EDITORIAL

Well it’s happened! The date for the Referendum is set – Thursday 18 September 2014.  Glasgow City Council has entered a Social Partnership with Enable to chart the future of day centres now that it has been decided  three of the seven will be closed. And spring is on its way with hosts of groups and organisations launching new programmes and events.

So everything is ok? OK?

No. Not really.  With a date set,  can we get on with proper DISCUSSION and considered arguments about the details instead of the shouting matches we’re witnessing. What is best for the people of Scotland is what is at stake – not the public persona of any one politician or political party.

With the die cast for closure of the day centres which are currently used by more than 500 people with complex learning disabilities – Glasgow as a city needs to decide what it is doing. Are our elected representatives really working for the benefit for all their constituents and the well being of the entire community? Or maybe they are blindly following party policy and stoking up the vested interests of organisations.

Those volunteer groups and organisations which are addressing the needs and the interests of real people and fostering a spirit of true community are still alive, thankfully!

When groups such as the South Glasgow Heritage and Environmental Trust (SGHET) can run an all -day conference on Saturday 23 March in Gorbals on the Music,  mirth and magic of the Southside; when the campaigners of the Kelvin Meadow can organise an Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday 24 March with Anna Lehr reading Peter Rabbit stories too. Then something is working the way it should.

 

 

 

Heritage conference coming up

How Glaswegians have been entertained over the past 150 years will be the theme of an all-day conference in Gorbals on Saturday 23 March 2013.

Organised by the South Glasgow Heritage and Environment Trust (SGHET) it is open to anyone interested in hearing about film, cinema, music hall, theatre and some of the personalities who’ve been seen in these places.

Excellent speaker are promised for the event which will be held at the Premier Inn, 80 Ballater Street G5. Tickets (£10) can be booked through the website: www.sghet.org

Model boating clubhouse trashed

Vote for the Scottish dancers on Sunday

Everyone reading this is asked to watch Sky 1HD at 6pm on Sunday 4 March when Glasgow dance group ‘Fear of the Unknown’ will be finalists in the ‘Got to Dance’ competition. They need viewers’ votes to win the £250,000 prize!!!

They are the only Scottish dancers to get to the final which will be in the London Olympia before 6000 people.

Chosen from the best dancers in the Robert Hamilton School of Dance in Gorbals, the ‘Fear of the Unknown’ are rehearsing five hours at a time on four days every week. Said Lorna Munn who at 24 is one of the senior dancers: ‘ We are focussed on the final and making our presentation perfect. It is breath- taking to reach the final. It’s a dream come true. We can’t wait!’

One of the male dancers, Pierce Meehan (24) who is studying for his HND in dance at Anniesland College said: ‘It is an incredible achievement to get to the final. Only a handful of dancers have got there! It is also a wonderful experience working with the television people. That’s very interesting and they couldn’t be better to work with.’

The group make all their own costumes which are stunning. But the theme for the final will be a closely kept secret till they hit the screen on Sunday 4 March at 6pm on Sky 1 HD.

In addition, the dancers at the School do a lot of charity work and have raised more than £200,000 for a variety of good causes.

To see the ‘Fear of the Unknown’ audition performance: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DurvxAbSB-gQ&h=mAQH5012yAQEmPLHu-v8souU1sx9qLq-0rOkJLwSwgOicgw

And take a look at their Facebook fan page for updates – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fear-of-the-Unknown/269468063113061

Voters on the button on Sunday 4 March!

Everyone reading this is encouraged to watch Sky 1HD at 6pm on Sunday 4 March when Glasgow dance group ‘Fear of the Unknown’ will be finalists in the ‘Got to Dance’ competition. They need viewers’ votes to win the £250,000 prize!!!

They are the only Scottish dancers to get to the final which will be in the London Olympia before 6000 people.

