Glasgow's new Lord Provost, Sadie Docherty, is only the fourth woman to hold that office.

Sadie Docherty, is Glasgow’s new Lord Provost. A Labour Councillor in Linn ward since 2007, she is only the 4^th woman to hold the post.

She said: ‘I am thrilled to be elected as Lord Provost. It’s a great honour – especially at a time when Glasgow is flourishing. In two years’ time, the city will host the Commonwealth Games. They represent a huge opportunity for Glasgow, especially in terms of the social and economic benefits and lasting legacy they will leave for the people of this city. This is the biggest event the city is ever likely to stage and I’m really looking forward to my role of showcasing Glasgow to the world.’

She also underlined her commitment to open debate and stressed she was looking forward to working with all her fellow councillors to tackle the welfare issues prevalent in Glasgow. ‘Let Glasgow Flourish,’ she said in closing, voicing the city’s motto. Her deputy  is Gerry Leonard, Councillor in North East Ward since 1999.

Gordon Mathieson, representing Anderston/City, was re-elected Leader of the Council, a position he has held since 2010 when Stephen Purcell demitted office.  Breaking with tradition, the opposition did not nominate a candidate for Lord Provost or Leader of the Council. SNP group leader Graeme Hendry said: ‘ We recognise the Labour majority, and as such their authority to appoint these posts.’

In response, Councillor Mathieson thanked the SNP for their position and promised that Labour would respect the mandate of the opposition and carry their majority fairly. He said: ‘Labour will deliver on every one of the promises in our manifesto.’

He also paid generous tribute to former opposition leader Allison Hunter, noting that in opposition: ‘she was never an enemy and was someone we all had great respect for.’ Councillor Archie Graham, who has represented Langside since 1995, was elected Deputy Leader.

The following Bailies were appointed: Labour Party – Philip Braat, Elizabeth Cameron, Aileen Colleran, Jonathan Findlay, Elaine McDougall, Hanif Raja, Mohammed Razaq, Anne Simpson, Sohan Singh, Allan Stewart, Fariha Thomas. SNP – Josephine Docherty, Martin Docherty, Iris Gibson, Phil Green, John McLaughlin. Green Party – Nina Baker. Liberal Democrats – Margot Clark.

Councillors from all parties  spoke out, just before they attended the first full Council meeting of the new administration.

The crowd listened intently to many speakers who all said it was unacceptable that asylum seekers should be made homeless .

One of at least six people left destitute is Ako from Kurdistan. He explained how he returned to his accommodation provided by Ypeople, to find the lock had been changed without any warning. ‘This was a most stressful and dangerous situation for me,’ said the human rights activist and journalist. ‘I can never forget this. It has destroyed me. It is important to press the system and the government because this should not happen again.’ He says he was lucky and got to sleep in a church hall which is being used as a temporary night shelter for destitute asylum seekers.

A few days later, after long negotiations with Ypeople, he was given a key to the new lock and allowed back into the flat where all his possessions were. Others are not so lucky and still wait for their personal things to be returned to them.

Margaret Wood of the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees said: ‘Some of the most vulnerable should be eligible for help from the Social Work Department. It is indecent this is happening at all,’ she said. ‘We will continue to fight.’

A massive demonstration had been planned for Saturday 9 June but will be postponed as that is the day the Olympic torch is due to go through Glasgow. Said Margaret: ‘That is not a disaster. It gives us time to build and have a nationwide demonstration.’ She added: ‘We should be asking the serious question – is this the kind of society we want in Scotland? Do we want to provide a safe haven for people who have had to flee terrible treatment in their own country or do we want them to be treated like rubbish and dumped on the street? This has been a most disgraceful episode but we will fight on alongside the trade unions and the inspiring destitute asylum seekers themselves. We have to win for this society will not be worth living in until we do.’

Given by the Glasgow Amateur Flute Ensemble, the concert is in memory of Martha Houston a lifelong supporter of the talented amateur group. Several well-known, professional musicians will take part, including Gordon Cree, Stewart Forbes and the Agnew/McAllister flute guitar duo. This promises to be a fantastic evening of music. Tickets are £6 and can be obtained online or from the ensemble: email:glasgowamfluteensemble@hotmail.co.uk

Or purchase online at: www.wegottickets.com/event/161849 or call David on: 01294 604922

The Ensemble can be viewed on You Tube/ web site: http://www.gafe.co.uk/ And they can do fundraising concerts for other good causes too.

Ako and Mohamed both had to sleep at a night shelter.

At least three asylum seekers in Glasgow have been locked out of their accommodation by Ypeople without warning. Each was left in the clothes he was standing in but with all his worldly goods behind the unyielding door.

The Christian charity, Ypeople, has lost the accommodation contract to house asylum seekers in Glasgow. The UK Borders Agency (UKBA) has given the £175 million contract to SERCO Group plc, instead, a British registered private service company which runs detention centres around the world.

