Baths receive a special birthday present

Andrew Johnson, Chairperson of the Govanhill Baths Trust received an extra special birthday present this week: Historic Scotland approved a £400k grant for Phase 1 of the Baths project.

Being developed by local people for local people into a Wellbeing Centre, the Baths are a community focal point. Work has started on the foyer of the listed building to make it usable space where the Trust’s office can be located.

Closed at short notice by Glasgow City Council more than ten years ago, riots erupted because of the way peaceful, long term, sit-in protesters were evicted and the building sealed.

Since then a powerful linking of local community groups of diverse backgrounds has worked to re-open the Baths. With the help of the Historic Scotland funding and other funders this will now happen.

Before he went away to celebrate the extra ordinary birthday present, Andrew said: Everyone agrees that the pool should be up and running again. It is part of Glasgow’s heritage and legacy. We aim to have it open for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.’

Dodge Ball gets moving

ASAP sports charity will start its Dodgeball series on Monday 31 October in the following locations: John Paul Academy, Summerston; Clydebank High School; Craighead Community Centre, Milton of Campsie; Easterhouse Youth Centre; Eastwood High School, Newton Mearns and James Hamilton Academy, Kilmarnock. A fundraiser for the Dogeball series will be on Wednesday 26 October in Craighead Community Centre in the form of a 5-a-side-football tournament.

Currently, the After School Activities Programme (ASAP) is looking for volunteers in Maryhill, Clydebank, Eastwood, Easterhouse and Craighead. Have a look at the website: www.asapscotland.org for details.

 

STUC ikon dies

Campbell Christie who was General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress for 12 years till 1998, has died, aged 74, at Strathcarron Hospice in Stirlingshire.

Not only was he a champion of the trades union movement, he was a socialist who saw a wider picture and campaigned long and hard for a Scottish Parliament through the Scottish Constitutional Convention.

Said First Minister, Alex Salmond: ‘Scotland has lost a giant of the trade union movement and of public life.’

Current STUC General Secretary, Grahame Smith, said: Campbell was a tremendous ambassador for the trade union movement and for Scotland. He was one of Scotland’s most outstanding trade union and civic leaders and led people through the 1980s and 90s – some of the most challenging times for Scottish industry and Scottish workers – with tremendous skill and passion, gaining respect for himself and the STUC across the industrial and political spectrum.

‘He was never afraid of taking the difficult decision, even if he knew it might upset others in the Labour movement. He always saw the bigger picture.

‘Under Campbell’s stewardship the STUC rose above the exclusion of unions from the ‘corridors of power’ and forged relationships across Scottish society which galvanised opposition to the brutal policies of Thatcher and Major Governments. Those relationships remain in place today.’

Three times chairman of Falkirk Football Club, he was still a Director on his death on Friday 28 October. ‘He steered the Club through some of the greatest turmoil and greatest successes,’ says the Club’s website. A minute’s silence will be observed at the game on Saturday 29 October against Raith Rovers.

 

Vigil invitation

Everyone interested is invited to join a VIGIL in George Square starting at 6.3opm on Friday 28 October to pay respect to victims of violent crime and to express solidarity with those who suffer.

The organisers are the ‘Occupy Glasgow’ group who are camped in George Square as part of a global protest at greedy bankers and the capitalist system. They invite people to come and say poetry, bring flowers or do what they feel comfortable doing to show their support of victims of violent crime.

This was prompted because a woman who joined the camp was raped.

The protest has been in the Square for more than a week and the City Council has already issued them with a ‘notice of removal.’

The Council say this is not an eviction notice and the protesters say they are there for the long haul to change the world.

By-election date set

By-Election set for 17 November

Seven candidates have been nominated for the Hillhead ward of Glasgow City Council left vacant by the death of Councillor George Roberts.

They are: Ken Andrew, Scottish National Party (SNP): Charles Baillie, Britannica; Neil Craig, UKIP Scotland; Maya Forrest, Scottish Conservative and Unionist; Ewan Hoyle, Scottish Liberal Democrats; Stuart Leckie, Scottish Green Party and Martin McElroy, Scottish Labour Party.

The vote will take place on Thursday 17 November and the single transferable vote system will be use. This obliges the voter to place the number 1 against the candidate who is their first choice, 2 against their next choice and so on.

