Red carpet for Glasgow youngsters

Five Glasgow youngsters got the red carpet treatment at the Glasgow Film Theatre when short films they helped create were screened at a special premiere.

The Glasgow screening follows a visit by the youngsters to the Stranger film festival in Amsterdam where films by young people from across Europe were shown.

The films were made as part of the British Council’s Inclusion and Diversity in Education (INDIE) programme and allowed participants to develop their filmmaking and story telling skills. Ellie Koepplinger from Hillhead High School worked on a movie called ‘Multicolour’, Natalie Reid from All Saints and Zayshaan Latif from Holyrood worked on a film entitled ‘Celebrate Diversity’, Kelly Gallagher from Lourdes Secondary and Osama Ahmed from Shawlands Academy worked on two films, ‘Differences’ and ‘Exclusion’.

The young people introduced their films before the screenings.

Les McLean, quality improvement officer for equalities, at Glasgow City Council and partner officer for the INDIE project in Glasgow, said: “Glasgow, Scotland and indeed the whole of Europe are becoming much more diverse. Issues around inclusion are increasing in importance to the council, and establishments in particular.

‘This is the third year that we have been in partnership with the British Council and their support in enabling our schools to develop projects with partners across Europe around themes of inclusion and diversity has been most welcome.

‘The impact on the young leaders of the various initiatives undertaken as part of the INDIE Project cannot be underestimated.’

Paul Docherty, Director British Council Scotland said: ‘As an international organisation the British Council believes in the benefits of a multi-cultural society. The achievements of these Glasgow schools show how forward-thinking and open-minded Scottish schools can be and we are delighted to be working with our partners Glasgow City Council and the Glasgow Film Theatre.’

The films will be shown again in February during the Glasgow Youth Film Festival. Links to each of the films below;

Multicolour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8PEyVsq8oA

Differences

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks2nrLpGP5Q

Exclusion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY1Cmoi4I_k

Celebrate Diversity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnHR8_Th_6Q

Dumped in the West End

The fly-tipping problem in Kelvinbridge just won’t go away – despite council efforts to address the problem.
In November last year the communal recycling bins that sat on the edge of Holyrood Gardens and Napiershall Street were moved due the site being used as a dumping ground.
Glasgow City Council operates and maintains the public recycling points across the City.
A spokesperson for the council said: ‘The site at Napiershall Street was regrettably removed due to constant fly-tipping and the banks were being contaminated with non- recyclable material. ‘Additional banks were provided on Great Western Road for local residents use when this site was removed.’
However, as we found out Napiershall Street is still being used as a dumping ground (at Holyrood Gardens and Burnbank Lane) and the dumpers are leaving their waste at the new recycling site on Great Western Road too.
Martha Wardrop, Green Party Councillor for Hillhead, understands the reason for moving the bins.
She said: ‘It’s very unfortunate that they moved these bins from Napiershall Street.
‘But I can appreciate that people that people living next to them wanted to see some action to stop the dumping on their doorsteps.
‘The message for 2010 has to be: Use the the free service that the council provides.’
Mr B Sood, a landlord who owns a flat on Barrington Drive, where the Great Western Road recycling site is, says additional bottle bins moved form Napiershall haven’t helped.
However, he admitted that the dumping problem is nothing new in the street.
He said: ‘There are so many students arriving with their own furniture and they just chuck the existing stuff out.’
He admitted that it was a complex issue, and added: ‘The council need to do more in terms of regular pick-ups and letting people know about the free uplift service.’
‘Essentially it comes down to educating the people.’
The Glasgow City Council 24-hour cleansing and uplift help line number is 0141 287 9700.

Whose News is it Anyway?

Everyone has found things tough during the recession, including the media. Here we analyse two different perspectives on delivering news.
As you, our readers are the key to the future of this publication; we would love to hear your views on what you expect from The BBC, your local and national broadcasters, papers and online news platforms.

