African women move on in strength

Karibu’s annual general meeting (agm) was as busy and productive as any gathering of African women could be.

The organisation was set up almost ten years ago to bring together women in Scotland who came from Africa so that their combined energy and talents would help them integrate and make them stronger and self-sufficient.

The agm was held in the Pearce Institute in Govan.

Among the many items on the programme were the launch of a Karibu tartan; a fashion show of clothes made by the Karibu Sewing Project; notice of an upcoming launch for Karibu Scotland’s African Tartan and Textiles book as well as Scottish Government Equalities Section speaker Mukami McCrum. This being Black History Month, there were celebrations to mark it. And, of course, there was sumptious food, glorious food as only Women of Africa can prepare.

The charity is planning to re-open the cafe in the Pearce Institute in collaboration with Tea in the Pot, a local women’s support group which has been at the Pearce for several years.

Laurentine Zibi, Chair of Karibu (Welcome in Swahali) said afterwards she was ‘proud and pleased’ that the charity had overcome various challenges this past year.

‘To see between 100 and 150 people here today is emotional for me.’ The group has moved offices from Albion Street to Gorbals’ Adelphi Centre and now to the Pearce Institute in Govan.

‘We didn’t have enough funding to carry on in the Gorbals,’ said Laurentine. A full time worker post was reduced to part-time and then was lost in April when funding finished.

But with the support of Oxfam, the volunteer work of the Karibu Sewing Project gathered in strength. ‘We hope to move this into a social enterprise soon,’ added Laurentine. Their exclusive Karibu African tartan – devised with the expertise of tartan expert David McGill – can be purchased in Byres Road Oxfam shop.

Karibu founder, Henriette Koubakouenda, declared at the end of the day she felt ‘comforted’ that the organisation was making progress. ‘To see people taking over is good. Even if I die, Karibu will continue. The fact that the next generation shares the same vision as we who founded Karibu – is worth more than a million pounds to me. This annual general meeting has been a real joy for me.’

Henriette arrived in Glasgow with her two young sons as refugees from the Congo. Along with other women she soon discovered their needs and wishes didn’t fit in with the system. ‘About 15 or 20 women gathered in my flat in Sighthill on 31 August 2003 to work out how we could organise ourselves. We needed to keep our self-respect and were willing to work hard but our voices were not being heard by the service providers. It was difficult for us because each woman was isolated and very few had fluent English. I knew that, individually, we would not be heard but together we could be strong and be the voice for our problems.’ Among the issues they had personal experience of that didn’t fit the official categories were human trafficking and genital mutilation.

 

 

Housing campaign open to all

Controversial issues from asbestos legislation to increased factoring fees and from the proposed 2018 sports village at Sighthill to the dampness in the winget houses at Carntyne will all be on the agenda at the next meeting of Glasgow Home Owners’ and Tenants’ Campaign.

Said Chairman, Sean Clerkin: ‘We want to emphasise that any resident or tenant in the city is welcome, especially if they are in GHA property or homes factored by GHA.’

The regular monthly meeting will be held in the Jurys Inn, Jamaica Street at 7pm on Thursday 27 September.

Housing issues worth campaigning for

Controversial issues from asbestos legislation to increased factoring fees and from the proposed 2018 sports village at Sighthill to the dampness in the winget houses at Carntyne will all be on the agenda at the next meeting of Glasgow Home Owners’ and Tenants’ Campaign.

Said Chairman, Sean Clerkin: ‘We want to emphasise that any resident or tenant in the city is welcome, especially if they are in GHA property or homes factoed by GHA.’

The regular monthly meeting will be held in the Jurys Inn, Jamaica Street at 7pm on Thursday 27 September.

Sighthill storms loom

By any measure, it was an extraordinary meeting in Sighthill’s KATS centre on Tuesday 11 September.

One woman in the audience of around 100 agitated people, was warned for belligerently interrupting and was eventually ejected from the room by two police officers. Glasgow City Council’s Leader, Gordon Matheson faced the angry crowd, fenced off awkward questions but answered others. And MSP Bob Doris missed a certain football match when he was asked, at short notice, to chair the rumbustious meeting where he did an adept job at holding the jackets.

At stake is the future of two high rise blocks which are earmarked for demolition in the newly announced £250million redevelopment of the area. The plan was announced suddenly on Friday 7 September by Glasgow City Council as part of their pitch to win the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

The Pinkston flats are home to around 400 households where people say they were promised the buildings would be refurbished. With the sudden announcement of demolition instead, they are angry and distressed especially as there was no prior warning or consultation.

‘I’ve lived in Sighthill for 35 years,’ said one pensioner. ‘Where will I go?’ This question was echoed by others. The unfairness on home owners planning for promised refurbishment but being suddenly presented with demolition, was also voiced. ‘What are the promises being made here tonight, worth, if previous promises have been broken,’ said another resident. The future of the primary schools and of the St Rollox church was also raised. The schools are to be merged into one new combined campus with the local nursery and the church remains on site in the plan.