Electors who wish to vote by post have until 5pm on Wednesday 2 November to apply. Those who cannot vote in person can obtain a proxy vote up until 5pm on Wednesday 9 November. Relevent information and forms can be obtained from the Electoral Registration Office Tel: 0141 287 7777 or on the website: www.glasgow.gov.uk/elections.

If your group or organisation is planning to hold a hustings, please let us know and we’ll promote it on this website: www.localnewsglasgow.co.uk

 

Women evicted from Council meeting

Labour councillors were called ‘two-faced sods’ by citizens in the public gallery at today’s full Council Meeting. Three women were ejected as they shouted at the Councillors who had passed a resolution which served the death knell on the Accord Centre in Dalmarnock.

All are mothers of adult children with cerebral palsy, autism and similar learning disabilities. Along with almost 50 other families, they use the Accord Centre as a day centre and social meeting place.

But Glasgow City Council is in the process of closing it as the space is needed for a car park for the Commonwealth Games in 2014. Users have been fighting for months to get the Council to keep its promised of a ‘like for like’ centre to replace the Accord.

A proposal by the SNP councillors for a ‘replacement facility which meets users’ agreed requirements,’ and amended by the Green Party councillors; was defeated.

Instead, the current administration’s plan that Accord users are dispersed to the Bambury Centre in Camlachie, and the Riddrie Day Centre, was passed.

But as Cheryl McArthur said: ‘I’d love to go to the Riddrie Day Centre. It is very nice. But they’ve told me I can’t go because it is full.’

When the vote was taken,

the mothers in the public gallery couldn’t contain their anger.

Said Mary McArthur: ‘I feel so angry they couldn’t get their facts right. One councillor said the Banbury was only six years old. It is nearer 16 years old and in one of the worst crime spots in the city. The centre is not a safe place for vulnerable people like our sons and daughters to go to.’

George (43) is the son of Maureen Crone and was sitting beside her in the tickets only public gallery. ‘A man grabbed my Mum by the arm. I’m not happy about that,’ he said. Mum Maureen added: ‘He has a very keen sense of what is right and fair. He sees this as assault.’ For herself she said: ‘The situation is terrible. The lies that were told made me angry. And I had to speak out, but I was threatened that if I didn’t go out quietly with the attendant they’d get the police to me.’

The issue cannot be raised again in the Council Chamber for six months according to the rules of the house.

Afterwards another of the Accord users said: ‘This is a disgrace. But the quicker there is an election the better, and we can get all the Labour Councillors out.’

Labour Councillor Alistair Watson who spoke in favour of his party’s proposal as ‘an improvement’ and a ‘further step towards the modernisation of day services,’ said: ‘Users should be thankful they are being moved to the Banbury which has improved services.’  Labour Councillor George Redmond of Calton, said: ‘we need to work with users to bring about a satisfactory solution.’ Green Party Councillors supported the SNP’s motion which was defeated. But since Labour hold 47 seats and SNP 19, that was always going to be the only outcome.

Accord Centre families are already looking for people to stand against the Labour Party Councillors they consider have let them down badly on this fundamental service.

Following the publication of this story on the website: www.localnewsglasgow , Glasgow City Council asked for detailed information about the Accord to be published. We are happy to do so:

Glasgow City Council told this website that the Accord Centre is closing as part of the Learning Disabilities Service’s day service reform. ‘This makes it very clear that the number of day centres in the city for people with learning disabilities would be reduced from eight to five,’ said a spokesman. ‘Two other centres have already shut down and the Accord Centre will be third to close. This is entirely in keeping with a plan that pre-dates Glasgow securing the Commonwealth Games in November 2007.’

He added: ‘It is also the case that the centre is closing because it is in poor physical condition and serious health and safety concerns have been raised in relation to the use of the centre. In other words – the Accord Centre would have been a candidate for closure in any event.

‘It is fully accepted that the site of the Accord Centre will be used to support the Athlete’s village during the 2014 games. However, it must be stressed that changes at the Accord are being driven by reforms to the Learning Disability Service first and foremost. It should also be noted that the site in question will eventually be used for a mix of social and private housing.’

This website must obtain special permission to visit the Accord Centre and has been told that no unauthorised visit by the media is permitted.