Today Atholl Duncan, Head of BBC News and Current Affairs, promised an ongoing commitment to the people of Glasgow.
Following a workshop on the future of broadcasting we spoke exclusively to Mr Duncan.
He said; ‘The BBC invested £180m in the most advanced broadcasting centre in Europe, right here in the heart of Glasgow.’
‘It employs 1200 directly and hundreds of others indirectly. There is a huge economic benefit to the city in terms of having the BBC here.
‘It’s only natural as we are based here - a lot of our content will have a Glasgow slant or a Glasgow angle.
‘But our job is wider than that. We have to serve the whole of Scotland – it’s important that we deliver for everyone from Shetland to Shettleston.’
However, not everyone is convinced that the corporation is going in the right direction in terms of delivering local news.
Heather McMillan, Project Manager at Sunny Govan Radio, argues that the BBC should open up and co-operate with local news specialists.
She said: ‘To be honest the BBC Scotland put out much of the same news as STV. There are stories which get missed or cut short at the expense of their daily obsession with Rangers and Celtic.
‘How often do the news cover stories in Possilpark and in Castlemilk? – Not often and not enough.
‘When it comes to the climate change conference in Copenhagen coverage, where are the voices from the people of Glasgow?
‘Sunny Govan – and other local news providers in broadcast, online and in print like Local News Glasgow – are well placed to help the BBC.
‘I have approached the BBC in the past and while they are very helpful and friendly we’ve never had a contract or done any work in co-operation with them.
‘You could say that the BBC has been a bit of a dinosaur in terms of meeting local needs.’

Anne Frank’s message speaks to teenagers across generations

Pupils at Notre Dame High have been reading the Diary of Anne Frank and studying the lessons of her life as part of Glasgow’s preparations for Holocaust Memorial Day, which takes place on 26 January.
An Anne Frank exhibition has toured the city, and Communities Minister Fergus Ewing visited the West End girls school to hear head girl Mariah Ali and her deputies, Lynsey Doran and Zoe McKibbin, talk a party of pupils through the displays which paint a vivid picture of the German-born Jewish teenager’s life, her experiences in hiding in Amsterdam and the ideology that led to her death in a Nazi concentration camp.
Afterwards, the Minister, who was accompanied by Glasgow City Council Executive Member for Education, Jonathan Findlay, said: ‘I think every child should have the chance to learn the story of Anne Frank, and so we’re very pleased that so many schools are providing just that opportunity.
‘What was particularly valuable today was that the schoolgirls were explaining to their peers what happened. So, they studied it, they recounted it, and the fact that there was the exhibition with extracts from the diary translated it for pupils today from an abstract story to something very real, something very concrete.’
He added: ‘In the discussion sessions, the children who were leading and describing the events in Anne Frank’s diary then asked the girls what lessons were to be drawn and it is interesting that one comment was that we should appreciate what we’ve got, because they realise what a tremendous life they have compared with the horror that was Anne Frank’s short life.’
Headteacher Philomena McFadden believes the diary of a teenage girl from Amsterdam who lived and died nearly 70 years ago struck a chord with her pupils and lends immediacy to the message of remembrance of the dead and tolerance of others that lies behind Holocaust Memorial Day.
‘We felt it would be a very powerful experience for the pupils and for a long number of years we’ve had pupils visiting Auschwitz, coming back and making presentations to assembly, so our girls have been used to hearing from pupils who have been there personally giving them information about how they felt when they were there.
‘The exhibition has really brought to life what they have been reading. Anne Frank, a young person, 13 years of age and the fact she wrote that diary not realising how powerful the message would be after her death.
‘Within the diary there are everyday occurrences, but there’s also the message about what was happening to Anne and her family.’

