Glasgow’s campaigners fight for better access to banks

 

As more banking services move online, campaigners in Glasgow are fighting to keep local bank branches open. Many disabled and elderly people find it difficult to access their money without in-person services. With more than 700 bank branches closing across Scotland in recent years, concerns about financial accessibility are growing.

Seven campaigners from Glasgow with disabilities are calling for banks to remain open, as many disabled people rely on visiting branches in person and they need to do their banking on a weekly basis.

 

The campaigners add “If a bank shuts our support time is badly affected, because we have to travel into town or for miles to reach a bank. If that bank is the only one around for miles, and is only open for a few hours, lots of people will be queueing up to use it. This means we have to use hours of our support time doing our banking.”

 

This is affecting over a million disabled people in Scotland, and it doesn’t stop there. As banks continue to close, it is also impacting vulnerable families and older people.

 

 One of the campaigners from the steering committee, Rebecca O’Donnell, says it is important that banks remain open, as many people cannot use cards. “It’s not just about banking, it’s about people too. We miss going to the bank every week and talking to our local banker.”

 

The Campaign Steering Committee (CSC) was formed in early 2024 after members of the Glasgow TAG (The Advisory Group) voted on which issue they wanted to focus on. The problem of bank closures was raised, as many members were unhappy about the number of local branches shutting down.

 

 Since starting, the CSC has been very active. They hosted their own banking conference, inviting representatives from major banks, local politicians, and organisations such as the Financial Conduct Authority. However, none of those invited attended. Despite this, the campaigners were not discouraged and have continued their efforts.

 

The CSC has been working very closely with  Martin Rhodes MP, the Member of Parliament for Glasgow  where he wrote a letter to all of the banks on behalf the CSC

 

 The CSC has also been fortunate to work with an MP. Martin took the campaign further by speaking about the Campaign Steering Committee in Westminster and highlighting the work the group has been doing.

 The CSC has also visited several banking hubs to assess how accessible they are.

 

 A banking hub is a shared space, similar to a Post Office, where customers can carry out basic banking services. The counter is usually run by a Post Office employee, known as a postmaster, who can help with everyday transactions. These hubs are typically open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.

 

Since starting the campaign, members of the CSC feel that more banks, MPs, and other organisations are beginning to listen to them about this important issue.

  Written by Jill Clark  

Don’t judge a book by its cover

 

It is a true saying that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but we all do.

Everyone is bad for judging everything by just looking at things without thinking about a wider picture, but we all do it.

If we see food that it doesn’t look good, we wouldn’t eat it.

If we don’t   like a look of a place, we won’t  go to the place.

If we don’t like the look of a movie or a tv show, we don’t watch it.

Even if we like a look of someone, we wouldn’t talk to   them

 Everyone do all these things but is it the Right thing to do. I think not.

 

 It is like everyone knows everyone and everything by just looking but what about the bigger picture about everything or everyone. I believe that behind everything there is always a story to tell.

 

 

a good example why we shouldn’t judge by just dancing is when the singer Susan Boyle took to the Britains Got Talent stage in 2009.  When the judges first saw Susan, they just thought that she was going to be terrible by just judging her by her appearance, but they were all wrong. Does that mean that every singer must look fantastic and perfect?

 

I like the programme the voice because the judges don’t see the person before they sing so they are just judging them by their voice not their appearance.  That is the way it should be, if they are looking for a good singer, they should just be judging people on their voice not anything else.

 

 A thing that I hate, and everyone does it even me, is we all judge someone or something by taking other people’s word forgetting our own views and thoughts on it.

 

 As  a disabled person who is in a wheelchair and can’t talk I had  a lot of experiences when people  sees me in my wheelchair and knows that I can’t talk just thinks that I  don’t understand anything, that is one of my pet hates because how do they know if that I can understand or not  can they see inside head?

 

I think we all need start to not to judge anything or anyone just by looking.

