Issue 16: Your Questions Answered, of Greater Govanhill magazine

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

INCLUDING : How we transformed our back lane

• Organising a litter pick • Where to find volunteering opportunities • The history of Butterbiggins Road • A day in the life of a refugee and how to fight hatred with hope • Tips on finding a flat and standing up to landlords

• Inclusive spaces for young people • Where to reuse and recycle • What Languages ‘Belong’ to Govanhill? • Interview with Govanhill’s new MP John Grady • Crossword by The Anymen • All the latest news and events, and so much more Featuring: Gàidhlig

REBELS & RENEGADES – SHEILA ROCK + JILL FURMANOVSKY AT STREET LEVEL PHOTOWORKS, GLASGOW 16TH NOV 2024 – 23RD FEB 2025

NEW SHOOTS OLD ROOTS + THE MISSING CHAPTER: BLACK CHRONICLES PART OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH SCOTLAND 2024 AT TRONGATE 103 + HILLHEAD LIBRARY, GLASGOW UNTIL 27TH OCT

ARTISTS OF SCOTLAND – JEREMY SUTTON-HIBBERT AT DUNOON BURGH HALL UNTIL 17TH NOV

FOREVER CHANGES – NORDIC PHOTOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE CHANGE COINCIDING WITH NORDIC MUSIC DAYS AT HILLHEAD LIBRARY, GLASGOW 30TH OCT - 30TH NOV

Letter from the Team

Dear Readers,

In the last issue of Greater Govanhill, we announced we were embarking on a community listening project. We wanted to understand how we could best serve the community and ensure we continue to be a valuable resource for readers, by looking at our online presence and understanding where we could make changes.

Over the last few months, we have spoken with various community groups, local businesses and readers. We also shared an online survey. We were eager to hear what you think works, what could be improved, and the types of stories you enjoy or want to see more of. The survey is still available online: visit greatergovanhill.com/listening to complete it and be in with the chance of winning a £50 prize!

Some of the responses we received said they see Greater Govanhill as a tool that connects the community, celebrates Govanhill’s diversity, highlights its strengths, and is an informative resource that platform for local voices.

One recurring theme that stood out was a strong desire among residents to access information and understand the resources available that support their day-to-day lives. So with this issue, we wanted to provide articles that answer some common questions, and grow community power and connection.

You will find practical guidance on topics ranging from how to find a place to live, where to get things repaired, accessing support as a new parent, inclusive spaces for young people, how to make our neighbourhood more welcoming, and sorting out your back lane – along with all the much loved regulars.

Get in touch if you have any other questions we can help answer.

Yours sincerely,

Samar Jamal Journalist

A special thanks goes to our advertisers: Glasgow Social Enterprise Network, Glasgow Urban Sports, Home Energy Scotland, Magikats, Match Box Cine, Rabbet, Studio 70, Street Level Photoworks

Want to advertise in our next issue? Email advertising@greatergovanhill.com

We’re also grateful to every one of our members who help us to keep going. If you enjoy reading the mag, please consider helping us become sustainable with a monthly donation via community.greatergovanhill.com/join

Editorial Team Devon McCole, James McAleer, Rhiannon J Davies and Samar Jamal

Creative Director Laura Hurst paperarcade.co.uk

Picture Desk Iain McLellan, Laura Vroomen

Cover Image Sadia by Stefan Krajcik

Words by

Aliana Michalewicz, Aoife Hutton, Bruce Downie, Dana Cherepkova, Devon McCole, Emily Menger-Davies, Eva Camille Harrold, James McAleer, Kate Mackay, Katie Macmillan, Lottie Brand, Marzanna Antoniak, Melissa Espinoza, Molly Adams, Rohese Devereux Taylor, Rhiannon Davies, Romano Lav, Sadia, Samar Jamal, Shane Johnstone, The Anymen, V

Photos by Alexander Hoyles, Eoin Carey, Iain McLellan, Karen Gordon, Laura Vroomen, Miriam Ali, Rob Reid, Samar Jamal, Simon Murphy, Stefan Krajcik, Steve Huang

Illustrations by Aled Haywood, Indrė Šimkutė, Issey Medd, Laura Wade, Seán Casey

Printed by Gladstone Media Ltd

Featured Contributors

Dr Melissa Espinoza has called Govanhill home since 2020 and is fascinated by its history of migration, which she can relate to and found a sense of belonging in. She assists community-based organisations with fundraising, strategy and impact. She joined the Greater Govanhill team earlier this year.