Jeremiah stood in protest outside Ypeople's headquarters.

Said Jeremiah from Zimbabwe whose case is in the process of being presented for a judicial review : ‘When I couldn’t open the door on Monday morning, I went to my lawyer. He told me to speak to the Home Office. They said I had to move everything out by tonight (Monday 14 May). I’ve lived here for four years and said that was impossible, they told me to have everything moved by 2pm on Tuesday. This makes no sense and is very stressful. They should at least give me some time to remove my things.’

Ako, an asylum seeker from Kurdistan where he is a human rights activist and a journalist, encountered a similar situation but was allowed back into his flat after two nights sleeping at a temporary night shelter in the city’s West End. He said: ‘I can’t sleep and feel bad.’ He was subsequently given a key to the new lock and is now back in his original flat after he and his friends put pressure on Ypeople.

Mohamed from the Sudan has been without support for more than one year. His Cranhill flat’s lock was changed without notice last week. He said: ‘When I went to the Ypeople’s office they told me to come back the next day if I wanted my clothes. I stayed with a friend that night and am still waiting on my clothes being returned to me.’

A charity registered in Scotland, Ypeople’s mission is: ‘to provide support to vulnerable groups and individuals including the homeless, refugees, asylum seekers and young people to enable them to adapt to change and improve their quality of life.’

The chief executive, Joe Connolly, was asked for a statement on the lockout situation but his office referred this website’s enquiry to public relations company the Big Partnership and a response was still awaited some hours after the initial enquiry and subsequent reminders.

The charity’s last annual report states that it looked after 2200 ‘service users’ in 1150 properties and homes across the city. ‘We are committed to providing high quality services,’ is part of Ypeople’s mission along with the commitment to ‘recognise the right of individuals and treat them with respect.’

Protesters stood outside Ypeople's headquarters in Govan in protest at their lock-out actions.

At Ypeople’s head office in Govan’s industrial estate at Moorpark, their certificates are on display from the Home Office as a ‘recognised Supplier 2011′ and for Investors in People and as a member of the Glasgow Social Care Providers’ Forum as well as Quality Scotland membership.

Jock Morris, Chairman of the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees said: ‘We know of at least four people over the weekend who have had the locks changed in their homes, without warning. We met Joe Connolly and Glasgow’s Social Work chiefs two weeks ago and were assured no locks would be changed without people being told well in advance and that the Social Work department would ‘bend over backwards’ to help anyone affected – so this behaviour is irresponsible. These people have not been honest with us.’

On Monday, Unity, a group supportive of asylum seekers, held a demonstration with the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees and others outside Brand Street where the UK BA offices are located in Govan. Later they moved to Ypeople’s offices a few streets away and set up their demonstration there.

Said a Unity spokesman: ‘Joe Connelly agreed to send a letter out to people explaining the processes and giving dates of when things will be taking place. No letter has been received by Mohamed, nor any of the individuals we’ve been in touch with. Once again, Y-People have failed to deal with vulnerable asylum seekers  in a fair and honest manner. By using dirty tricks and giving unclear messages, they have created fear among the asylum seeking community. Some individuals, terrified by the threat of eviction, have gone into hiding,’ claimed the spokesman. He added that around 100 asylum seekers who have had their initial asylum claim refused but are unable or unwilling to return to their home lands, are still in Glasgow. ‘Many of these people are victim of administrative errors and poor decision making on the part of UKBA, yet are now facing imminent homelessness.

‘We’re calling on everyone concerned about this situation, to write to Y-People, expressing their concerns at their dishonest practices and asking them to adhere to due process,’ he said.

See their website for further information and contact details: www.unitycentreglasgow.org or email:info@unitycentreglasgow.org

The campaigners first supported Angeline from Malawi as she signed in at the Home Office in Brand Street after resisting deportation with her three children.

Before protesting outside the Ypeople’s offices in Govan, the campaigners had stood in solidarity outside the UKBA offices nearby in Brand Street, Govan to support Angeline Mwafulirqa from Malawi as she signed in.  She and her three children had been detained the previous time they signed in. They were taken to a detention centre in England and but, for the loud resistance of Angeline as she was being forced to board a plane back to Africa, the family would have been deported.

Said Angeline: ‘It is not safe for me to go back. I just screamed and made a lot of noise so that the airline – Kenya Airways – knew I would be boarding the plane against my will. I have been in the UK for six years. Two years ago I applied for asylum as I split up from my husband who is also from Malawi.  My case for asylum has been refused but it is unsafe for me to go back to Malawi. Local custom there would require my children to be taken by their Father’s family.’

Eilish McSorley in attacking mode. Photograph by Graeme Berry.

BY Laura Montgomery

GLASGOW CITY progressed to the final of the Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup on Thursday after defeating Forfar 4-0 – much to the delight of Head Coach Eddie Wolecki Black.

