Skip to content

How We Work

The Jimmy Reid Foundation was established in 2011 by the Scottish Left Review, the political magazine which was Jimmy’s last major political project.

The Foundation is an independent ‘think tank’, not affiliated to any political party or organisation but works closely with anyone interested in a more progressive future for Scotland. By making strenuous efforts to maintain party political neutrality the Foundation aims to offer a home for all people of the left in Scotland.

The Foundation is based around a work programme which is set and overseen by a Project Board. The Project Board is made up of leading Scottish thinkers in their area and is intentionally non-party political. A list of the current members of the Project Board can be found below.

But the Foundation is not a ‘closed shop’; in everything we do we will try as far as possible to make our work and its development open to debate and discussion with anyone who is interested and feels they have something to add.

The Foundation is funded through donations. The vast majority of those both by number and by value are from ordinary people who want to see the Foundation succeed. But we also receive donations from organisations such as trade unions, campaigning groups and charitable trusts. The Foundation will not accept any donation which would be likely to compromise its independence in any way.

If you would like to make a one-off donation, you can do so below but if you are able, it would be particularly helpful to us if you would consider setting up a regular donation. The first step is to sign up to become a member of the Foundation. You can choose to donate via PayPal here or by post (cheques payable to ‘Reid Foundation’ and sent to Jimmy Reid Foundation, 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 6RX).

Members of the Project Board

Andrea Bradley is the General Secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union.

Professor Mike Danson is Emeritus Professor of Enterprise Policy, Heriot-Watt University, Treasurer of the Academy of Social Sciences, and Fellow of the Institution of Economic Development and of the Regional Studies Association. Mike is the deputy-chair of the Project Board

Stephen Deans is a regional officer for the Unite union in Scotland.

Professor Ruth Dukes is Professor of Labour Law, University of Glasgow and active within the Institute of Employment Rights.

Carole Ewart is a public policy and human rights consultant, working primarily with the not for profit sector in Scotland.

Lynn Henderson is a senior national officer for the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union. She is chair of the Project Board.

Pat Kelly is a retired union officer and chair of the editorial committee of the Scottish Left Review magazine.

Dr Eleanor Kirk is a Lecturer in Human Resource Management at the University of Glasgow

Joan Reid is the granddaughter of Jimmy Reid.

Dr Eurig Scandrett is a Lecturer in Sociology at Queen Margaret University and was head of community action at Friends of the Earth Scotland.

Kay Sillars is a Regional Manager at UNISON Scotland.

Bob Thomson is a retired senior union official and former member of the General Council of the STUC as well as an ex-Chairman and Treasurer of the Scottish Labour Party.

Dave Watson is an independent consultant and researcher. He was previously the Scottish Organiser (Bargaining and Campaigns) for UNISON Scotland.