did it. And because I did it the kids did too, they had no excuse.”
A move to Spain is now ahead for June and husband Charlie, and she admits it will be a wrench to leave Tullochan for the final time this week - even if she’ll find it strange being able to go into bars where she isn’t instantly recognised as ‘auntie June’. She said: “I’m going to hugely miss Tullochan. I’m already a wee bit jittery. I’m wondering what my life will be like without it.
“It sounds corny, but it feels like a family at work. It’s like an extension of my own family.
“Me and Charlie have decided it’s time to start a new chapter in our lives in Spain.
“I still walk into pubs in Balloch and someone who is six foot and about 30-years-old comes up to me and says ‘how are you doing auntie June?’
“That’s part of being local and involved in the organisation.”
And she believes that the organisation is in safe hands, with Richie Gallacher stepping up to become the new chief executive.
June concluded: “Richie is taking over from me.
“I wouldn’t have gone until I knew the right person was there to do the job.
“It’s too easy to walk away, and if you don’t get the right person in the position then it doesn’t work.
“There are too many young people in West Dunbartonshire who need support.
“And the figures go up every single year.
“Tullochan is really important for West Dunbartonshire. It needs to be here.
“I wish every district in Scotland had a Tullochan.”