He said, “I am obviously delighted to be in the Cup Final. I am really pleased as we were up against a very tough opponent tonight and we performed really well and always looked a threat. The second half conditions suited us better as the ball didn’t run quite as much and we created lots of chances. We had good discipline about us tonight which was also very pleasing. Credit has to go to Forfar. Although this was their first semi-final, I am sure it certainly won’t be their last. I am delighted for the girls and the club as a whole and we are really looking forward to the Final.”

City started the game on the front foot and within two minutes Leanne Crichton had a good shot from the edge of the box which flew just over the bar. A minute later and Jane Ross hit a left foot effort just wide of the far post as she drove across the edge of the box after receiving a throw in. Lisa Evans was next to try her luck, but Cat Fitzimmons in the Forfar nets tipped the City striker’s effort over the bar. From the resulting corner Fitsimmons saved again – this time from Emma Mitchell as the American began to show the kind of form which was soon to see her keep her side in the game with a string of excellent first half saves.

Lee Alexander was also soon active in the City nets as she saved a shot from Caroline Heron as the Forfar striker raced through on goal. That was to eventually prove one of only three efforts Forfar had in the match, with City creating 34 efforts in a game they came to dominant in possession and chances over the ninety minutes.

Emma Mitchell hit the post midway through the first half, before Evans opened the scoring on 31 minutes. Receiving the ball outwide from Rachel Corsie, Evans cut inside the full back and hit a low powerful shot in the bottom corner to beat Fitzimmons.

The Forfar keeper had two other excellent saves in the closing minutes of the first half to deny Mitchell and Emma Fernon in particular as City went in at the break 1-0 ahead.

Just 12 minutes after the restart, Leanne Ross made it 2-0 to City with a brilliant strike from outside the box into the top corner. A few moments later, Eilish McSorley was denied by a goal line clearance from the Forfar back line, but the City defender was not to be denied as 60 seconds later she fired a powerful low effort past Fitzimmons from a City corner.

Jane Ross then rounded off a great performance by Glasgow City, scoring her side’s fourth of the evening on 65 minutes after Fitzimmons could only parry an initial Evans shot.

Glasgow City will now meet Spartans in the Final at Recreation Park, Alloa on Wednesday 30^th May.

Launched by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the new scheme is for grants of between £1k and £20k for short term projects of 12 months or less. The grants are focused on getting more people and communities involved in outdoor recreation, volunteering and outdoor learning.

They are also targeted at action to improve, protect and manage habitats, species and landscapes. Projects that help record valuable information about local species and natural habitats can also benefit.

Andrew Bachell, director of operations at SNH, said they expect to make the first awards in early June. He added:

“The natural environment is Scotland’s most valuable asset . We need to look after nature as it can improve our health and quality of life, our enjoyment and even our economic prosperity.

“We’re very keen to help community groups get more involved in nature and the outdoors, either through volunteering or educational projects, or projects that help manage natural habitats and species. That’s what our Community Action Grants are all about.

“We’re expecting a lot of interest in this scheme and we’re looking forward to helping many community projects get off the ground.”

The Community Action Grant application system is now open and Community groups can apply, and access grant information and advice, on SNH’s website (www.snh.gov.uk).

SNH will start considering applications from 8 May and will make a decision within 20 working days of receiving applications. The scheme will be competitive as funds are limited.

Amber from Partick had a great time in Prestwick.

Staff at Sainsbury’s Partick store recently raised more than £1400 for Sport Relief through sponsored mountain climbs and marathons.

Last month, on Sport Relief night, the company was able to say their workers across the UK had raised more than £4 million for this year’s campaign.

Since their sponsorship of Comedy Relief began in 1999 – the charity from which Sport Relief comes –  the corporate has donated a whopping £60 million.

The Partick Sainsbury team’s efforts began with a cycling event in store. This was followed by a sponsored climb of Ben Narnain and the Cobbler, Completing the series of sporting events was the participation of the Partick Team in the company’s Sport Relief Mile run in Prestwick where Sainsbury’s Chief Executive, Justin King ran.

Amber Gove, a Counters Team Leader, said: ‘Running for a good cause with so many local people was a truly great experience. Sainsbury’s are proud to have sponsored the mile and we’d like to thank all our customers who literally went the extra mile in their fundraising efforts for Sport Relief.’

Sainsbury’s Chief Executive Justin King ran 32 miles over a range of company Sport Relief Mile events and spurred a total of 1000 company colleagues to run with him.

Local charities including Glasgow’s North United Communities (Formerly: Ruchill Youth Project) in Possilpark will benefit from Sport Relief fundraising this year.

Katherine How, the company’s Sport Relief Sponsorship Manager said: ‘Our customers in Partick have helped to transform lives in some of the world’s poorest countries, as well as support our local community, so I’d like to say thank-you to them all.’

Govanhill Community Choir's singing workshop last year with Jane Bentley. They will have another appearance on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 May at the STREETLAND festival in Govanhill. Lots to do over the holiday weekend. Check their website.