Read her recipe for Salsa de Tomatillo on page 12

Shane Johnstone is a Glaswegian poet, novelist and translator working in Gaelic, Scots, English and French. His first novel, The Gods of Frequency, was published in 2020 and his upcomingGovanhill Mythology, will be published by Palavro Publishing in November.

Read his article on the languages of Govanhill – and one of his poems – on page 30

Dana Cherepkova

is a Govanhill resident, architect, and volunteer at Kin Kitchen, passionate about transforming underused spaces with care and bringing communities together. She is currently coordinating a series of events which builds on the success of Govanhill Community Market.

Read about her work on Kingarth Lane on page 17

Monday

Flow Yoga 12 - 12.45pm

Flow Yoga 6 30 - 7 30pm

Beginners Pilates Course** - 6.30

Pilates* 8 - 9 pm

Tuesday

Flow Yoga 7 30 - 8 15am

Gentle Yoga* 10 - 11am

Pilates* 6 - 7pm

Flow Yoga 6.30 - 7.30pm

Pregnancy Pilates 7.15-8.15pm

Yin & Nidra* 8 - 9pm

1 week of unlimited Yoga & Pilates for Govanhill Magazine readers

Weekly Class Schedule

Wednesday

Pilates* 7.30 - 8.15am

Flow Yoga 10 - 11am

Pregnancy Yoga* 6 15 - 7 30pm

Beginners Yoga Course** 6.30-7.30pm

Flow Yoga 8 - 9pm

Thursday

Flow Yoga 7.30 - 8.15am

Yin Yang Yoga 10 - 11am

Pilates* 5-6pm

Core Yoga 6.30 - 7.30pm

Yin Yoga* 7 - 8pm

Flow Yoga 8 - 9pm

Friday

Pilates* 9 30 - 10 30am

Flow Yoga 11am - 12pm

Flow Yoga 5 30 - 6 30pm

Pilates* 7-7.45pm

Saturday

Pilates* 7.30-8.30am

Pilates* 8 45 - 9 45am

Flow Yoga 10 - 11.15pm

Gentle Yoga* 11.45 - 12.45pm

Pilates* 2 - 3pm

Sunday

Flow Yoga 10 - 11pm

Restorative Yoga* 11.30 - 12.30pm

Yin & Nidra* 6.30 - 7.45pm

* Beginners friendly class

1 week Unlimited Classes for £25 www.studio70glasgow.com/offer

Win appliances and eco gadgets worth £750 for your home!

Our quiz is back and better than ever! Take on Home Energy Scotland’s exciting energy-saving quiz for a chance to win a selection of amazing prizes! You’ll also discover handy tips to help you save money on your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint.

**Check out our website for beginners course dates, mantra, pranayama & workshops

Just four questions stand between you and the chance of being one of the 10 lucky winners in Scotland. Enter here:

Or visit: homeenergyscotland.org/win Competition closes at 11.59pm on Monday 31 March 2025. Terms and conditions can be

All the latest news from around the

Roma News & Views: The making of ‘Romani Cierhenia’

“We used to perform concerts on the roof of our garage for people in

Volunteer Spotlight: Gordon Palmer, The Well

“You feel as if you are really making a difference. Often folk come back and talk about the impact it’s had.”

11

Where to Find Volunteer Opportunities

“We’ve picked out a few examples that show the range of opportunities available on your doorstep.”

12

Recipe: Salsa de Tomatillo

“Food is my favourite way to connect with my family, home, heritage, and ancestors.”

