Cosgrove Care is marking the work and contribution of John Dover, Honorary Life President as he stands down after over three decades as a previous Chair and Board Member of the charity.
The organisation has named their new supported living facility Dover Lodge and announced an annual award- The John Dover Award for Endeavour- at a recent official opening of the property in Glasgow. The opening was attended by John and his wife, Suzie together with current Board members and staff.
Cosgrove Care was a small independent organisation when John took over the chair. His ability as the chair of the trustees was exceptional, as was his knowledge and foresight in helping to move the organisation forward. Actions that secured a strong vision and future for the organisation.
Back in the 1990’s, less than 20 people were supported by Cosgrove, living in a beautiful but unsuitable large Victorian mansion in Pollokshields, where 4 people shared a room and bathroom. It was also far from the centre of the community.
Under John’s leadership, Cosgrove embraced the government’s Valuing People Report of the time whose impact on the lives of people with learning disabilities and on those who provided the services would be enormous. The report recommended that people with learning disabilities should have the same rights as others, should be given more independence, a better quality of life and where possible, be encouraged to make their own choices in their lives; the staff and the local authorities were keen to see a move in that direction and John understood what an impact for good this would have on the lives of our services users. Under John’s leadership and that of Linda Goldberg the first Chief Executive, Cosgrove quickly responded by backing the move into the community and encouraging support for it from the families and others.
After a great deal of searching for ground on which to build, and wondering if supported people and families would embrace the move to community living after so many years together in their old home, the organisation built a new facility of four bedded flats in Arnside Avenue Giffnock where people had their own rooms, a bathroom shared by 2 people only, and a joint sitting room and kitchen. This house still exists today, providing a home for 12 people with a range of complex needs.
In addition, Cosgrove acquired two bungalows which were adapted for disabled people, secured Housing Association flats, similarly adapted. This work supported people with learning
disabilities to move out of long stay hospitals and into their own homes in the communities they came from.
At the same time and with the help of The Glasgow Jewish Community Trust, The Walton Foundation, The Esterson Trust and others a new Headquarters Building was built shared by Jewish Care Scotland where it had dedicated staff space and a Day Centre for service users, all within easy reach of the community of where supported people stayed.
Over the next few years, the organisation worked closely with local authorities and Health Boards who were closing long stay hospitals, developing housing with support and improving the lives and opportunities for people with learning disabilities, autism and additional needs . Cosgrove Care was able to offer those services to because John had spearheaded the professionalism of the Cosgrove staff, first by supporting all staff to acquire relevant qualifications and then helping the organisation become Investors in People accredited, which all led to Cosgrove becoming a centre of excellence at that time. In fact, due to this upgrading of professionalism and quick response to the new way forward for people with learning disabilities, Cosgrove became the UK Charity of the Year in its field. Cosgrove Care was the first charity in Scotland to gain the Investors in People Standard and we hold it to this day. Children’s services were added to the adult services, so the number of people supported quickly grew from under 20 to well over 100 by the late 1990’s.
John supported all of these moves and was instrumental in ensuring that the Board and the local authorities were onside, and that funding was secured to sustain these services into the future.
His contribution to the lives of people with learning disabilities at that time in Glasgow was immense and widened just after that to ensure that people with mental health challenges were also supported, long before it became a major concern for society. Today the organisation has built on that legacy.
A practising accountant, John was well equipped to keep finances under control and to help ensure that there was a regular flow of money for the services delivered on behalf of Local Authorities. This ensured that Cosgrove Care expanded to where it is today. At one time he estimated that he was spending half his working day on Cosgrove matters as well as doing his day job.
In 2018, John was made Honorary Life President of Cosgrove Care and supported the organisation through a further period of growth and expansion as the current chief executive Heather Gray sought to develop the services provided.
Today, Cosgrove supports over 300 children, adults and families across West Central Scotland. It provides a wide portfolio of services and continues to innovate thanks to the strong roots established by John. Our new supported living accommodation means that the organisation can now provide intensive support to over 40 people with complex needs in fully adapted accommodation.
To recognise John’s work, the organisation has named the new supported living house ‘Dover Lodge’. This new house will be home to 4 people with complex needs. In addition, an annual award – the John Dover Award for Endeavour has been launched which will be awarded for the first time at Cosgrove’s AGM in September 2024. This award will recognise staff, volunteers or supported people who have been able to overcome adversity to thrive and achieve.
Everyone at Cosgrove Care- past and present wishes to thank John for everything that he has done to develop this wonderful charity which continues to deliver John’s vision to this day
Colin Black, Co-Chair of Cosgrove Care said:
‘Cosgrove Care is indebted to John Dover for his steadfast support, leadership and vision which has created an organisation that is thriving today and helping the children and adults we support reach their potential and achieve in life. We are delighted that John’s legacy for innovation lives on in Dover Lodge and in the John Dover Award for Endeavour.’