David Blair

Occupation: Banker

Co-operative Businesses traded with in last 12 months Food

Skills and experience

I have a passion for trying to make our communities stronger and better places for all. I am inspired by the Co-op’s similar vision and would love to represent members in ensuring that together we meet this vision. Professionally I work in the financial industry but in my free time I volunteer with several local charities, and community groups. I already represent the views of my community on several funding groups and committees.

Additional information

As mentioned in my summary address, from an early age I have had a clear belief that communities work best when people work together. Whilst I currently hold a full time job with a Financial Institution I have tried, wherever I can, to make best use of my free time to work towards my belief. I have, or continue to serve on the following Boards/Committees

• Director and Trustee of Kilbarchan Improvement Projects Limited a Scottish Registered Charity set up to take over and run the former Renfrewshire Council library as a community hub.

• Director and Trustee of the Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank Charitable Foundation.

• Vice Preses (Vice Chair) of the Kilbarchan General Society, a society formed in 1765 to look after the welfare and wellbeing of local people.

• A Community Representative of the LEADER Rural Funding Local Action Group for Greater Renfrewshire and Inverclyde. Leader provides grants for a number of projects based in the rural environment.

• Deputy Group Co-ordinator of Paisley Police Scotland Youth Volunteers. This group works with young people between the ages of 14 and 18 and encourages them to volunteer within their local communities for the benefit of other.

• A Community Representative on Johnstone and the Villages Local Area Committee. This committee engages with the local Council to ensure that the community’s views are well represented in decision taking. This group also allocates small grant funding.

• I have just stepped down as Chair of Kilbarchan Community Council. I served on the Council for 32 years and held position of Chair for 10 years. Community Councils have a principal aim and that is to represent the views of the local community.

• Scout Leader within one of the largest scout groups in the West of Scotland.

I hope you will see from my list of commitments that I am dedicated to trying to improve my community. I am fully acquainted with trying to represent different opinions and views and hope that I will be able to adapt my skills learned to date, both professionally and through my volunteering, to represent the diverse membership of the Co-op. I don’t enter into commitments that I don’t think I can add value to and I only commit to a cause that resonates with me personally.

I hope you will give me the opportunity to work with the other elected Council members to ensure that our Co-op continues to be a values lead business that we can all be proud of.