13

Stories from our Streets: Butterbiggins Road

A new regular feature delves into Govanhill’s heritage one street at at time

14

Behind the Portrait: Lizy Stratton

“My whole life, I’ve seen talented people from backgrounds where music is seen as a luxury.”

16

Making a Real Difference to Govanhill’s Lanes

“Hear from residents who had enough and decided to take matters into their own hands.”

19

Down the Rabbet Hole

Get to know the folk behind the new bespoke framing and art supplies

Facing Hatred with Hope

A series of article inspired by the need for better understanding of issues migrants face in our city

Inclusive Queer Spaces for Young People

“If I had this when I was younger I can’t even imagine how different things would have been.”

27

This Wild Ride We Call Parenting

“Having kids is beautiful, lifealtering and also can be really, really hard”

What Languages ‘Belong’ to Govanhill?

“When I grew up here, standard English was the official language of the school, but it was not ‘the’ language of Govanhill.”

Where to Reuse and Recycle around the Southside

From repairing turntables to recycling prams

Interview with John Grady MP

“Turning this around will take a long time... We’re not into stickingplaster politics.”

“Having moved flats nearly annually for the past five years, here are a few things I have learned.”

The latest events from around the neighbourhood.

Cryptic Crossword

The Anymen return with another cryptic crossword.

Morning Goodbye off Albert Drive

news in brief

Big

Noise Govanhill supports 1000 local

over summer

children

Big Noise, a community programme dedicated to social change through music, provided nearly 1,000 meals and snacks to children over the summer while hosting its free holiday club for over 100 local kids. The club offered a safe space for children to engage in activities like music lessons, DJ workshops, and photography, easing the pressure on parents juggling work or study.

Scottish government scraps free bus passes for asylum seekers.

Refugee organisations have criticised the Scottish government's “devastating” decision to end the free bus pass pilot for asylum seekers, which ran from October 2023. The £2m bus pass pilot was initially met with praise and inspired other localities. But to the disappointment of many, especially those who rely on free public travel to get to work, school or appointments, the government officially announced their decision to scrap the initiative in August of this year.

In a joint letter signed by 49 local organisations, the Scottish government’s decision was condemned, and were given a list of reasons as to why the reversal of the bus pass pilot is so damaging: “People in the asylum process cannot work, cannot access public funds and some live on as little as £1.36 per day. Public transport for those in enforced destitution is not a ‘nice-to-have offering for people who are having a hard time’ – it is a vital lifeline for Scotland’s communities. Transport is a key element for communication and integration.”

Next Govanhill Community Litter Pick

The next Govanhill Community Litter Pick will take place on 26 October. Meet at Govanhill Free Church, 26 Belleisle Street at 10am to help keep Govanhill tidy this autumn. High visibility jackets, litterpickers, refreshments and lunch will be provided for all volunteers. To register your interest, visit: bit.ly/GHlitter

The Shed closes

Southside club The Shed has closed. A farewell celebration called ‘SHEDMAGEDON’ was held on 14 September, marking the end of 26 years of parties, pantomimes, and community celebrations.

Queen’s

Park

Local Place Plan consultation

You can now share your views on and priorities for Queen’s Park and the surrounding neighbourhoods to the south through the Local Place Plan Survey, conducted by Queen’s Parks Neighbourhoods. The survey builds on themes and ideas put forward at the QPN event in the Glasshouse on 1 September and gives residents the chance to shape the future of their area through practical, deliverable projects. Find out more and have your say via: qpn.org.uk.

World Gaelic Week small grants

The fourth edition of Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) will take place from 24 February to 2 March 2025. As part of this celebration, small grant funding of up to £500 has been made available for individuals, community groups and organisations who are looking to celebrate Gaelic in their community. Gaelic speakers, learners, and enthusiasts can apply now at: seachdain na gaidhlig.scot. Applications close at midnight, 24 October.

