Govan Community Inclusion Project

The Community Inclusion Coordinator works across the Greater Govan area of Glasgow – a diverse area with 60,000 residents, a high representation of minority ethnic communities and a fast growing refugee and migrant population. Coordinator Angela Gardiner has managed the project since March 2004, working for Govan, Linthouse and Elder Park Housing Associations. Angela is currently based at the Linthouse Urban Village (LUV) project, and works closely with the LUV Coordinater’s community development and regeneration programme.

The project coordinates services, runs drop-in advice sessions, assists housing providers to develop policies, works in partnership with support agencies and networks, runs regular information and community social events and supports local community volunteers.

Advice and information surgeries
The project set up and manages a multi-agency advice surgery providing specialist advice. The surgery is a huge success and helped over 180 people in 2007. The surgery is also a third party reporting centre for race and hate crime. A drop-in open to all runs along side the surgery now supported by three local volunteers, with regular arts and crafts workshops.

Govan New Residents Association
A group of local people working together to set up a new residents’ association. The Steering Group is mostly made up of people who are relatively new to the area, and relatively new to Scotland – most are Polish. The Steering Group is supported by Govan Housing Association, Elderpark Housing Association and Strathclyde Police and is also funded by the Scottish Government ‘Wider Role’ fund.  http://govanresidents.wordpress.com

Community information events
The project has run a series of large information events, bringing together a wide range of statutory and voluntary service providers, housing associations, trade unions, colleges and others in one place.

The Recipe Book
The Project worked with the Linthouse Urban Village (LUV) project local residents from Scotland and across the world, and community artists to produce the Luvely Food recipe book in 2007. Exchanging recipes and stories has been a great way for people to find out more about the diverse communities living together in Govan

Community Social events
The project frequently organises social events that bring together the whole community. These have included ceilidhs and music events that regularly attract over 200 people of all different backgrounds to the Pearce Institute, international film festivals, an acclaimed Polish play and other events run by the local Polish community.

Govan Integration Network
The Project is a key member of the multi-agency Network, which coordinates services for asylum seeking and refugee residents.

Framework For Dialogue
The Project works with Scottish Refugee Council and Glasgow City Council to support the local FFD project, an acclaimed Glasgow-wide initiative to build bonds bridges and links within and between refugee and host communities.

Step into Jobs and Access to Learning courses
Two innovative community-learning projects  that targeted asylum seekers and refugees but were open to the whole community. A partnership with Anniesland College to deliver English language, computer courses and back to work skills.

Click here to download the latest annual report

Contact Details:
Angela Gardiner
Community Inclusion Coordinator
Linthouse Urban Village
1226 Govan Road
Glasgow G51 4RA

tel: 0141 445 5100

e: angela@linthouseurbanvillage.com