Chosen from the best dancers in the Robert Hamilton School of Dance in Gorbals, the ‘Fear of the Unknown’ are rehearsing five hours at a time on four days every week. Said Lorna Munn who at 24 is one of the senior dancers: ‘ We are focussed on the final and making our presentation perfect. It is breath- taking to reach the final. It’s a dream come true. We can’t wait!’

One of the male dancers, Pierce Meehan (24) who is studying for his HND in dance at Anniesland College said: ‘It is an incredible achievement to get to the final. Only a handful of dancers have got there! It is also a wonderful experience working with the television people. That’s very interesting and they couldn’t be better to work with.’

The group make all their own costumes which are stunning. But the theme for the final will be a closely kept secret till they hit the screen on Sunday 4 March at 6pm on Sky 1 HD.

In addition, the dancers at the School do a lot of charity work and have raised more than £200,000 for a variety of good causes.

To see the ‘Fear of the Unknown’ audition performance: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DurvxAbSB-gQ&h=mAQH5012yAQEmPLHu-v8souU1sx9qLq-0rOkJLwSwgOicgw

And take a look at their Facebook fan page for updates – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fear-of-the-Unknown/269468063113061

Fear of the Unknown are out to win.

Dance group ‘Fear of the Unknown’ from Glasgow’s Southside is the only group from Scotland to get through to the UK semi-finals of the ‘Got to Dance’ programme on Sky 1 HD. From the initial 30,000 auditioned in Glasgow, London and Dublin, the Gorbals dancers are in the final 30.

From the Sunday 29 January the public can vote, week by week, on the best acts. The two winning groups from each week will then compete in the finals on March 4 when the champion team will walk away with a cool quarter of a million pounds and the crown of Got To Dance 2012.

Lorna Munn who is one of the senior dancers in ‘Fear of the Unknown’ at 24, said: ‘It was the biggest emotion when we were told we’d been selected and were the only ones from Scotland. I was so happy I wanted to cry.’

Based in Gorbals from Robert Hamilton School of Dance, the ‘Fear of the Unknown’ is an invited group of the School’s best dancers. He describes their ‘Got to Dance’ routine as: ‘Theatrical, technical, original.’

Said Mum Kim Carr, whose daughter Jay, aged 10, is one of the team: ‘We are all so very proud. It is really exciting and we’re keeping our fingers crossed ‘Fear of the Unknown’ will win. But everyone in Scotland needs to be voting for them on Sunday 5 February when they dance live on the programme.’

Not only do they rehearsal several nights of the week, they make all their own costumes which are stunning. See their audition performance: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DurvxAbSB-gQ&h=mAQH5012yAQEmPLHu-v8souU1sx9qLq-0rOkJLwSwgOicgw

And take a look at their Facebook fan page for updates – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fear-of-the-Unknown/269468063113061

In addition the dancers do a lot of charity work and have raised more than £200,000 for a variety of good causes. ‘We give up our school holidays and free time to dance at lots of these events,’ said Jay.

Commented her Mum Kim: ‘We are telling as many people as we can about ‘Fear of the Unknown,’ and hopefully Scotland will support us.’

 

 

Learn to lip read

Deaf Connections in Norfolk Street, Gorbals, offers free lipreading classes to deafened and hard of hearing adults. Additional classes are held in Shettleston as well as in Clydebank, Hamilton, and the Vale of Leven.

These sessions are suitable for any adult with hearing problems whose first language is English. Qualified tutors can help them and also people who already have some lipreading ability as the tuition provides much more than learning to lipread.

An understanding of the different types of deafness people can have, how that is caused and best managed is shared. Advice is given on effective use of hearing aids which are bone-anchored or cochlear implants as well environmental aids. Lots of different ways to improve communication skills are communicated in the classes which run all year round.

