Looking Forward The Next 30 Years
By Karen McCurry, Snowdrop Argyll
As we reach the end of our series reflecting on 30 years of Snowdrop, I find myself thinking less about the past and more about the future.
Anniversaries naturally encourage us to look back. They give us an opportunity to celebrate achievements, honour those who came before us and recognise the many people who have contributed to our journey.
But anniversaries are also about looking ahead.
And if there is one thing I have learned over the years, it is that the future is rarely something that happens to us. It is something we create together.
A Different World, the Same Values
The world looks very different today from the one that existed when local people first came together in 1992 to create a support service for families affected by multiple sclerosis.
Technology has changed.
Communities have changed.
The way people connect has changed.
The challenges people face have changed.
Yet some things remain remarkably constant.
People still need to feel connected.
People still need to feel valued.
People still need opportunities to contribute, belong and thrive.
And communities are still strongest when people support one another.
While the future may bring new challenges, these core human needs are unlikely to change.
Remaining Community-Led
As Snowdrop continues to evolve, one thing is certain: we will continue to listen.
The greatest changes in our organisation have not come from sitting in an office deciding what people need.
They have come from conversations.
They have come from listening to lived experiences.
They have come from responding to what communities tell us is important.
That approach will continue to guide us.
I sometimes think that the best possible outcome would be for some of our services to no longer be needed because people and communities are doing well. That would be something to celebrate.
At the same time, people will always need places to connect, and that is at the heart of everything we do.
Whether future challenges are prevented through early support, or whether new needs emerge that require different responses, our role will continue to be about creating spaces where people can come together.
By building relationships and strengthening connections, we help ensure that communities remain resilient, supportive and inclusive.
We may not always know exactly what the next 30 years will look like, but we know how we will approach them.
We will listen.
We will learn.
We will adapt.
We will continue to walk alongside our communities.
Seeing Possibility, Not Problems
One of my hopes for the future is that we continue to move towards approaches that recognise people's strengths, not just their challenges.
Too often, people are defined by what they struggle with.
A diagnosis.
A disability.
A life circumstance.
A service need.
Yet over the years, we have learned that every person brings something valuable.
Skills.
Experiences.
Knowledge.
Creativity.
Compassion.
Wisdom.
The future we want to help build is one where people are recognised not simply for the support they need, but for the contribution they can make.
Strengthening Connections
If there is one challenge that continues to affect communities everywhere, it is disconnection.
People can feel isolated even when surrounded by others.
They can feel unheard, unseen and disconnected from opportunities to participate.
Creating spaces where people can connect meaningfully will remain one of the most important things community organisations can do.
Connection improves wellbeing.
Connection builds resilience.
Connection creates belonging.
Connection helps communities flourish.
Over the next 30 years, I hope we continue to find new ways of bringing people together and helping them discover that they are not alone.
A Future Built Together
When people ask what Snowdrop will look like in another 30 years, the honest answer is that I do not know.
The activities may change.
The projects may change.
The challenges may change.
But I hope the heart of Snowdrop remains exactly the same.
A place where people are welcomed.
A place where people are listened to.
A place where people are valued.
A place where people discover their strengths and support one another.
Most importantly, I hope Snowdrop continues to be shaped not by assumptions, but by the voices of the communities we serve.
Because that is how we arrived here.
And that is how we will continue to grow.
The Thread That Connects It All
Over the course of this anniversary series, I have reflected on trust, listening, peer support, learning and hope.
If there is one thing that connects all of these themes, it is the belief that communities already possess many of the strengths they need to thrive.
Our role is not to provide all the answers.
Our role is to listen, connect, encourage and help create the conditions in which people and communities can flourish.
That belief has guided Snowdrop for the past 30 years.
I hope it continues to guide us for the next 30 years too.
Thank You
As we conclude this anniversary series, I would like to thank everyone who has been part of the Snowdrop story over the past 30 years.
The founders who saw a need.
The volunteers who gave their time.
The staff who shared their skills and dedication.
The funders and supporters who believed in our work.
And the thousands of people who have trusted us with their stories along the way.
You have helped shape who we are.
And you will help shape who we become.
The next 30 years begin today.
I look forward to continuing the journey together.
About the Author
Karen McCurry is Centre Manager of Snowdrop Argyll and has worked in the third sector for more than twenty years. She is passionate about community-led support, inclusion, wellbeing and helping people discover their strengths, purpose and connection.
This blog reflects the personal reflections and experiences of the author and is intended to encourage discussion about issues affecting communities and community organisations.
