The History of Cosgrove Care
As we celebrate our 65th anniversary it’s important to take a moment to look back on the founding of Cosgrove Care and the rich history of the organisation.
Cosgrove was founded in 1960 by Carrie Hill, a forward-thinking parent who recognised the lack of support and services for children with learning disabilities and their families in the Jewish Community.
Carrie discussed her concerns with Rev Dr I K Cosgrove, Minister of Garnethill Synagogue, and wrote a piece in the Jewish Echo asking for other parents who shared her concerns to come forward. Carrie highlighted the inequalities that existed for children and young people with learning disabilities in the community and sought to bring like-minded parents together to act. Carrie recognised the additional problem for Jewish children at that time. At home they could enjoy Shabbat, Yomim Tovim, and family birthdays but what would happen once their parents were no longer able to look after them? She also recognized the inequality and the lack of rights for children with disabilities to high quality education and skills development and was determined to pioneer a new approach.
The article generated a significant response from parents who saw the need to create a new model and approach to providing support, training and accommodation for people with learning disabilities, and a charitable trust, The Jewish Association for the Mentally Handicapped, now a charitable company named Cosgrove Care, was set up and a residential home was established in St John’s Road in Pollokshields.
The trustees were many of the great and good of the community, Ephraim and Michael Goldberg, Symie Miller, Isadore Walton, Dr Fred Stone. Rev Dr Cosgrove had a clear vision – that education and support would be provided by trained staff and would be fully equipped to provide the best support to help people thrive. This remains a focus for Cosgrove today, providing lifelong support to people in in their local community. The organisation has retained that pioneering spirit of our founders and continues to diversify and deliver an innovative range of support and services to the most vulnerable people in the Jewish and wider community. A group of younger supporters was formed to help, named Jewish Association for Mentally Handicapped Auxiliary Committee. some of whom later became trustees for many years.
Cosgrove In the Present
There have been many changes in social care and in Cosgrove, over the past six decades. However, Cosgrove continues to keep family values and a commitment to supporting the most vulnerable members of the community at the heart of everything it does. In developing a range of modern social care approaches to complement services commissioned by Health and Social Care Partnerships, Cosgrove offers a local, whole community approach to the planning and delivery of support, improving the lives of the most vulnerable in the community and engaging local people.
Today Cosgrove is a leading Scottish Charity working across West Central Scotland with children, adults and older adults who have a range of additional needs, helping them to lead full lives within their communities, and provide support where needed within local communities. Cosgrove provides support to the Jewish Community, with many of the people supported having a lifelong relationship with the organisation. Cosgrove continues to play a pivotal role in the Jewish Community, responding to the changes and needs as the community evolves.
Cosgrove has been at the forefront of developing and delivering innovative services that help children and adults with additional needs to build skills, confidence and independence to live life to the full in our communities, celebrating and continuing the legacy of Carrie Hill, Rev Dr Cosgrove and the founding trustees Cosgrove has been fortunate to have many supporters who have given their time, skills and heart to the organisation over many decades.
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