MORAG McIntosh has big plans for one of Glasgow's longest-running charities.

The former head of children's cancer charity Clic Sergeant, has been drafted in to overhaul Glasgow Old People's Welfare Association (GOPWA) which provides life-line services for hundreds of elderly people across the city.

Morag has been appointed interim Chief Executive, following the retiral of Sheena Glass MBE, who retired last month at the age of 78 after almost 40 years with the charity,

She has been given five months to devise a plan to help ensure the continuation of a charity has been providing meals, day trips, advice and companionship for pensioners for almost 70 years.

The charity's day centres also provide crucial respite for carers.

With an increasing ageing population, Morag says, the demand placed on charities like GOPWA will be even greater.

Her plan includes a possible rebrand of the charity, an overhaul of the charity shop, new funding partners and if lotto cash is secured, a dedicated dementia service.

Last year, the charity's funding was almost halved by the city council, and a number of day centres were closed.

The charity is hoping to get a welcome cash boost by encouraging Glasgow hotels to add an optional £1 to guests' accounts in the first week of October, to mark UK Older Peoples' Day.

She said: "I managed Clic Sargeant, the children's cancer charity for Scotland. I just finished earlier this year as interim CEO for North Ayrshire Women's Aid.

"So I've got a background in management and charity.

"I wrote a feasability study two years ago about the charity moving forward so I was invited to come in with Sheena left.

"I think to me, it's not rocket science, it's just a progression.

"There are areas where I think we could move forward.

"At one of our centres, we have some dementia clients, early onset. I think we need to up the ante a bit with this.

"I met with the home that we have an attachment to, the David Cargill house.

"Some people with dementia could be taken to the home.

"Or maybe we could be looking at one day a week at the centres is for dementia patients only.

"If we talk about developing dementia support, there could be a potential for lottery funding.

"We could be in partnership with transport groups. I think we need to be working with more corporate people who could support us.

"We are just about to start working with Skipton Building Society, they want to volunteer.

"We are a bit tight at the moment funding wise because of the council cut-backs but we are not different to any charity that has funding from the council.

"There are other areas we can go to for funding. We also need to consider, are there other charities we could work with who are doing a similar role?

"Funders are very keen on partnership working."

The charity will begin recruiting for a new CEO in November and Morag will present her plan to the board around the same time.

Other ideas, include delivering a box of essential food items, such as bread and milk, to elderly patients who are due to come out of hospital.

Morag, who lives in Burnside, is also keen to overhaul the charity's shop on Dumbarton Road near Byres Road and has suggested it could have a niche speciality. A number of charities including Shelter and Oxfam have done this.

She said: "Oxfam have a charity shop in Byres Road that sells only books and does really well.

"Our shop is in a prime position on Dumbarton Road, near Byres Road.

"There are some areas we could look at to become a bit more funky.

"We could be putting into our shop, is the place to go for wedding hats, fascinators.

"If I think of the number of friends who have wedding hats, wedding shoes that killed you on the day but they were too good to throw away."

Any local businesses or hotel who want to help or for volunteering opportunities, email morag.mcintosh@gopwa.co.uk or call the charity on 0141 221 9924.