Bridgeton Gala day success

By Colin Mackie

Though held on Friday 13 August, the Bridgeton Gala Day was a huge success. Lady Luck played her part with plenty of sunshine to go around.

The local community turned out in strength to enjoy the many stalls and free activities on offer and various local services were on hand to share in the experience.

Scottish Thai Boxing Champion Amy Purdie gave a fantastic demonstration of her boxing skills  along with other members of the Phoenix Thai Boxing Club.

The day’s proceedings were brought to a close by the traditional Balloon Race, with a prize going to the person whose balloon is reported as reaching the farthest away point on the map.

Deaf consultation

A Cross Party Group on Deafness has approved a consultation paper on MSP Cathie Craigie`s proposed British Sign Language (BSL) Bill. While recognition of BSL is good, the language still has no standing in law.

The consultation, launched in July, is the first step in trying to ensure that the language has the same protection, status and rights as any other indigenous language in Scotland.

Cathie Craigie, Convenor of the Cross-Party Group, said: ‘I am pleased that the consultation period on my proposed BSL Bill has begun. It will give fellow politicians, community groups, public bodies, Deaf organisations and the general public a chance to scrutinise the proposals and give opinions on them.

‘British Sign Language is the first, or preferred, language of many Deaf people in Scotland, but it does not have equal status with English or Gaelic. I believe this has to change. This Bill would establish British Sign Language as one of Scotland`s official languages. It would provide a degree of equality to BSL users, create better awareness of BSL, promote it throughout Scottish heritage and permit it to be taught in schools.

‘Since Devolution 11 years ago, the Parliament has been at the forefront in seeking equal opportunities throughout Scotland. I am hoping that this Bill will provide accessibility, opportunity and fairness to all BSL users in Scotland and rid us of the existing inequality.’

The consultation will run until Friday 29 October 2010.

For more information about the consultation and how to respond, go to the Scottish Parliament website on the Proposals for Members Bills page at…

www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/MembersBills/index.htm

or contact Cathie Craigie by email: cathie.craigie.msp@scottishparliament.uk

or Tel: 01236 825 372 or Fax 01236 820 556

You can also download a PDF copy of the consultation paper using the link on the homepage of

www.glasgowbsl.co.uk

Support Colin our LOCAL NEWS columnist

Colin Mackie, who has been a columnist with the LOCAL NEWS GLASGOW for several years will be running in the Glasgow10K road race on Sunday 5 September.

Over the years he has been writing about the Southern Necropolis, Oatlands and now British Sign Language (BSL) and the Deaf communities.

He said: ‘This being my 26th year taking part in the Glasgow event…(phew how time flies eh!), I would really appreciate any donations towards my chosen charity – the West of Scotland Deaf Children’s Society. They do a fantastic job.

‘My fundraising page can be found at… www.justgiving.com/colmacglasgowbsl

‘Here`s hoping for some good weather on the day and I`m sure there will be a fantastic turnout…just like last year. Thanks.’

See his websites:

www.glasgowbsl.co.uk

www.southernnecropolis.com

 

 

Howzat for Charity!

Cricketers from 16 teams across Scotland have gone in to bat for the flood victims in Pakistan. They will compete in a Super Sixs tournament at the Clydesdale Cricket Club ground in Beaton Road, Glasgow, G41, on Sunday, September 12.

The event has been organised by Active Life Club, a youth group from the Southside of the city along with Hamilton Cricket Club and Clydesdale Cricket Club.

The six-a-side format will be knockout style; with each team limited to five overs per game.

It will be non-stop six-a-side cricket all the way from 10am till 7pm. But that’s not all – there will be a host of attractions on the spectators’ side of the boundary, including food and drink stalls, henna painting, balloon making, bouncy castle and slides, a raffle and auction, kwik cricket for youngsters, information stalls, DJ music and a singing talent competition.

There will also be an opportunity to buy Pakistani cricket team merchandise. There will be signed footballs from Celtic and Rangers Football Clubs, a signed T shirt from Celtic footballer Aiden McGeady, and one from the Scottish Cricket team as well as a cricket bat signed by Pakistani players; all on auction to raise funds.

