New Kelvingrove Art Gallery exhibition tells 80-year story of Glasgow's Royal Voluntary Service

Emergency feeding exercise for 70 people, led by Mrs. J.G. Ritchie, Dumbarton, October 22, 1953.

A new exhibition celebrating 80 years of volunteers in Glasgow launched today at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

Compassion in Crisis tells the story of the contribution of Glasgow’s Royal Voluntary Service, from the Second World War through to modern day.

From collecting salvage and distributing ration books during WWII to supporting the emergency services at the Lockerbie disaster and running lunch and social clubs, the volunteers have, for over 80 years, provided comfort to those in need.

Running until January 31 2020, Compassion in Crisis chronicles eight decades of Royal Voluntary Service in the city, from its very beginnings, when the women of Glasgow Women’s Voluntary Services (WVS) supported the Home Front to help win the war, to the vital role its volunteers play today.

Through a collection of documents, photographs, objects and film from Royal Voluntary Service’s Heritage Collection, Compassion in Crisis recounts how the organisation was founded to help civilians in the event of Air Raids, but ended up doing much more.

Today, known as Royal Voluntary Service both male and female volunteers help thousands of people each month in hospitals and in communities across Glasgow.

Recognising their work, volunteers from Gartnavel General Hospital, West Glasgow Ambulatory Care Hospital and the Bellrock Close Café in Cranhill, star in the exhibit.

Also on display is a specially commissioned art piece – Thinking oot tha box – created by members of one of the organisation’s volunteer-led social groups, Art Club One, which runs out of Project Ability, a community arts venue in Glasgow.

Jennifer Hunt, Archivist, Royal Voluntary Service Heritage Collection with a 1940s WVS hat

Jennifer Hunt, Archivist, Royal Voluntary Service Heritage Collection said: “Royal Voluntary Service’s volunteers have played a vital role in communities in Glasgow since 1938.

“It has been a joy to curate this exhibition as it has given us the opportunity to further explore the contents of our Heritage Collection and to bring to light the inspiring stories of Glaswegian compassion in times of crisis.

“The hard work and dedication of volunteers is exceptional, as experts in mass clothing drives in 1959, world refugee year, WVS was tasked with collecting clothing to send to the Middle East to displaced Palestinians.

“In one year, WVS Scotland collected 2,693 bales of garments weighing 105 tons.

“We are delighted to share this and other stories of true voluntary service in this exhibition; raising awareness and giving recognition to thousands of volunteers who have gifted their skills and energy to helping others for over 80 years.”

Wilma McDonald from Bearsden volunteers in Royal Voluntary Service’s café at West Glasgow Ambulatory Care Hospital and features in the exhibition.

She said: “I’m thrilled a part of the exhibition. Volunteering at the hospital gives me so much so much pleasure and satisfaction. I can’t believe I have been here for 30 years. The time goes so quickly, it is always busy.

“I’ve been very lucky to make so many friends and meet so many interesting people over the last three decades. It is great to see all the volunteers recognised in the exhibition.”

Compassion in Crisis, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow. Until January 31, 2020

A wide range of volunteering opportunities are available with Royal Voluntary Service in and around Glasgow. For more details visit royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.