Glasgow Caledonian joins Lord Provost in new community hub green light celebration
Glasgow Caledonian University joined the Lord Provost at the site of a newly approved community hub in Milton today (Nov 10) to celebrate the £3.2m project being given the green light.
The University is a key partner with Glasgow City Council and North United Communities (NUC) in making this new North Glasgow Community Hub and Nursery project happen for the local people.
Glasgow Caledonian’s hub project lead Lynn Sheridan joined Glasgow City Council Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren and NUC CEO Jill Mackay at the site where the new building will be developed in Shapinsay Street.
The plan is to bring the University’s expertise into the heart of the community, providing services such as podiatry, social work and eyecare health in the new building. The University will be consulting with the community in the new year on what they want to see.
The University and the NUC helped the Lord Provost secure millions of pounds to regenerate her Canal Ward leading to the application for a new nursery and community hub on land previously occupied by the Glasgow School for the Deaf at Shapinsay Street.
Intervention from the University was instrumental in the bid application succeeding. Lynn Sheridan, Professor of Social Work Stephen Webb and Head of the Social Work Department Dr Sharon Jackson helped the community put together a much bolder and more ambitious plan.
The Lord Provost said: “It’s fantastic to have been given the go ahead for this vital resource. It’s something that’s badly needed and I’m so proud and excited that work is finally starting. It’s going to make a huge difference to the people living here.
“It’s going to be a flagship resource bringing together partners from the council’s education service, the third sector and Glasgow Caledonian University for the very first time. It’s something we can all be hugely proud of and I’m confident it will become the template for future, similar community assets.”
Ms Sheridan, who is also a Social Work Lecturer in the School of Health and Life Sciences, said: “Glasgow Caledonian University is delighted to be a partner in the North Glasgow Community Hub project in Milton along with Glasgow City Council and North United Communities.
“We’re excited to be part of this project and to bring the University’s work closer to the local community. We will be consulting with residents in the new year on what health and wellbeing services they would like to see the University introduce to the new Hub, such as podiatry, eyecare health, dietetics and social work.”
The School of Health and Life Sciences Dean Professor Anita Simmers said: “We are delighted to see this project come to fruition, building on the University’s mission for the Common Good and delivering real impact and important resources for the benefit of the communities we serve in a genuine and meaningful way.”
The Lord Provost’s success as a local councillor, in attracting Scottish Government Funding of £800,000, earned her a Community Champion Award back in 2021 at the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) Scotland Councillor Awards in recognition of her hard work and dedication to her community.
NUC will be the main tenant within the community section of the facility. There will be dedicated offices for the University and local community group Love Milton.
Jill Mackay, NUC CEO, said: “I’m just so excited and thrilled for everyone in the community. They convinced the Scottish Government there was this need to be met.
“They convinced the decision-makers their community was worth investing in. This new facility is really the culmination of their hard work spanning more than five years.
“The floor in our old hut collapsed and that was really the catalyst to bid for a new centre. I can’t quite believe it’s finally happening. It’s particularly important for our young people to have a safe space and place. This is for them, and they deserve it.”
The photo (left to right) shows Glasgow Caledonian's hub project lead Lynn Sheridan, Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren and NUC CEO Jill Mackay getting help from Scaraway Nursery pupils Callie Lang and William Henderson to dig for success on the site of the new premises in Milton.
See more pictures here in the Glasgow Times - https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/23915420.work-3-2m-glasgow-nursery-community-hub-starts-soon/