Urban

park design proposals launched

Design proposals for a new urban park have been launched for consultation. Devon Street Urban Park aims to transform disused space beneath the M74 to create a new public, free to use, urban sculpture park and active leisure space. The proposal foregrounds accessibility, public art, and urban sports. For more info, visit glasgowurbansports.org

Some areas of the Southside apply to ban fireworks

At least 12 areas in Glasgow, including Shawlands, Pollokshields and Toryglen, are in line for a fireworks ban under new rules being considered by Glasgow City Council. The proposed Firework Control Zones would make it illegal to set off fireworks in gardens or on public or private land within these designated areas. The council is consulting residents on the plan, which would still allow attendance at organised displays but prohibit fireworks at home. Residents have their say by filling in the online consultation survey open until 20 October at: smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ GlasgowFireworksControlZone

Eoin Carey

news in brief

South Seeds offer free LED light bulbs as prices set to rise

Electricity and gas prices went up by 10 percent on 1 October. And clocks go back on 27 October. Nights are getting longer and as a consequence people will have heating and lighting on at home for longer and longer. By November many people will notice that their bills have substantially increased and will start to worry about getting through the winter. If Govanhill residents drop-in to South Seeds for advice on gas and/or electricity bills, they can be provided with a free LED lightbulb which will help lower their electricity bill over the winter, when lights are on for longer.

Greater Govanhill joins Scottish Beacon’s ‘100 Days of The Green Transition’ project

Scottish Beacon, a collaborative network of independent local and hyperlocal newsrooms, has launched “100 Days of the Green Transition”: a new partnership with Local Storytelling Exchange which aims to highlight grassroots efforts driving Scotland’s renewable future. From September to November publications within the Beacon network will amplify green stories from local communities. The collaboration, which comes after the network’s Citizen’s Agenda consultation found that climate change and green energy issues mattered most to readers of Beacon-affiliated publications, will run until 28 December. Follow the project at scottishbeacon.com.

Victoria Bar unveils 'The Best Fans in the World' painting

A new addition to Glasgow's historic Football Square Mile has been unveiled at the Victoria Bar, a B-listed building and Site No.11 of the open-air museum which represents the most important areas in Scotland's football history. The site played a key role in Scottish football history, as it was where Queen’s Park, Scotland’s first football club, was founded. Now a painting by artist Ashley Rawson, depicting the emotional journey of Scotland football fans, is on display at the bar.

Greater Govanhill’s Community Canvas space hosts Tape Letters exhibition

The Tape Letters project, which we explored in Issue 13 of Greater Govanhill, shines a light on the use of audio cassettes as a mode of long-distance communication by the Pakistani diaspora in Scotland. Greater Govanhill is delighted to be showcasing stories from the Glasgow community in our Community Canvas space upstairs in Tramway opening this October. The exhibition will run from 13 October–31 January.

Local writer launches new book

Award winning author Henry Bell has released a new book; Red Threads: A History of The People’s Flag. Bell explores the symbolic and historic importance of the red flag, taking the reader on a journey throughout history to trace the flag’s lineage and origins. He highlights the complex and varied metaphorical use of the flag over time as an initial sign of battle and piracy, to a symbol of working-class resistance and challenge against the propertied class.

Women in construction relaunch

Glasgow Trades Collective have relaunched their Women In Construction course. Informed by participant feedback, the course will take place over the weekend of 16 and 17 November, at the GTC workshop in Glasgow Autonomous Space in Govanhill. Spaces are open to woman and non-binary people of all abilities and can be booked at glasgowtradescollective.co.uk.

Strathbungo cooler than Govanhill?

The Southside has been named in yet another arbitrary list of the world’s ‘coolest’ neighbourhoods, this time produced by Time Out. However, it was Strathbungo who took the crown from Shawlands who got the nod last year. Writers praised the independent spirit of its boutiques, bars, eateries as well as its architecture and people. We still know which neighbourhood is actually coolest though.

