On Saturday 21 March, Scotland’s most diverse neighbourhood will come together to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the occupation of Govanhill Baths. As the trust calls for the final £10 million needed to open the doors, CEO Fatima Uygun warns that Glasgow’s built heritage is at a tipping point.

On that last night of swimming in 2001, the local community – led by mothers of the Kingston Swimming Club kids – chained themselves to changing rooms. It was the beginning of what would become the longest-running occupation of a public building in British history, sparked by Glasgow City Council’s announcement of the pool's closure.

The occupation lasted 140 days. It was community-led, passionate, and garnered support from activists around the world. It only ended on 7 August, when mounted police and sheriff officers forcibly removed the community from the historic Edwardian building that had served the area since 1914.

A vision for wellbeing

Fatima Uygun, CEO of Govanhill Baths Community Trust (GBCT) and a 2001 campaigner, reflects on the journey since those 140 days: “Since then, we have been trying to reopen the building as a wellbeing space for the neighbourhood. £9 million has already been spent on renovating the site; the exterior of the building is now fully complete and with construction costs, inequality and health crisis on the rise, it’s never been more urgent to complete this project. It’s been twenty-five years since the Baths closed – which is twenty-five years too long.”

Uygun highlights that the project is about more than just a pool – it is about the survival of Glasgow’s history. “We need proper investment in Glasgow’s built heritage. We’ve seen it again with the fire at Union Street just how quickly our historic buildings can be lost. The Government and City Council need to have a clear plan to protect and develop buildings for the people of Glasgow.”

*Architect Impression of the Govanhill Baths Ladies Pool*

Impact on the local economy

Govanhill remains one of the most deprived areas in Scotland, facing high levels of unemployment and poverty. The Trust argues that completing the Baths is a key part of the solution. Once operational, the building is expected to:

Create 37 jobs.
Generate £1 million for the local economy.
Support up to 18,000 people annually.

The finished interior will host two pools (with gender-specific sessions), a gym, dance studio, Turkish suite, café, community kitchen, and events space. There is also a vital safety aspect. Recent findings from Scottish Swimming revealed that 40% of children in Scotland leave primary school without knowing how to swim. “It’s such an important and potentially life-saving skill,” says Uygun. “We’re thrilled that we will be teaching up to 7,000 lessons annually once our swimming pool is open again.”

More than just a building

While the building remains under renovation, the solidarity of the 2001 occupation laid the foundations for a massive community network. GBCT currently runs:

The Govanhill International Festival and Carnival.
The People’s Pantry and Govanhill Youth Club.
Rags to Riches Re-use Hub and Govanhill Baths Ceramics.
The Deep End venue and Creative Canopies gardening project.
In 2024-25 alone, the Trust supported more than 23,000 people across these programmes.

Join the celebration

The anniversary event is a chance to honour the past and remember the campaigners who are no longer with us. The public celebration is open to everyone and will include speeches, music, and food.

Where: Outside Govanhill Baths

When: Saturday 21 March, 5pm–7pm

“We need that last stage of investment – £10 million – to complete the interior renovation so that we can transform lives in Glasgow,” says Uygun. “We’re calling on the Scottish Government to make it happen.”

For more information, visit www.govanhillbaths.com.