But as a long-time local resident, Anne Marie Sinclair, pointed out: ‘I’m happy for £250 million to be invested in regenerating Sighthill. But I wonder when the plans were actually made – and I don’t think it was overnight last week.’

When Councillor Matheson (Labour Group Leader) and local Councillor Bailie Phil Greene (SNP) clashed, one irate local person said: ‘This is about us and our community. It shouldn’t be a bunfight between politicians.’

Councillor Matheson explained that the £250 million plan was only announced last week because both the Scottish Cabinet and the Executive of Glasgow City Council had just approved Sighthill as a location for the 2018 athletes’ village that week. ‘We made it public so as not to lead you local residents up the garden path.’ But he did not give an answer to the question raised by Community Council Chair, Elaine Ellis: ‘Was demolition of the flats a stipulation for approval of funding?’

The GHA (Glasgow Housing Association) stated they had started individual consultations to find out who wants to stay and who would be interested in the 135-140 new houses being built with back and front doors. It was anticipated those houses would be on site by July or August of next year.

Sean Clerkin a housing and community activist who had fought alongside the community to retain the Pinkston blocks said: ‘The local people should be involved in the decision making process. The two tower blocks should stay and be refurbished as promised. But what is happening is local people are being told ‘this is what will happen.’ Instead they should be asked: ‘What do you want to happen?’ ‘ Later he added: ‘This is a policy of gentrification. Only middle class, middle income people will be able to afford the rents. People who’ve lived here all their lives will be dispersed to the four corners of the city. And how can you get 400 families who are currently in the hi flats into the 150 houses for rent in this new plan?’

An incandescent Bailie Phil Greene told the meeting that the least the City Council could have done was consult Sighthill’s elected representatives such as himself. ‘I’m on the education committee but it was through a letter from the schools to parents about the plans to demolish the schools that I found out.’

At the end of the meeting MSP Patricia Ferguson said she’d arranged to meet Martin Armstrong, Chief Executive of GHA first thing in the morning. ‘This could be a fantastic opportunity for Sighhill but there are real concerns which have to be discussed with residents, GHA, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government. The number of social rented houses has to be looked at. How many local people want to remain here has to be established before things can move forward.’

She urged residents to attend the meetings being set up by GHA. ‘Only then can we begin to tailor the plan to suit the people. We can do it; but we are all going to have to work hard at it.’

She emphasised: ‘This is a SIGHTHILL project. Not a GHA/Glasgow City Council/ Scottish Government project. I’m with you all the way on this, I promise – and I don’t break my promises.’

 

 

Duncan in orbit

Glasgow based science writer Duncan Lunan has had an exceptionally good Christmas and is looking forward to more in the New Year. As this ENEWS letter is circulating, a two hour long interview he did with Nancy Wallace of the United States online BBS Radio will be broadcast. In it he will discuss his book –’Children from the Sky’. This is his investigation of the mediaeval mystery of the Green Children of Woolpit. Two children – green in colour – speaking a strange language and dressed in unidentifiable clothes, suddenly appeared in the village of Woolpit in Suffolk.

Listen online: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/nancywallacewhatdoyouthink/2011/12/28/what-do-you-think and click on: “Download this episode”

Another programme from the online station will interview Duncan on Friday 6 January 2012. And other online radio stations have picked up on his work. The book can be ordered through Amazon and was accepted by Mutus Liber, publishers early in December. Duncan signed two new book contracts in September with international publishers Springer Science & Business Media.

Already he and his wife Linda are preparing for a book launch party and have ‘booked’ a cake from Sugarcraft of Mosspark.

Children from the Sky is expected to feature in an issue of 55 Life Glasgow magzine around now. (www.55life.co.uk)

Dunan’s other book signings are for ‘The Stones and the Stars: A New Stone Circle for Scotland’ and ‘Incoming Asteroid! What Could We Do About It?’ Both titles will be illustrated by Sydney Jordan from Dundee, the creator of Jeff Hawke, the world’s longest-running science fiction strip cartoon which appeared, worldwide, from 1954 to 1988.

The ‘Stones and Stars’ book is the story of the building of the first astronomically aligned stone circle in the UK in 3000 years – at Sighthill in Glasgow. Duncan was the manager of the Glasgow Parks Department Astronomy Project in 1978-79 which commissioned the circle. Funding ran out and it remains unfinished though current moves may allow it to be completed in 2012. In his volume, Duncan puts that project into a wider context of ancient astronomy and of earth’s place in the Solar System and the Galaxy.

The other title – ‘Incoming Asteroid!’carries on discussion among experts and thinking amateurs about what could be done if it was known there would be a Big Impact in 10 years’ time.