Miriam Ali

roma news and views

The origin story of ‘Romane Cierhenia’ –the Roma Stars of Glasgow

Aliana Michalewicz sits down with her mum Sonia to learn more about their fascinating, famous family history which is rooted in music and dance. They discuss how they brought this culturefrom Poland to Glasgow and their hopes for the future.

MUM, WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THE MUSIC SCENE AS A CHILD?

When I was very small, my grandpa would travel on the train with my uncles and play music to earn money to feed the family. They would play with other family members and with my uncle Artur. He was a Gadjo, which is the Romani word for someone who is not Roma; but he was involved in Roma culture and life, and married to a Roma woman. They set up a band that became very popular and they travelled the world.

I was eight years old and, with all my cousins, we would copy the adults. We wanted to be like them but we couldn’t play instruments. I remember how the boys would pretend to play guitars that were actually just sticks! We would sing and dance and we used to perform concerts for people in the village on the roof of our garage.

We always wished we could perform with the adults, but they were so professional – touring around Europe, America and Canada. Finally, when I was a teenager, the group needed some young women to join the line-up. My dad came back home and he told me: “Dress up! You’re gonna do a performance with us!”

I was so excited, but when I was on the stage, I was shocked: I didn’t know how to sing, or what to do, but my auntie Bozena showed me how to move and got me to sing one song.

I was so embarrassed I got stuck on the stage, I couldn’t even sing one word, but the group were so supportive of me that the public didn’t ever notice that something was wrong! That was my first experience on the stage.

When the adults in our family (who were also in another group called Bacht) noticed that we liked to play music, they taught us everything. They started a kid’s musician group for us: Bary Bacht (meaning big luck in Romani). Over time, the boys started to learn by themselves. Today they play on real guitars and accordions; they don’t need to use sticks anymore!

HOW DID YOUR BAND FORM?

The kids that were in Bary Bacht moved to Scotland, and we wanted to set up a band as adults. I was looking everywhere for help, and I found Marcela (founder of Romano Lav) on Facebook. She wanted to help us, and we set up the music group in two days! I told her we’re not a professional group and she said we can do rehearsals.

So, I had 13 or 14 people all together as the musicians and the group was formed. We did one project, and then I asked everyone if they wanted to continue and they said yes! Why? Because they enjoy being together, to have the Roma life. All the time it was just work, school, work, school, and life was not like a Roma life, but with the music, it was much better.

Okay, I said, if you guys want me to set up the group, we need to choose a name. ‘Romane Cierhenia’: it means Roma stars. Now we have been together for almost 10 years.

THAT'S LOVELY! HOW DOES THE MUSIC MAKE YOU FEEL?

It makes me feel free. Music is very important in our life. You can share your emotions, you can share what you feel, and you can even share your love for someone because their songs are songs about everything.

It’s freedom for us. When we meet together and make music we feel as though we’re in our small Roma country. I don’t know if you know, Aliana, that we don’t have our own country, but with music, you can pass on all the tradition, all the culture, the history, everything.

HOW DO YOU WANT THE FUTURE TO LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR PEOPLE?

My wish is that our children never know what discrimination means. I want the word to disappear from our life; I want them to be happy; I want them to be free.

roma news and views

Pôvodný príbeh Romany Cierhenia –rómskej hviezdy Glasgowa

Aliana Michalewicz si sadne so svojou mamou Sonia, aby sa dozvedela viac o ich fascinujúcom, slávnom rodinnom príbehu zakorenenom v hudbe a tanci, ako to priviedli z Poľska do Glasgowa a ich nádeja do budúcnosti.

MAMI, ČO SI SPOMÍNAŠ NA HUDOBNÚ SCÉNU AKO DIEŤA?

Keď som bola malá, môj dedko by cestoval vo vlaku so strýkom a hral hudbu, aby zarobil peniaze na kŕmenie rodiny.

Hrali by s ostatnými členmi rodiny a s mojím strýkom Arturom - Gadjom, čo je rómske slovo pre niekoho, kto nie je Rómskym; ale bol zapojený do rómskej kultúry a života a bol ženatý s rómskou ženou. Založili hudobnú skupinu, ktorá sa stala veľmi populárnou a cestovali po svete.

