
‘Frustrating and disheartening’: Govanhill Baths Community Trust blames council for delays to Covid memorial
Glasgow City Council has been accused of “moral” and “bureaucratic” failure over delays to a memorial for victims of the Covid-19 pandemic which is sitting in storage at taxpayers expense, The Ferret reveals.
A Glasgow welcome: How local people are leading the way in community sponsorship
Community sponsorship, a grassroots initiative led by the community and supported by Reset UK, works alongside refugee families to resettle them into their new homes, from accessing safe accommodation, navigating local services, registering with a GP, to helping children settle into school.
Arkbound: Creative writing on the cost of living crisis
Arkbound Foundation ran a series of workshops at the Community Newsroom, attended by writers from across Glasgow. Over the course of six sessions, writers respond creatively to the cost of living crisis – through poetry, short stories, and reflective prose, highlighting the power of literature to document their experiences.
Govanhill community reacts to UK Supreme Court decision on gender
The UK Supreme Court’s ruling that legal definitions of “man” and “woman” are based on biological sex has sparked fierce debate across Scotland. Trans advocates, politicians, community groups and legal experts warn the decision oversimplifies complex realities, putting trans people at risk of exclusion from essential spaces and services. Now that the dust has began to settle, what’s in-store for the future of gender reform in Scotland?
My Life Before Govanhill: Tom van den Hurk
From a multicultural tenement in Germany’s Ruhr Valley to the vibrant streets of Govanhill, historian and filmmaker Tom van den Hurk reflects on a life shaped by migration, identity, and the power of storytelling in our regular feature, My Life Before Govanhill, from Issue 17: Hidden Lives.
A tour of the Southside’s radical history
From bank robberies to links to the slave trade, the southside has homed a variety of radical social and political histories. In this piece we explore some of the area’s forgotten heritage and dive deeper to uncover the legacy behind these familiar spots.
Making a real difference: Organising a community gathering in our back lane
In this series of articles, we hear from residents who had enough of fly-tipping and decided to take matters into their own hands. Dana Cherepkova, shares more from her first community meal on the often fly-tipped Kingarth Lane. After a quick spring clean, it was transformed into a wonderful space to meet the neighbours, share a meal, a collaborative project between residents, supported by community food project Kin Kitchen.
Dusting off the memories: On the importance of archives
Archives exist as a means to connect us to our past, whether personal, social or connected to a particular place or movement. Preserving these stories provides a chance to learn from what’s gone before. In this article we explore the personal archive of a former Queen’s Park Camera member and share some of the local archives in the Southside.
Back to the future: Could we see the return of the public diner?
It’s not as well known but before the UK had a national health service, it had a national restaurant service. British Restaurants were state-supported restaurants serving affordable meals to the general public.Glasgow used to have at least 10 of these restaurants... Now there is a call to bring them back.
How one group of residents turned their fly tipped lane into a community gathering space
Residents of Kingarth Lane and Kin Kitchen came together on 15 September to transform the often-neglected lane into a vibrant community hub. The event featured activities for children, a shared meal, and discussions on future improvements, including food planters and outdoor seating.
Volunteer Spotlight: Gurdev Singh Pall
In our Volunteer Spotlight, we highlight those making a difference in Glasgow. This time, we meet with Gurdev Singh Pall, who is dedicated to preserving Sikh heritage in the city. He’s building an archive of photos and memories to document the Sikh community’s contributions and running the EKTA Group Elderly Care Forum to support and unite Glasgow’s Sikh and Asian elderly population.
Tony & Andrea: In conversation at the Star Bar
Located in Eglinton Toll, The Star Bar has stood the test of time, serving up Glasgow’s cheapest three-course lunch in a historic setting. We caught up with regular Tony and manager Angela for a bar-side blether.
Festival of Social Action platforms young Roma activists
Young Roma activists co-curate a transformative Festival of Social Action at Scotland's first Roma Culture Centre, showcasing powerful stories and fostering community connections to inspire change. Including a screening of the film ‘(We Are Roma): This is our Home’ which explored the experiences, struggles, and aspirations of Roma youth in Glasgow through the lens of Lena Popikova, a young Roma woman and aspiring filmmaker who grew up in the city.
Yoruba Sonic — ‘a powerful tribute to the resilience and creativity of the African diaspora’
Yoruba Sonic was a vibrant and immersive event that beautifully blended academic research with rich cultural performances. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with a diverse mix of audio recordings, African dance, drumming, and live performances. The artists delivered captivating explorations of African knowledge systems and embodied cultural expressions. The event, supported by the University of Glasgow, offered a powerful tribute to the resilience and creativity of African and diaspora communities, making for an enriching and unforgettable experience. Here are some snapshots from the event.
Glasgow East hustings discusses in work poverty and food insecurity
Five candidates vying for the Glasgow East seat addressed a sparse crowd at a foodbank-hosted hustings, discussing poverty, inequality, and their visions for the future. With the SNP and Labour as leading contenders, the debate highlighted the critical issues facing one of Scotland's most deprived communities.
When Paul Robeson Came to Queen’s Park
Govanhill has long been known as a place of resistance, where solidarity spills over into protest, and where people aren’t afraid to stand up for what they believe in. This article on civil rights activist, Paul Robeson’s visit to Queen’s Park makes up part of our Timeline of Resistance piece. This was featured in our latest issue on community action, showcasing a few inspiring actions that happened locally.
Connecting Through Community: How community Organisations overcome language barriers in their work
Marzanna Antoniak is an ESOL teacher and former Community Connector in Govanhill. Here she reflects on teaching English in the community as well as chatting to community organisations about how they overcome language barriers in their work.
Issue 14 - Community Action - Out Now!
We’re so excited to share with you the latest issue of the magazine on ‘Community Action’ focused on how the community is responding to injustice in our community and beyond. We’ve started delivering the magazine but if you’d like a copy sent to you directly, become a member today from as little as £3 a month. For now, happy hunting, we hope you enjoy this issue.
Govanhill Spring Clean: ‘We Are the Custodians of Our Community’
On Saturday 27 April a group of community organisations, local businesses and volunteers took to the streets of Govanhill for an organised clean-up. The Govanhill Spring Clean was the first of many community-led litter-picks in the area. Their message: ‘we are the custodians of our own community.’
How Govanhill’s Link Workers Remove Barriers to Accessing Healthcare
“With an intimate knowledge of groups, activities and resources available locally, community link workers play a crucial role in mapping local support systems – keeping individuals and GP practices up to speed with the services available.” - Lottie Hanwell on link workers, writing for our language issue.