Victim of Gorbals flat fire named

The 61-year-old man who died in a fire at a flat in Gorbals has been named as Thomas Smith.
Firefighters found Mr Smith’s body in a fourth-floor flat at 83 Waddell Court in the early hours of Wednesday after the blaze was extinguished.
Two women, aged 24 and 26, and two men, aged 31 and 37, were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation at Victoria Infimary. The 24-year-old woman and the 31-year-old man have been discharged.
Police and Strathclyde Fire & Rescue are continuing their investigations into the fire at the 77-flat block, although there do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances.
In Wednesday night, 21 families were allowed to return to their homes. The remainder spent the night in hotels, bed and breakfast or temporary furnished accommodation.
A GHA spokesman said: ‘GHA is pulling out all of the stops to help the families affected by yesterday’s tragic fire.
‘We were able to give 21 families access to their flats last night and a further 24 more today, although some chose to stay with family and friends.
‘Due to smoke and water damage to some properties, it is expected that a small number of tenants will not get access to their properties tonight.
‘GHA will continue to provide temporary accommodation and will do everything it can to ensure their comfort and wellbeing over this difficult period.’

Big weekend at the Botanics for book buffs

Glasgow Botanic Gardens in the West End is the venue for a Christmas book fair on Saturday, 19 December and Sunday, 20 December.

The free event, organised by Books at the Botanics (BATB), offers rare and second-hand books. Valuations can also be given, BATB say.

The sale takes place at the Hopkirk Building, 730 Great Western Road, from 10am to 4.30pm on both days.

The group’s website can be found at www.booksatthebotanics.co.uk.

On patrol with British Transport Police

British Transport Police invited LOCAL NEWS to spend an evening with officers at a major event. Reporter Martin Graham met up with Constables Alisdair Burnie and Davy Price on the evening of Rangers’ Champions League match with Stuttgart to get a feel for their city beat and see community policing in action.

Later that evening, they would be policing around 2000 Stuttgart fans on their way to and from Ibrox Park. First on Alisdair and Davy’s agenda was a meeting at the City Chambers with young people and council representatives to discuss services and activities for young people in the city centre.

We are joined by Sergeant Arlene Wilson of the Glasgow Central Neighbourhood Policing Team and head to the City Chambers.

The meeting is to discuss how best to look after the groups who congregate in the city centre at weekends. Councillors and members of Visible Fictions theatre group are there to listen. Young people are there to be heard.

Dominique Barclay, 16, described being attacked in George Square by an older man.

She said: ‘There are lots of gangs and intimidation. I got hit in the face with a sharp object and had to go to hospital because I was bleeding. It’s incidents like this which drive young people to seek safe environments to socialise.’

At one time, they hung around the Gallery of Modern Art, but were told they were not welcome. The young people now tend to socialise at Central Station, but this, too, has become untenable, due to the numbers of people involved.

The young people make it clear that they appreciate being consulted on what they want, and Sophie Ochojna from the theatre group recruits several of them to help with marketing and promotion of an arts and music event at the Arches.

As the meeting at the Chambers ends, word comes on Alasdair’s radio that there is bother at Buchanan Street subway station.

Before I know it, the three officers are off and running. I follow and head down the ramp from Dundas Street. It is packed with fans, mostly Rangers, and the general chatter is that there has been a fight in the station.

I push my way to the front and am just in time to see two or three Stuttgart fans being marched out of the station by policemen.

I catch up with Arlene and Alasdair. They tell me that some of the Stuttgart supporters had tried to rush the barriers in an attempt to get to the subway.

The troublemakers were ejected. Just after this, the remaining fans on the platform swarm up the stairs and out of the station – they have refused to follow instructions and were ejected from the station. You can see footage of this at the link below;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uGc5hbOt2s

These are the Ultras element of the Stuttgart support, similar to UK casuals. This type of fan is intent on causing trouble, has earned himself a long walk to the game and a close police presence for the evening.

Arlene tells me that the policy is to disperse rather than to arrest such fans.

By the end of my four hours with the cops, I have been impressed by their friendliness and openness, and also by their fast reaction when trouble flared.

British Transport Police are keen to hear from people about their experiences of using public transport, and how they can feel safer in doing so.

Transport Police can be contacted directly at their offices in Central Station, Queen Street Station, and in St Enoch Square.