The aim is to provide an entertaining fun day for families, cricket fans and, of course, the players, among whom will be a team representing the Scotland national side.

Most importantly, the tournament is being held for a hugely worthwhile cause and the organisers hope this will be reflected in a bumper turnout. Stalls can be booked for £100 which will provide great opportunity for organisations to reach out to diverse communities. All proceeds will go to the flood victims. More information from Raza at Active Life Club, email:  activelifeclub@hotmail.com

Gorbals to throw a Jumble Sale for Pakistan

The Gorbals community is asking for clothes, toys, bric-a-brac, unwanted gifts and jewellery for a jumble sale on Saturday 18 September. All proceeds are to go to the Pakistan flood aid effort.

The fund raiser is being arranged by Anna Malone, a former humanitarian aid worker who made many trips to war-torn Bosnia, and narrowly avoided death there when a van she was travelling in fell from a cliff.

Anna is being helped by Glasgow based Islamic Relief, a charity that sends relief teams to areas struck by disasters. The jumble sale will be in  St Francis Church Hall and Anna is asking for people to look theirl cupboards and boxes to find items that can be donated. The items should be left at the hall on Friday 17 September, the day before the sale.

Anna launched a similar initiative after the Tsunami that ravaged Asia. ‘We raised £1700 from that event,’ she told the LOCAL NEWS. ‘Hopefully we can raise even more this time. What has happened to all those people in Pakistan is awful. The community of Gorbals cares and we want to help. Please, look all over, in cupboards, in your garage and in your loft for unwanted things to donate”.

According to the United Nations (UN), the floods in Pakistan have affected 17 million people, leaving 5 million homeless. With thousands already dead from these exceptional, seasonal monsoon floods, experts say this number will only rise as conditions worsen and health levels diminish.

On Thursday 26 August, a UN spokesman said the international aid effort has already raised nearly $1 billion, ‘a reasonable response, but we certainly need more’.

Every little counts, so donate as much as you can!

Remember, drop off your unwanted goods at St Francis Church Hall off Cumberland Street in the Gorbals, on Friday 17 September and then go back the next day for the Jumble Sale and spend your pennies buying other people’s unwanted treasures. The sale starts at 1pm!

Glasgow scores in Youth Netball Championships

Glasgow has been chosen by the International Federation of Netball Associations as the venue for their next World Youth netball Championships in August 2013.
This will be one of the first major sporting events to be staged at the city’s National Indoor Sports Arena (NISA) which is under construction in Dalmarnock.
At the location this week, a clearly delighted Councillor Archie Graham, Glasgow’s Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games, said: ‘This is fantastic news for Glasgow. Again, it confirms our position as a leading venue for international sports events. Our record in delivering these events is second to none. I am sure the World Youth Netball Championships will be another superb success story for the city and for world netball.’
To mark the announcement, pupils form Golfhill Primary School, joined him at the site under the careful safety regulations operated by the construction company, Sir Robert McAlpine personnel.
They were selected because netball is big in that school. ‘But I thought it was volley ball I was signing up for,’ said 11-year-old Jordan Martin. However, he and his school mates: Adam Martin, Taylor Hood and Salma McCann were all well pleased with their netball games. ‘It means you get to meet different people and go different places,’ said Salma. Added Taylor: ‘It keeps you active and fit.’
‘They are all too young to play in the 2014 Commonwealth Games,’ noted Councillor Graham. ‘But you never know, with this fabulous facility they might be good enough to play for Scotland in the next games.’

Miliband in Royston to see action

Labour leadership candidate David Miliband visited Royston on Thursday 26 August to examine the work being done by the Royston Youth Action project. The project hopes to regenerate the whole of Royston, an area which suffers badly from social problems. Miliband met local people involved determined to rid the area of drug and alcohol related issues and crime. After, he went for a walk in the area, popping into local shops and talking with local people about what they thought politics could do for them.