 

 

 

Written by Jill Clark 

A UK’s country singer rocked Glasgow’s concert hall out

 

Nathan Carter rocked the Royal concert hall in his country way on 19^th October 2025

 

Nathan Carter is well known a country singer in the uk and across Ireland. The cowboy grew up in Liverpool then moved to Ireland when he was 18 to follow his dream to become a country singer.

As the lights went down in the concert hall, the crowd just knew it was time for the 35 cowboy to come out.

 

As lights went up and the blue curtain dropped there was Nathan Carter singing Banks of the Roses to get the party started and so he did!  Once the cowboy started singing the crowd started to sing and dance.

 

Nathan Carter went on to sing a Kenny Rogers Medley,

Somebody Like You, Leaving on a Jet Plane. This showed that Nathan can sings anything not just his own.

After that Nathan took time to talk to the audience   and thanked the crowd for coming.  Nathan Carter is great with the crowd.

 

Then Nathan Carter went on to sing his songs Gypsy Queen and Good Time Girls and during good times girls someone from the crowd threw a piece of underwear on to Nathan Carter but that didn’t stop the cowboy from getting on with the show

 Nathan took time to thank his band and everyone behind the scenes especially his tour manager and his younger brother Jake and he   welcome Jake to the stage where Jake sang a cover of Valerie, this was nice of Nathan Carter to do.

 

When Nathan Carter came back to the stage, he said a big hello to the fans who came from Ireland and he sang the beautiful song May the Road Rise with stage lighting a beautiful green to give the crowd an Irish feeling.

Nathan Carter finished his amazing show by rocking the concert hall by singing a Scottish medley and his   most famous song Wagon Wheel in a kilt.  This was a great way to end the show.

Written by Jill Clark 

Disabled access

When you hear the words “disabled access” you just think that it covers everything that a disabled person ‘s need but does it really?

 

 Disabled access is there to ensure that disabled people can enter, move around, and use a place or service safely and independently and that is fair enough, everyone should be able to get in and out and move around safely in  a building, but the thing annoys me that disabled access doesn’t cover everyone’s needs.

 

 Let’s talk about toilets! What a subject to be talking about eh?  But I feel toilets are always forgotten about especially when it comes to disabled people.

 

Going to the toilet is a human Right for all of us.  The international law states The United Nation recognizes: The human right to water and sanitation This means everyone should have access to Safe Clean Accessible Affordable Dignified toilets and hygiene facilities, and most of public places do follow this rule but as a disabled person I know it doesn’t meet everyone’s needs.

 

 If there are toilets in a public place you find a disabled toilet too. A disabled toilet is a stand  lone toilet, quite big with  wide doors, grab rails and high toilet seats but  these  toilets are just suitable for disabled people are in a wheelchair and can do everything for themselves  like going to the toilet themselves but what about the  rest of disabled people who needs support and  can’t take themselves to the toilet?

 

 I am a wheelchair user and haven’t got any mobility at all so I require a hoist to go to the toilet, so a normal disabled toilet isn’t any good for me. I need a Changing Places toilet which has a hoist in it.

 

Sadly, not everyone thinks of a Changing pPaces or special equipment to use the toilet and I get it in a way that if you don’t need it you don’t think it and that is fair enough even I do it.

 

But what about inclusion? Shouldn’t everyone be included in the world? Yes, we should be. So, when it comes to disabled access every disabled person need should be included like a changing places toilet.

When I hear people talking about disabled access, I think to myself how accessibility is it, does it meet everyone’s needs?

 

I do hope someday disabled access will meet everyone needs.

 

 

A accessible and inclusive sport centre for all

If you are a wheelchair user and like to go swimming or to the Gym Strathclyde sport is the place for you.

 

Strathclyde sport is a accessible and inclusive sport centre in Glasgow.

Strathclyde sport is a part of Strathclyde university where it is open up to the public too.