You can call them on 0800 40 50 40 and visit the website at www.btp.police.uk.

A Cathcart Christmas

By Christine Lavelle

Cathcart’s first Christmas tree in over forty years was lit up on Wednesday evening outside the Couper Institute on Clarkston Road.

Councillor Sadie Docherty was joined by members of the community as the lights were turned on at 6.30pm.

Bill Baird, vice chair of Cathcart Community Council, said: “This is the perfect spot for the tree to stand; it is next to the community centre and right beside Cathcart Trinity Church.”

Bill Milner, secretary, said he and chairperson Flora Wardlaw had been trying to get a tree in Cathcart for two years but they had always been slightly late in applying to Glasgow City Council.

He said: “This year we applied early in June, to make sure we got it.

“It’s important to us because Cathcart has not had a Christmas tree in at least 40 odd years!”

Mr Baird said the community council are grateful to Sadie Docherty as without her backing it may not have been possible.

Ms Docherty said: “This is one of the reasons why I got into local politics, because I wanted to help to bring new things into the local area.”

The event was followed by hot drinks and mince pies at the Trinity Church.

Mr Baird said: “We will definitely make sure we have a Christmas tree in Cathcart again next year, and for many years after that.”

GHK Ladies Hockey Club maintain standards with latest Clubmark award

GHK Ladies Hockey Club have been re-accredited with Culture & Sport Glasgow’s Get Active Clubmark award.

 

 The West End club have worked hard to maintain standards for its members and offered opportunities to play hockey across the community, with junior membership all but doubling.

The club have teams competing in both national and district leagues, and now boast internationalists including Fiona Donald, Jenny Johnstone, Jenny Morris and Amy Liu.

Club Child Protection Officer, Pam Dewar, said: ‘We have had to start new training sessions for our older junior section because of demand. It’s great to see so many young females enjoying hockey, and we look forward to welcoming many more.’

A spokesman for Culture & Sport Glasgow said: ‘Getting Clubmark re-accreditation is the result of weeks of hard work and dedication for GHK.

‘They have shown they are committed to developing their club to the highest standards in order to provide a safe and welcoming environment for young people and this award is deserved recognition of that dedication.’

For further information on the club, go to www.ghkhockey.com.

Man, 61, dies after fire breaks out in Gorbals flats

A man has died and two other adults were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in a fifth-floor maisonette flat in the Gorbals.

 

 

More than 40 people were rescued or escorted from their homes at 83 Waddell Court after fire crews were called to the block at around 3am on Wednesday morning.

Firefighters had to force their way into the property where the 61-year-old was found.

At the height of the blaze, 20 fire appliances were at the scene and 20 firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were in action inside the building.

The fire was brought under control at around 7am and the eastbound lane of nearby Ballater Street was closed until mid-morning.

Tenants who were moved from their homes were fed and accommodated at Gorbals Leisure Centre.

Area Commander Garry Milne, one of the officers in charge during the incident, said: ‘In my 20-plus years in the fire service I have never seen such a fierce fire in a property such as this.’

On Wednesday afternoon, Strathclyde Police, Fire & Rescue and council officials were planning contingency measures for the tenants at Waddell Court.

Glasgow Housing Association said the entire building, 77 flats, had been evacuated. The landlord hopes to have returned as many tenants to their homes as possible by Wednesday evening. Others will be moved to hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation or housed temporarily in furnished flats.

GHA’s Acting Director of Housing and Customer Services, Alex McGuire, said: ‘We are doing everything possible to help the families who are affected by the fire.

‘Investigations by Strathclyde Fire & Rescue and Strathclyde Police are continuing. Some of the homes have suffered fire and smoke damage and others have been affected by water damage.

‘Until inquiries are complete and properties are habitable a number of tenants will be unable to return to their homes.

‘We will put these families up in alternative accommodation and do everything we can to ensure their comfort and well-being.

‘GHA and other agencies are co-operating fully with the investigation.’

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