Mal som osem rokov a so všetkými bratrancami, kopírovali sme dospelých. Chceli sme byť ako oni, ale nemohli sme hrať nástroje. Pamätám si, ako by chlapci predstierali, že hrajú gitaru, ktoré boli vlastne len palice! A my budeme spievať a tancovať. Zvykol sme koncerty pre ľudí v dedine na streche našej garáže.

Vždy sme si želali, aby sme mohli vystupovať s dospelými, ale boli tak profesionálne, že turné po Európe, Amerike, Kanade a Taliansku. Nakoniec, keď som bol teenager, skupina potrebovala nejaké mladé Vždy sme si želali, aby sme mohli vystupovať

s dospelými, ale boli tak profesionálne, že turné po Európe, Amerike, Kanade a Taliansku. Nakoniec, keď som bol teenager, skupina potrebovala nejaké mladé ženy, aby sa pripojili k zostave. “Môj otec sa vrátil domov a povedal mi:”” Zobleč sa, budeš s nami robiť predstavenie!” Bol som tak nadšený, ale keď som bol na pódiu, bol som šokovaný. Nevedela som, ako spievať, alebo čo mám robiť, ale moja teta Bozena mi ukázala, ako sa pohybovať a prinútila ma spievať jednu pieseň.

Bola som tak hanbená, že som sa na pódiu zasekla, ani som nemohla spievať ani jedno slovo, ale skupina ma podporovala, že verejnosť si nikdy nevšimla, že sa niečo deje! To bola moja prvá skúsenosť na pódiu.

Keď dospelí v našej rodine ( ktorí boli aj v inej skupine s názvom Bacht) zistili, že radi hráme hudbu, naučili nás všetko. Vybudovali pre nás detskú hudobnú skupinu - Bary Bacht (čo znamená veľké šťastie v Rómovia). Postupom času sa chlapci začali učiť sami. Dnes hrajú na skutočných gitarach a akordeích, už nemusia hrať na paliciach!

AKO SA TVOJA KAPELA TVORILA?

Deti, ktoré boli v Bary Bachte, sa presťahovali do Škótska a chceli sme založiť kapelu ako dospelí. Hľadala som všade pomoc a na Facebooku som našla Marcelu ( zakladateľa Romano Lav).

Chcela nám pomôcť a za dva dni sme vytvorili hudobnú skupinu! Povedal som jej, že nie sme profesionálna skupina a povedala, že môžeme robiť skúšky.

Takže som mal 13 alebo 14 ľudí spolu ako hudobníci a skupina bola vytvorená. Urobili sme jeden projekt, a potom som sa všetkých spýtal, či chcú pokračovať a povedali, áno! Prečo? Pretože majú radi byť spolu, mať rómsky život. Pretože to bola práca, škola, práca, škola, škola a život neboli ako rómsky život, ale s hudbou to bolo oveľa lepšie. Dobre, povedal som, ak chcete, aby som vytvoril skupinu, musíme si vybrať meno. “ Romane Cierhenia””, to znamená rómske hviezdy.” Teraz sme spolu už takmer 10 rokov.

TO JE KRÁSNE! AKO SA CÍTIŠ KVOLI HUDBE?

Dáva mi pocit voľnosti. Hudba je v našom živote veľmi dôležitá, to je všetko, čo máme. Môžete zdieľať svoje emócie, môžete zdieľať to, čo cítite, a dokonca sa môžete podeliť o svoju lásku k niekomu, pretože, sú o všetkom. Je to sloboda pre nás, keď sa stretneme a robíme hudbu, cítime sa akoby sme boli v našej malej rómskej krajine. Neviem, či vieš, Aliana, že nemáme vlastnú krajinu, ale s hudbou, môžeš odovzdať všetku tradíciu, kultúru, históriu, všetko.