Blows to ‘Occupy Glasgow’ protesters

The protesters against capitalism - camping in George Square - had their idyll shattered by two serious incidents in recent days. A homeless woman who had joined the camp and been given shelter there, was allegedly raped.  And they were served with a ‘letter or expulsion’  signed by Robert Booth, Executive Director of Glasgow’s Land and Environmental Services.

‘This is not an eviction notice, ‘ explained a council spokesperson. Officially the Council is saying: ‘We have explained to the protestors on many occasions that their presence in the square is illegal and that they should leave. This letter merely formalises that.’

The huddle of tents had grown up as part of a global protest at capitalism where key public locations are ‘occupied.’ Similar encampments are in front of St Paul’s Cathedral in London and in Wall Street, New York, among other places.

After the regular evening ‘assembly’ of the original protesters, one of them told this website: ‘People are very angry and everyone is physically upset. Rape should not be happening.  We are worried that people will think the camp is not a safe place for women. Conversely some women  said they would not give in to this situation and would camp in George Square overnight even although they’d not planned to do so.’

The women’s drumming band SheBoom is scheduled to march to ‘Reclaim the Night’ later this month. They were also planning to play for the protesters at a march and rally on Saturday.

 

Indians lighten up

Diwali – the festival of light celebrated in India – is as big as Christmas here. So the Indian Social Group at Glasgow Caledonian University will mark it this year with an Indian Dinner, music, dance and sparklers. ‘We’ve celebrated it for the past three years,’ said their spokeswoman. ‘This time it will be bigger and the next day will be our New Year.’
Students at the University are invited to the ticketed event on Friday 28 October, along with friends and families of the Indian Social Group. The evening incorporates fund raising with the money collected helping educate children in need in India. ‘We have collected a total of £600 in the past two years and aim to raise £300 this year,’ added the spokeswoman.

AMEEN aim to be advocates.

A new network has been set up to help reduce inequalities among people in minority ethnic communities.

Called Alliance Minority Ethnic Empowerment Network (AMEEN), it aims to provide advice and advocacy particularly in housing issues.

The brainchild of Sofi Parveen who is now Chairperson, and friends, it is designed to provide holistic support. Said Sofi: ‘Even though I speak fluent English, I found it frustrating not to be able to access the support I needed and to have to face inequalities in trying to find a job. This organisation will spearhead these issues. We aim to empower families from different cultures and backgrounds. By doing so we will make a powerful statement.’

Funded by Scottish Community Foundation, the group has a working base in Torrisdale Street in Govanhill. It has a drop in session in the nearby Larkfield Centre, Inglefield Street on Tuesdays from 1pm till 4pm and in St Ninian’s Episcopal Church, in Albert Drive, Pollokshields on Thursdays from 1pm till 4pm.

The volunteers who will provide the support for AMEEN clients will be trained and given personal development opportunities.

At the launch event, dramatised accounts of some real life experiences were acted out to show how advocacy can bring a suitable solution to sometimes difficult-to-handle problems.

Said Sofi: ‘Advocacy can play a powerful role in helping people resolve issues of unfair treatment or discrimination.’

Westminster MP Anas Sarwar, reaffirmed his commitment to helping disadvantaged communities in tackling inequalities. ‘He has been brilliant,’ said Sofi. ‘He understands the kind of inequalities we are confronting.’

MSP Hanzala Malik also attended the opening event. ‘He has expressed a supportive attitude,’ said Sofi.

The Housing Support Project aims to help families and individuals who are currently needing advice and support in housing matters. They will be offered free, independent, confidential and culturally sensitive help from AMEEN.

The organisation can be contacted on: mob 07403491660 or email:office@a-meen.org.uk Languages currently spoken include: Punjabi, Urdu, Arabic, Igbo and German as well as English.

World music feast for Black History month

MUSIC TO CELEBRATE

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Saturday 29 October 2011
1.00pm – 4.00pm
Streetlevel Photoworks Gallery

Trongate 103

Argyle Street

Featuring live performances by
AYAWARA Percussion, A bolt of joy from Africa!
JETHRO, singer/guitarist from Congo
BEIRUT BEATS, on oriental keyboard
LOCAL VOCALS, North Glasgow choir

Arts & crafts International food tasters

Come and celebrate the past, present and future contributions of BME communities to Scotland!

North Glasgow Framework for Dialogue Group
A voice for asylum seekers and refugees

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