The people of Govanhill have spoken! Thriving Govanhill Fund results are in…
From the Govanhill Community Development Trust:
The voting has now closed and we are pleased to announce the projects that the good people of Govanhill have chosen to receive grants of £1,355 from this year’s Thriving Govanhill fund. In order of most votes received:
Milk Cafe Tales From the Kitchen
Cathkin Blazes Winter Pitches
Feel Good Women’s Group Fitness and Friends
Glasgow Food Not Bombs Double The Dishes
Kin Kitchen Winter Wellbeing Food Activities
Rumpus Room Yard Play: A youth-led Spring Art & Play programme
Active Life Club Active Communities Project
Govanhill Community Garden/Community Remembrance Garden
Govanhill Community Garden Wellbeing Programme
MERGE Welfare Group Fitness and Wellbeing programme
Sahara Heritage Activities For Wellbeing
The Thriving Govanhill Fund has given the decision making power to local people over funding for local wellbeing projects. Just shy of 600 people voted, with a total of 523 eligible votes cast to have a direct say in what happens in our community. Though their votes didn’t count, thanks still to the 60 odd folks from outside Govanhill who were so enthusiastic that they still wanted to take part!
From all at Govanhill Community Development Trust, thanks to everyone voting and to the groups and organisations who applied for funding. This round of funding formed an inspirational showcase of the creative and impactful work happening in our community every day. All of the projects applying would have made a positive impact on our community. However, local people have spoken and congratulations to the ten projects receiving grants of £1,355.
First of the trio of women’s projects leading the way in this year’s vote were the inspirational folks at Milk Café. The Tales From the Kitchen project, will be an exciting opportunity for Govanhill residents to gather in the Victoria Road space, and enjoy community meals together. Tales From The Kitchen will celebrate and explore connection through cookery, examining the links between food, family, identity and storytelling. New Scots will be invited to bring a dish from their home country and a related story, which they will share with the rest of the room. Milk Café already hosts women-only Conversation Cafes twice weekly as well as gentle movement/yoga/breathing sessions for women with direct experience of the UK immigration and asylum system.
In second place, was Cathkin Blazes Community Football Club (CBCFC), Govanhill’s very own community football team for all women, non-binary and trans adults. Since May 2021, CB CFC have been running weekly football sessions suitable for players of all abilities including beginners and competing in various tournaments. This grassroots, inclusive club, forges friendships on the pitch whilst opposing racism, homophobia, transphobia and any other form of social exclusion. Funding will enable football activities to take place right through to Spring, bringing together around 30 participants every week.
The Feel Good Women’s Group rounded off the medal positions with an impressive late surge of votes that almost saw them take top spot. The Fitness and Friends project will pay for more exercise classes three times weekly in Govanhill Neighbourhood Centre. Their hour-long exercise sessions focus on Zumba, Yoga and Pilates are open to any women aged 16 and over. Led by qualified instructors, participants can go at their own pace and/or receive gentle encouragement if they want to progress to another level. Participants say the classes helps boost and maintain their physical and mental health.
We hope to deliver further rounds of Thriving Govanhill Funding in the year ahead so watch this space for news of that. We want to offer our sincere thanks to our colleagues in Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership who have kindly provided the funding to enable this year’s vote to go ahead.