AKO CHCEŠ, ABY BUDÚCNOSŤ VYZERALA PRE SVOJICH ĽUDÍ?

Mojím želaním je, aby naše deti nikdy nevedeli, čo znamená diskriminácia. Chcem, aby slovo zmizlo z nášho života, chcem, aby boli šťastní, chcem, aby boli slobodní.

CZECH

Volunteer Spotlight

The Well Multi-Cultural Resource Centre

In 2022, I retired as a Church of Scotland Minister in East Kilbride. I had been there for 19 years and because it was one of those jobs where the accommodation came with the role, I knew my wife and I were going to have to move once I retired.

We thought long and hard about where to go. I am originally from Glasgow, and we’ve got a daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter in Mount Florida. We began to think, gosh, wouldn’t we quite like to live in the Southside? We wanted to be somewhere we could get our teeth into, somewhere with a sense of community and activity.

I was familiar with the work of The Well as it was originally a Church of Scotland project. We had some good friends who’d been very involved, and we’ve known the manager of The Well for some time. We knew that there was a need, so my wife and I both volunteered to be advisors.

I find it enriching meeting different people and seeing what some have on their plate. A lot of folks have got so much piled on and against them, the fact that they’re still here is an achievement.

I’ve helped people with debt issues, benefits payments, and even people who are going to be thrown out of their property. You feel as if you are really making a difference. Often folk come back and talk about the impact it’s had, socially and emotionally – just to have a place they feel supported by.

We’d be so pleased to hear from anyone who is interested in being a volunteer advisor. We’re short on staff, so we’re regularly having to turn people away. I’d urge anyone who is interested to have a look at the website and get In touch.

We also have a women’s craft and chat group on a Tuesday afternoon, a men’s club, which is very informal, with just a few board games, and a women and toddlers’ group on a Wednesday morning, which meets in Govanhill Free Church.

I’m also involved with organising the Govanhill Litter Pick. My wife and I responded to a Facebook post seeing if there was any interest. It’s been going for a few months now. We’ve been getting about forty folk each time. We meet at the premises of Govanhill Free Church on Belleisle Street on the last Saturday of each month and we invite anyone to join us.

It’s one of these things that seems to spread best by word of mouth. I think a strength of Govanhill is there’s a lot of different folks here, but the challenge seems to be finding them. The people that come along each month are great and we’re so glad to have them, but we’d love to have more people from different groups come along.

Gordon Palmer

As told to Molly Adams Portrait by Karen Gordon

Finding volunteering opportunities

By Lottie Brand, SEIN

The South East Integration Network (SEIN) is a network made up of voluntary organisations and community groups. Our members work with people from all backgrounds, countries and cultures providing services from advice and advocacy to musical activities, family support – and everything in between. As a network, we circulate information about events, activities and opportunities across the south east of Glasgow – including volunteering you can get involved in. We’ve picked out a few examples that show the range of opportunities available at your doorstep. Be aware that some of these roles might only be available when organisations are actively recruiting. To find out which roles are currently available, contact organisations directly.

Women on Wheels CYCLING SESSION SUPPORT

Women on Wheels is a womenled cycling group in Glasgow that empowers women of all backgrounds and abilities to become confident cyclists. Session volunteers support staff to help women learn to ride or build their confidence cycling. Other volunteer roles: events, storytelling, and translation. womenonwheels.org.uk

The Well Multi-Cultural Resource Centre ADVICE WORKER

The Well serves the diverse ethnic minority communities in Govanhill and surrounding areas by providing information and advice in a culturally sensitive manner. Advice workers give one-to-one consultations about anything from understanding a utility bill to helping with personal issues. Other volunteer roles: play workers and women’s workers. thewell.org.uk/

Music Broth MAINTENANCE OF INSTRUMENTS

Music Broth is Scotland’s largest instrument library, dedicated to shared equitable access to restored musical instruments and connecting people through music learning opportunities. Maintenance volunteers do basic tasks –restringing an instrument or oiling the brass.