 

At Strathclyde sport they ensure that they are inclusive for everyone including people with Disabilities.

 

Strathclyde sport offers great pool Facilities for disabled people.

 

There is a pool pod which you go in a pool chair then go in to the pod and get lower in to the pool. 

 

The pool is 23m six lane.

 

There is a fully changing places toilet facility with a ceiling hoist and a adult size changing bed, this   can be found at the pool area.

 

There are disabled toilets on every floor and there are lifts to get access to all floors.

 

In the Gym at Strathclyde sport, there is a   wheelchair accessible   exercise bike.

 

The wheelchair exercise bike has 2 little ramps that you can wheel a wheelchair up to it.

 

You can work the bike with your hands or feet. the peddles on the bike has 2straps to keep your feet in.

 

The staff at Strathclyde sport are very helpful and will   assist you  with  anything

 

 Written by Jill Clark 

Just want to dance in my wheelchair

 
As somebody who is in a wheelchair all the time and can’t walk, I still want just to dance.
 

I have always loved music and dancing from a young age.

I feel when I listen to music it lifts me up and I go in to my own wee world.

 

Just keep dancing

 

I love to dance when I am just in my bedroom listening to music or when I am at a concert.

 

I never imagine that I would be able to perform a dance routine.

 

A new opportunity for me

 

When I got the email first asking me if I wanted to take part in a inclusive dance competition at first, I thought it wasn’t me.

 

Then I thought life is too short so why not?

 

 

I  was paired with two great dancing partners Leah and Chloe who is fantastic.

 

We   had 8 weeks of training which it was so fun!

 

We came up with a great dance routine and we chose our music which it was 2 Nathan Carter songs and 1 Dolly Parton song.

 

During the 8 weeks of training, I loved it. I couldn’t wait for every Wednesday night to do my dance training.

 

I found it hard at first to learn all of the moves but as the weeks went on, I found it easier and enjoyed it more.

 

On the night

The dance competition called “Strictly All Ability” was on the 26^th of April in a fancy hotel in Glasgow.

 

 When I got to the hotel that afternoon, I got my hair and make-up done, I liked this because it was like being on Strictly Come Dancing.

 

After I got hair and make-up done myself, Leah and Chloe did a run through of our dance in the ball room.

 

Once I saw the size of the ball room, I started to get nervous but once We started to dance that went away.

 

When it came to the main perform on the night it was a great feeling to perform in front of people especially my family and friends.

 

After it I felt very proud of myself and even although we didn’t win, I am so glad that I took part and had a great experience.

 

After the night I was a bit down because I miss dancing every week but looking in to future, I really hope I can dance once again and keep dancing.

 

 Written by Jill Clark 

 

Changing places awareness day 25

 

 

Going to the toilet is a human right for everyone, that is why this changing places awareness day I want to raise my voice louder about how important changing places toilet is to me.

As someone who uses a wheelchair and requires a hoist getting to the toilet.  A standard disabled toilets is no good to myself so, I need to use a changing places toilet which has a hoist.

Sadly, there is a lack of changing places toilets, that is why I decided to start campaign for more changing places toilets 10 years ago.

Back when I started campaigning there was only 2 changing places in Glasgow where I live but fast forwards to today there are about 26.

 These include central station, Queen Street station, Science Centre, Burrell collection and Clydebank shopping centre.

 It is really important to me having these changing places toilets in places because it lets me  have a nice day out without worrying if I can get to the toilet or not.

Even although there is a lot of more changing places now than when I started campaigning, there could be more (much more)

So, this changing places awareness day I am calling coffee shops, cafés, restaurants and lots more places to install a changing places toilet.

Going to the toilet is a most necessary thing to everyone and no one should be left without getting access to a toilet.

So, please share this Blog and together we can make the world a more inclusive place.

For more information, please   visit the changing places website:  

https://www.changing-places.org/

Written by Jill Clark