Duncan Lunan has written three previous books on space research, edited the first anthology of science fiction by Scottish writers, contributed to 19 other fiction and non-fiction books, and published 30 short stories and over 700 articles.

More information on Duncan and his work can be found at: www.astronomersofthefuture.net and

www.childrenfromthesky.com

 

 

Plaudits for unique youth scheme

A youth programme which helps reduce anti-social behaviour in the North and West of Glasgow has been hailed as a success by former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson.
The former Scotland International captain was among special guests at the annual awards and dance shows run by A&M Training – a programme which is part funded by Glasgow Housing Association (GHA).
Run by ex-Dundee United winger Andy McLaren, the A&M Training scheme tackles youth disorder, racism and gang violence. Founded on his own hard experiences, the scheme encourages youngsters to keep fit through football and dance classes.
Around 2000 youngsters have already signed up for Operation Reclaim in the North of the city and also the West End Diversionary Project.
Birmingham City star Barry Ferguson presented trophies at the Operation Reclaim awards night at the Mitchell Theatre recently.
Barry said: “I’m delighted to support A&M Training which delivers top-quality diversionary coaching activities across Glasgow. Each week around 2000 young people benefit from these services – and they are free.
“I attended the dance and awards show and was blown away by the numbers involved, the talent on show and the quality of the coaching.”
GHA and the Scottish Government fund the West End Diversionary Project, which covers areas including Drumchapel, Yoker, Scotstoun and Anderston. Operation Reclaim is funded by GHA and North Glasgow Community Planning Partnership and runs in areas including Sighthill, Springburn, Milton and Royston.
GHA’s Executive Director of Development and Regeneration, Alex McGuire, said: “Projects such as Operation Reclaim and the West End Diversionary Project are making a real difference to young people in the North and West of the city.
Former Scotland footballers Robbie Winters, Charlie Miller and Gary McSwegan are also lending their support to programme.
Andy McLaren, founder of A&M Training, said: “We’re the only sports coaching charity in Scotland providing free coaching services delivered by professional footballers and dancers.
“The programme has had a tremendous benefit in reducing youth crime and disorder and improving the health and well-being of large numbers of young people.”

Sighthill Solstice

by Lynsay Keough, photos Stuart Maxwell

A local amateur astronomer, Duncan Lunan, held an illustrated talk recently at St. Aloysius Church on his work constructing a stone circle in Sighthill Park. The talk, on 21 June, the summer solstice, was followed by a walk to the circle to watch the sun go down.
Duncan organised the construction of the stone circle over 30 years ago, when he was manager of the Glasgow Parks department’s astronomy project. The project’s goal was to accurately mirror the rise and fall of the sun and moon over the city. However, due to funding cuts at the time, four stones were left unplaced.  Duncan now hopes to secure funding due to renewed interest. He explained: ‘Two stones were planned to be due east and west, marking the sunrise and sunset at the equinoxes. What we would like to do with the other two is put a plaque on them to explain why they are there, who built the circle and who it is dedicated to.’  He would also like to restore the original work and put in a path for wheelchair access.
The circle was built in honour of four Glasgow University academics who promoted the understanding of megalithic astronomy: Professor Archie Roy, Dr Ewan McKay, Professor Alexander Thom and his son, Dr Archie Thom. The cost of the new work to complete the project, is estimated at around £30,000.

Re-newed Stone Circle in Sight

SIGHTHILL STONE CIRCLE

A local amateur astronomer and science writer is hoping to rejuvenate a stone circle in the shadow of Sighthill’s tower blocks.
Duncan Lunan organised the construction of the stone circle over 30 years ago, when he was manager of the Glasgow Parks department’s astronomy project. The project’s goal was to accurately mirror the rise and fall of the sun and moon over the city and this was funded at the time by the Jobs Creation Scheme. Unfortunately the incoming Thatcher government cut this funding, leaving the project incomplete, with 4 stones still to be placed. Duncan explained: ‘Two were planned to be due east and west, marking the sunrise and sunset at the equinoxes. What we would like to do with the other 2 would be to put a plaque on them to explain why it is there, who built it and who it is dedicated to.’  He would also like to restore the original work and put in a path for wheelchair access.
The circle was built in honour of four academics from Glasgow University who promoted the understanding of megalithic astronomy: Professor Archie Roy, Dr Ewan McKay, Professor Alexander Thom and his son, Dr Archie Thom. The cost of the new work that will complete the project will be around £30,000.
Duncan hopes that the site can again host equinox and solstice celebrations similar to those which occurred in Scotland until the 17th century. He will be holding an illustrated talk on the Sighthill Stone Circle at the Ogilvie Centre, St Aloysius Church, Rose St, Glasgow, at 7.30pm on Monday 21 June. Following the talk there will be a visit to the circle for the midsummer sunset.

