Interview: Nick Leslau, The Secret Millionaire

There’s been a feel-good factor around the centre ever since Nick Leslau’s visit, but it’s not just down to the money that he left them. Centre manager Kevin Simpson believes the show would have had a positive impact, even if the money had never materialised.

“Everyone is very positive,” Kevin tells us. “It’s not just about the money, but the fact that someone has come in and said: ‘You guys are doing a good job.’ We thought we were, but it’s really nice to hear that. That’s what has been the big boost. Someone completely objective and from a completely different background saying that to volunteers.”

At the end of the programme, it looked as if there was no time wasted in making changes to the building. “We re-decorated to freshen the place up,” Kevin admits. “Obviously it’s complete now; it was in the process at that point. That’s good because that’s lifted people a wee bit.” Some money was also spent on the kitchen; Nick recommended some new catering equipment and this has been purchased to help with the meals delivery service that the centre provides.

Nick also advised Kevin that the centre was selling itself short by calling itself the Possil and Milton Disability Forum. “One of the main changes we made was a complete re-branding,” Kevin explains. “We are now The Disability Community, whereas on the show we were usually referred to as ‘the Forum’. The word ‘community’ was deliberately chosen to be much more inclusive in exactly the way Possil and Milton was exclusive. That geographical limitation was a negative.”

In these brand-aware times, the name change includes a new logo. “The segments of the circle are people coming together in pursuit of the common goal, which is represented by the gold star,” says Kevin. “It has a positive impact because it’s fresh, modern and colourful. It brightens things up. We have spent some of Nick’s money on that because there’s a cost involved.”

Ensuring a better future for the centre is very much on the agenda for today’s Disability Community. Most of the £100,000 initially donated by Nick will go down as a deposit for an extension to the existing building. “There has always been this squeeze on accommodation,” Kevin explains. “We could do with more space. We are doing a lot more classes now – tutor-led IT groups, art groups and creative writing – and all we have here is a big hall. We could do more work given more space.”

A new building isn’t the only project the centre has worked on recently. The centre’s drama group produced a CD of Christmas songs in aid of charity. Who paid for all the production costs and arranged for Radio Clyde to do the recording? Yes, Nick Leslau.

Nick has returned to the centre twice since finishing recording The Secret Millionaire, clearly inspired by the work of those he met at the Disability Community. Thanks to him, there will one day be a centre that reflects all the hard work that has been carried out by its members.

Ronnie Rodden, who featured heavily as the face of the centre in The Secret Millionaire, was unfortunately unable to talk to us because of illness. Able Magazine would like to wish her a speedy recovery.

www.disabilitycommunity.org.uk

www.channel4.com/secretmillionaire