It is worth checking beforehand to arrange an appointment or discuss individual needs so that each person makes the right choice of class. Contact Carol Grice, Hard of Hearing Services Manager by email:carol@deafconnections.co.uk or follow the link for more information: http://www.deafconnections.co.uk/HearOn-services-for-hard-of-hearing-people/lipreading-classes.html

 

 

Free lipreading class available

Deaf Connections in Norfolk Street, Gorbals, offers free lipreading classes to deafened and hard of hearing adults. Additional classes are held in Shettleston as well as in Clydebank, Hamilton, and the Vale of Leven.
These sessions are suitable for any adult with hearing problems whose first language is English. Qualified tutors can help them and also people who already have some lipreading ability as the tuition provides much more than learning to lipread.
An understanding of the different types of deafness people can have, how that is caused and best managed is shared. Advice is given on effective use of hearing aids which are bone-anchored or cochlear implants as well environmental aids. Lots of different ways to improve communication skills will be communicated in the classes which run all year round.
It is worth checking before hand to arrange an appointment or discuss individual needs so that each person make the right choice of class. Contact Carol Grice, Hard of Hearing Services Manager by email:carol@deafconnections.co.uk or follow the link for more information: http://www.deafconnections.co.uk/HearOn-services-for-hard-of-hearing-people/lipreading-classes.html

Prayers are answered

For years, Church of Scotland members in Gorbals have been praying for a new church building. Despite many hiccups, that building is now nearing completion – ten weeks ahead of schedule. It is located on Cumberland Street at Laurieston Road, back to back with the library building in Crown Street.

Though the copper facing was stolen recently, it has been replaced. The copper that was stolen had unique ID markings which should enable it to be traced – thank God!  Till the place is ready for worship, Sunday services are being held in the Skills Academy at Norfolk Street.

 

New Friendly Fund

A NEW civic trust fund has been set up by Glasgow Lord Provost, Bob Winter with the support of local businessman Willie Haughey.

Named the Lord Provost’s Goodwill Trust, it aims to promote the city’s renowned qualities of friendship, goodwill and generosity.

Gorbals born Mr Haughey controls City Refrigeration Holdings, the biggest privately-owned facilities management company in Europe, with 11,000 employees around the world. He has donated £250,000 to the new fund and pledged further sums for the next 10 years. He is also appealing to other prominent business people in the city to donate money to the fund.

Said the Lord Provost: ‘The Trust Fund will be available to promote active citizenship, and to support citizens and visitors who have no other relief. It will also support those who make positive contributions to their local neighbourhoods and communities.

‘We felt it was important to establish a civic charity fund that would demonstrate the qualities of the people of Glasgow, who are well known for their goodwill and friendliness.

‘This is not a substitute for existing funding; it is a new fund, which will support additional activity to enhance the city’s reputation for generosity.’

Apart from promoting civic responsibility and active citizenship, the funding will also provide relief to people or organisations which suffer unexpected misfortune, or those who suffer as a result of a disaster or civil emergency.

Mr Haughey said: “I’m delighted to be involved in this new charitable fund. I’ve worked with the Lord Provost and Glasgow City Council for many years and this initiative helps take that relationship further. I’ve never forgotten my working-class roots and I want to give something back to the city that I love.’

Initially, the Lord Provost’s Goodwill Trust Fund will be promoted through the Council’s services and Community Planning Partners. They will be asked to bring forward funding proposals based on their local professional knowledge.

For groups and communities, the Fund could be used to promote activities which support and exemplify good neighbourliness and active citizenship. For example, activities associated with the Streets Ahead campaign could qualify for assistance, to get them up and running, or become established on a sounder footing. Likewise, local community-based organisations could be supported if they require investment to become self-sufficient. The Fund may also be able to assist groups which suffer unexpected loss of facilities or equipment for which they have no other way of gaining replacements.

The Fund may also be able to assist individuals in similar ways; for example visitors who are left destitute by an accident or if they are the victim of a crime in Glasgow. It is expected that these cases would be made known to the Fund trustees by the emergency services or by caring agencies which would establish that there would be no other source of assistance.

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