Alan Swanson left Blythswood’s paid employment this summer after 22 years working for the organisation in several key roles. And he’s back already, this time as a volunteer, supporting Blythswood’s 2025 Shoe Box Appeal.

For 17 years Alan managed Blythswood’s charity shops. “I couldn’t have done it without the commitment of staff and volunteers,” he says. “We achieved good standards at the level set by my predecessor, Peter Crumlish.”

As shops raise support for projects, Alan was motived by his first-hand experience of work in eastern Europe. He identifies working with Go Relief teams in Romania, Moldova and Serbia as being among the highlights of his time with Blythswood.

Later, as head of UK projects, Alan oversaw the work of foodbanks in Edinburgh and the Highlands. “Again, it’s down to staff and volunteers being committed to helping people in our own communities,” he says. “I hope I’ve been an encouragement to them.”

In recent years Alan managed the Shoe Box Appeal, driving up to 40,000 miles a year to serve shoebox sorting stations from the north of Scotland to southwest England. And this year, as a volunteer, he’s been helping with shoebox collections in south and central Scotland, and as far down as Darlington and Leicester in England.

He says: “I’ve seen first-hand what difference a shoebox makes and I’m happy to continue to support the Shoe Box Appeal in whatever way I can as a volunteer.”

Alan Swanson: ‘I’ve seen at first-hand what difference a shoebox makes’