Community Stories

Community Stories

Several community organisations and sports clubs in Glasgow have already become involved in projects to explore new ways of delivering local venues and services which their communities value and rely on.

Community activism and pioneering approaches to public services have always been the Glasgow way. Giving people a stake in the services intended for and delivered in their local area is an opportunity for all citizens to be involved in making communities stronger and better for everyone.

These new partnerships will draw on a tradition of community activism and engagement in Glasgow which can be traced back to the 19^th century and continues to this day.

Communities working together to keep sport facilities running

Pilot projects are underway at Stepford Sports Complex, Nethercraigs and Springburn. The combined benefit of these pilots is that it is allowing many young people to keep playing sport.

Pollok United has been one of the football clubs involved in pilot projects across the city, helping to keep pitches at Glasgow Club Nethercraigs open for use.

The club's Development Manager, Andy Elliott, said: "The logistics of running a project like the Community Activation pilot would be complex enough in any normal year, but as a result of the pandemic we've faced the added challenge of having to manage everything remotely and online. It's a credit to everyone involved that the project has gone so well and that's really due to the great relationship we have with Glasgow Life.

"Our joint effort to keep Nethercraigs open has worked fantastically well, especially as the local kids have been itching to get outside and have a kick-about. Once restrictions are eased further, we're looking forward to more people from Greater Pollok and Cardonald being able to enjoy full use of these brilliant facilities again."

Communities working together for local enterprise

Glasgow City Council identified the potential for Westmuir Street School, an empty building on the main shopping street in Parkhead, to be developed into an enterprise centre designed to attract business back into the town centre and increase footfall on the high street.

The 'B' listed building had been empty for a number of years, and had been put onto the 'Buildings at Risk' register for Scotland before a partnership project created a successful outcome for the building.

The ownership of the building was first transferred from Glasgow City Council to Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, who managed the repair and restoration of the landmark building, converting it into a local enterprise centre with a mix of community and office space.

Once the redevelopment was complete in summer 2018, Parkhead Housing Association acquired the building and took on legal and financial responsibility for its maintenance and its operation as an enterprise centre.

The project delivered a variety of benefits to Glasgow's communities, including 50 construction jobs, the creation of business premises capable of accommodating up to 100 jobs, and the preservation of an important heritage asset in the town centre.

In addition to a direct contribution from Glasgow City Council, this project was made possible thanks to the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Scotland, William Grant Foundation, The Hugh Fraser Foundation, and a grant from Parkhead Cross Townscape Heritage Initiative.

If you would like to get involved with delivering local venues and services in your area, click here.

Have a look at some frequently asked questions about People Make Glasgow Communities

You can read more about the thinking around community development here.