Our vision is to provide a place where the Community of West Dunbartonshire can experience the love of God in a multifaceted way and to provide opportunity for renewal and care for those who are hurting and have lost hope for their future. We desire to provide a place with an atmosphere of peace, hope, love and joy where broken and battered lives can be nurtured toward a bright and full future.

Our Mission

Our mission is to reach out to those within our communities with specific needs and provide answers to their circumstances that give hope for their futures and healing for their wounds. To
do this we have gained the support of both Protestant and Catholic Churches in West Dunbartonshire.

Care for Young Mothers

Specifically we will be providing care for young mothers in crisis with a residential facility, which
will include nurturing, and training for life. These services will be comprised of training in life skills such as mothering and childcare, health and hygiene, job training, conflict management, and social responsibility. Our hope is to prepare them for their future life within the broader community and equip them to be responsible citizens. Local churches will help provide caring structures to ease their transition back into the community.

Women in Crisis

We will also provide for the short term care of abused women within our community in support of the current social work programmes. This would, in effect, be an emergency based provision
of love and care, as well as protection for these women while they await sheltered accommodation provided by the local authority. These facilities will house both the women and their children. It is our hope to work alongside local churches and social work to provide continuing support for these women within our communities.

Family/Leadership Training

The facilities will also be used for family training and leadership seminars to assist those within our communities and churches with tools to build better families and churches. We believe that families will benefit and be strengthened by learning how to apply life-giving principles which have been at the foundation of all lasting relationships. We want to provide a model and training that builds families into a strong, safe and positive unit that will restore love, hope, trust and
joy into our communities. We believe strong families build strong churches and strong churches are a vital part of building strong communities.

Youth Sports/Life Training

Within our overall vision we will provide a comprehensive programme of youth training and sports activities. This will consist of weekend and week-long camps with trained youth workers and highly organised, well supervised events. The lower ground floor will provide necessary short-term facilities for these programmes. We will also hold job training seminars and preparation for independent living courses for older youth. Some youth activities will include, but not be limited to football and basketball clinics, hiking and camping, wilderness skills training, bowls, tennis, volleyball, golf and other sports activities. Job training seminars and courses will consist of, but not be limited to computer and I.T. training, secretarial and office skills training, woodworking and construction, various types of appliance repair training, drama and theatre training, and educational tutoring for those who need academic assistance. There will also be a gymnasium built on the Estate, which will provide for year round sports activities.

The Right Atmosphere

We believe that within a Christ-centred atmosphere and a positive, safe environment we can equip the young people of West Dunbartonshire with a respect for themselves and others and an attitude of responsible living, so that they can realise the full potential of their futures. We are clearly Christian in our methods and attitudes in achieving these goals. We believe that all who come to Overtoun House will find a gracious, joyful and caring atmosphere conducive to helping restore and renew them in these difficult days.