Glasgow West Housing Association has celebrated its 40th anniversary with the retiral of its chief executive and the appointment of a new executive team.

In 1978, at the instigation of two local churches, Hillhead Housing Association Ltd was registered as a charity.

By 1990, 95 flats were acquired through agency services from Thenue Housing Association, following which, Hillhead appointed Linda Reid as its first member of staff.

Hillhead provided local services from the basement flat at 22 Hillhead Street before moving to 5 Royal Crescent and adopting the name of Glasgow West Housing Association Ltd (GWHA) in 1996.

Proud of its complex roots, GWHA matured through the successful fusion of seven housing stock transfers (four transfers of engagements from Kelvin Housing Association, Philemon Housing Association, Burnbank Gardens Housing Association and Avalon Housing Co-operative; a statutory stock transfer from Sandyford Housing Association and two part-transfers from Glasgow Housing Association (GHA), through a convoluted process known as Second Stage Transfer (2ST)).

Now with over 2000 tenants, commercial and residential owners, and celebrating 40 years, it’s all change at GWHA.

When chief executive Linda Reid, announced she would be retiring this autumn, Steve Jenkins, GWHA chair, said: “On behalf of the management committee, staff, tenants and membership, I wish to formally acknowledge and thank Linda for so many years of dedicated service, as chief executive of GWHA. With Linda’s vision and leadership, we are in a strong position to face the challenges of the future.”

Steve added: “Following a rigorous recruitment process, Elaine Travers will be taking over the role of chief executive on 17 September 2018. Elaine has 27 years’ experience of housing at GWHA, most recently as our services director. This prompted another round of recruitment and we look forward to welcoming Sandy Welsh as our newly appointed services director. On 25 September 2018 Sandy will join Elaine and our corporate director Anne Allan forming the new executive team at GWHA and pushing forward our vision of shaping thriving communities.”