Community centres axed as city tightens its belt

By Erik Geddes

Glasgow’s community centres will bear the brunt of hefty budget cuts after the city announced it has a £61m hole in its finances this year.
There were jeers outside City Chambers as 150 people gathered to protest the cuts in public services, which will mean the closure of 11 community centres, a swimming pool and a community library.
Culture & Sport Glasgow will see its budget fall by some £1.7m.
A number of jobs – the city hopes up to 600 voluntary redundancies – in key areas such as community workers and welfare rights are to be slashed.
Some, but not all sports centres will shut for two half-days a week
Kelvingrove, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Burrell Collection – recognised as Glasgow’s flagship and showcase attractions – will not be affected by the reduced opening hours.
Knightswood Pool and Sighthill Community Library will close. In the east of the city, Bellrock Community and Garthamlock Recreation centres will go. The cuts mean closures of facilities in Cadder, Ledgowan, Wyndford and at Red Road.
In the south-east of the city, Cathkin will close, while Invercraig/West Drumoyne and Lorne Street centres in the south west are also targets.
In the west, Argo Street and Overnewton centres will also close.
The facilities to close are, according to the council, ones ‘which have both low usage and would require substantial funds for essential repairs’.
Nicola Burton, Chair of Save Lorne Street and Secretary of Kinning Park Community Council, was one of the protesters whose community centre is set to close on 31 March.
‘The mothers and toddlers are a massive part of Kinning Park community.
‘If this service is cut and the centre closed it would rip the heart out of Kinning Park.
‘Everyone from Mums and Tots, dance classes to community council meeting take place here.
‘We were not involved in the consultation process at all, I’ve not been able approach anyone from Culture and Sport Glasgow. The fact that they are now considered arms length seems to remove them from responsibility.’
Meanwhile, Glasgow City Council dismissed pressure to cut back on their use fancy cars at ceremonial occasions.
Steven Purcell, Leader of the Council, joked that certain elements of the Scottish Green Party Budget proposals were ‘middle class’, and the sort of things he would hear at a West End dinner party.
The proposal – from Councillor Danny Alderslowe – was to reduce the use of limousines by the council.
It was claimed that £175,000 could be saved by using taxis instead of limos for most journeys.
Councillor Alderslowe said: ‘Limos for councillors are a sheer indulgence during these hard times.’
Despite the Labour-led administration ignoring this proposal, he found reason to be positive with the school gardening projects proposals taken on board.
This will see new beds and fruit trees implemented in all of Glasgow’s ‘additional support for learning’ primary schools.
Speaking exclusively to LOCAL NEWS, Councillor Alderslowe said: ‘They (the Labour lead administration) have taken something from our budget every year for the past three budgets.
‘It’s good to know that they that they are adopting some health and some green issues, even if it’s just on a smaller scale.’
The biggest cheer of the chamber came when City Treasurer Gordon Matheson declared an extra £8m to deal with the pot holes in Glasgow’s roads, taking the total spend to £12m.

Housing partnership aims for high water mark

By Alan McCrorie

Glasgow Housing Association’s new chief executive celebrated his first day in post by helping front a major community regeneration plan targeting eight areas of the city.

Martin Armstrong joined Communities and Housing Minister Alex Neil MSP and Leader of Glasgow City Council Steven Purcell in Maryhill to announce eight ‘transformational regeneration areas’.

The partnership between GHA, the Scottish Government and the council aims to build thousands of homes in the target neighbourhoods. The first scheme, in Maryhill, should, if approved, provide 400 new homes. Initial plans are for 300 owner-occupied and 100 for tenants at Maryhill Locks.

There are plans in hand for 300 homes in Laurieston, mainly for rent. However, the partnership hopes to build a total of 1700 homes for rent, sale and low-cost ownership there.

The plans also call for new health and community facilities, as well as green spaces and commercial and retail properties.

The regeneration model would be rolled out across the city to include Sighthill and Shawbridge, Red Road, North Toryglen, Gallowgate, Ibrox and East Govan.

He said: ‘There’s more than just houses,’ said Martin. ‘We want to establish a sense of sustainability in the community that hasn’t been there in the past.

‘It would be wrong of me to put a timescale on it, but clearly what we’re going to do is to give urgency to the transformational regeneration areas. What we want to do is work with these eight communities and ensure there’s a realistic timescale that we can deliver.

He added: ‘GHA will be part of the partnership to make sure the houses are built to a good standard, they are retained at an affordable rent level, and also we will play our part in other initiatives surrounding employability to ensure we create a good, stable environment in which people can live and educate their children.’

Steven Purcell said: ‘This will be about building homes that people want to live in and creating employment in a time of recession. It’s good news for people in this part of the city who’ve waited a long time to see their community change in the way that other communities across Glasgow already have.’

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