Salmond opens new Anniesland College

Words By Lynsay Keough

The stunning new building that is Anniesland College, was opened on Thursday 26 August, by First Minister, Alex Salmond.a

The new development, which was conceived in 1997 as a strategic plan, has been completed on a budget of £50 million – £45.1million of which was granted by the Scottish Funding Council.
Founded in 1964, the College has always been known for its strong links with the local business community. In her speech, College Principal, Linda McTavish, thanked the local community council and residents,  for their patience during the construction work. She said: ‘We are celebrating the links that go deep with both local, national and now,  international, firms. We are constantly developing and reshaping courses and this new building will enable us to showcase our facilities and bring in even more commercial interest.’
Another aim of the college is to provide access to education for  people who may have missed opportunities at school and would now like to return to learning as mature students. To assist with that, the College has a purpose-built nursery with more than 60 places for students’  children.
The First Minister reflected in his speech that this year marks the 450th anniversary of the Scottish Reformation which saw the creation of a school in every parish. He said: ‘Surely free education is the most important Scottish invention of all?’

Glasgow says farewell to eminent Poet

The life ofScotland’s National Poet Edwin Morgan, who turned 90 years old last spring, was remembered and celebrated yesterday, Thursday 26 August, diring a poignant service in Bute Hall, Glasgow University. After, his coffin, which had a thistle placed upon it, was taken to Maryhill crematorium for a private ceremony.

Around 400 people gathered inside the hall to celebrate the life of Scotland’s eminent poet, a man who spent muchof his life at Glasgow University, first as an undergraduate and then as professor. He passed away last week, after a 10 year battle with cancer.

‘Today, in this great University of which he was part for so many years, we remember Eddie Morgan with affection and love.’ So began the eulogy of his friend, former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, the Rt Hon George Reid. Listening were students, work colleagues, friends, and those who loved the ebullient poetry that poured from this man throughout his life.

They heard friends and peers reciting Morgan’s poetry and remembering the often difficult journey he had taken, only public admitting his homosexuality aged 70, before being named Scotland’s national poet in 2004, by the then First Minister Jack McConnell. Already, he had been named as Glasgow’s Poet Laureate. As a young man he had been a conscientious objector, refusing to conscript for WW2. After realising the evil of Nazism, he changed his stance and served in the Middle East with the Ambulance corps.

The jazz musician, Tommy Smith, who colluded with Morgan on many poems, said of his work: ‘He could paint sounds in the air with words.’ Friend Hamish Whyte recited his poem titled Love, written after Morgan had himself fallen love. After, talking about Morgan’s love for the Beat poetry of Ginsberg and Whitman, Whyte described how these joyous influences had seeped into Morgan’s work, saying: ‘He liberated lives.’

The writer Liz Lochhead recited Morgan’s favourite poem, Cinquevalli. It included this line ‘but let me see you forget him, not to be done’. Outside, as the mourners moved toward the University Chapel for Glenmorangie and shortbread, someone commented: ‘ The best tribute to Eddie is that his work will always be read, it is universal.’ Stuart McQuarrie, in welcoming all to the service, said: ‘This quiet gay man loved life. He was not just ours or just Scotland’s, but belonged to a much wider world.’

Momentum helps things along

People from Momentum’s Energiser programme in Yoker were  presented with certificates after completing an intense two-day First Aid course in August.

The innovative programme is designed to support disabled and socially excluded people to move on to employment, education or training.

The 12 week scheme focuses on all aspects of personal development including confidence-building sessions, stress management, goal setting and health.

The group learned to deal with a variety of outdoor and cycle-related injuries, including broken bones, control of bleeding, CPR and rescue management, as well as covering the basic first aid curriculum.

The training was offered through De’ils on Wheels, a local community project, part of the Dumbarton Road Corridor Environment Trust, which helps people to recycle, re-build bicycles and encourages them to get active.

Momentum service user and Yoker resident, Tam Shearon, said: ‘It was great to learn skills in First Aid that could potentially, help me to help others. Momentum’s Energiser course has given me the encouragement and confidence to learn new things and I am now looking forward to starting a new Art and Design course.’

And Michael Brown, also from Yoker, said: ‘Having passed the First Aid course, I feel more confident about applying for jobs. Attending Momentum’s Energiser project over 12 weeks has really helped me to prepare for the next step – looking for employment.’

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