Other volunteer roles: social media & marketing, library front of house, donation cataloguer, events & promo, advanced maintenance & repair, and more.

musicbroth.org/

Home-Start Glasgow South HOME VISIT VOLUNTEER

Home-Start Glasgow South is a leading family support charity striving to give young children the best possible start in life. Home visit volunteers bring their own skills to help local families struggling to cope with the challenges of being a parent and day-to-day family life.

Other volunteer roles: English tutor, fundraising, trustee. homestartglasgowsouth.org.uk

Urban Roots VOLUNTEER TASK FORCE

Urban Roots is a communityled environmental and health improvement charity working across the Southside. The Urban Roots task force is a group of volunteers who complete big tasks for small urban green spaces to help communities and habitats thrive!

Other volunteer roles: key conservation volunteer, key garden volunteer. urbanroots.org.uk/vacancies

MILK Community CONVERSATION CAFE (WOMEN ONLY)

Milk Community is a social enterprise supporting women from migrant backgrounds, including refugees & asylum seekers. Attendees of the conversation cafe help welcome new people to the community, giving a chance to practise English and learn about the city from a local. The sessions are drop-in, every Friday (10am - 2pm).

milkcafeglasgow.co.uk/support-1

Friends of Queen’s Park CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER

Friends of Queen’s Park (FoQP) is a group of volunteers who advocate for the park’s heritage, and wildlife habitats. It is separate from Glasgow City Council, who own Queen’s Park, but they liaise with the council to support its operation. Volunteers can get involved with gardening, events, citizen science, biodiversity and social media.

For more info, email volunteer@ friendsofqueensparkglasgow.org.uk. friendsofqueensparkglasgow.org.uk

Interested in finding other opportunities?

Check out seinglasgow.org.uk and sign up for their newsletter for more

like my grandmother used to make Salsa de Tomatillo

By Dr. Melissa Espinoza

Ingredients

• 6-8 tomatillos

• 3 cloves garlic

• 2 jalapeño pepper (or medium serranos), stemmed and seeded

• ½ cup white onion, diced

• ¼ cup fresh coriander leaves and tender stems, coarsely chopped

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon water

• Pinch of sugar

• ½ lime

Tips

Adjust the spiciness by adding more or less jalapeños or serranos.

Add an avocado for a creamy rich green salsa.

My migration story spans generations. My parents were from Mexico, while I was born and raised in the US. I was fortunate to grow up in a community enriched by South and Central American diasporas. For those of us not living in our ancestral homelands, creating and connecting to our cultural identity is often an intentional act of survival and resilience. However, connection to our heritage is also about joy, preserving generational knowledge, finding purpose and community. We connect to our roots through language, dance, music, clothing, jewellery, storytelling, cultivation, and food.

Food is my favourite way to connect with my family, home, heritage, and ancestors. Through food, we learn about cultures and their historical relationship with the land. Mexican cuisine is rich with history and flavours. It’s an integral part of many communities within the US and has become increasingly trendy internationally. More and more taco, birria, and burrito restaurants are opening up across Glasgow.

Mexican food’s growing popularity isn’t by chance. In 2010, UNESCO recognised Mexican cuisine as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Mexican food is diverse and unique; a reflection of the land before colonialism and its adaptations after colonisation. It is a fusion of Indigenous brilliance in cultivation and flavours with Spanish foodways. UNESCO’s recognition serves as a reminder of the historical and cultural importance of Mexican cuisine and the need to preserve its traditional ingredients and methods.

I don’t think the average person considers the vast diversity of Mexico’s land, peoples, and cuisine. Different dishes are made differently across the country, varying from state to state. There is a cusine beyond tacos, burritos, and birria that I hope Govanhill gets to experience. A menu reflecting some of the first domesticated crops in the world, such as the tomatillo (Mexican husk tomato). The word ‘tomatillo’ itself, like many Mexican ingredients, gets its name from an Indigenous language; tomatillo (tomatl) means ‘little tomato’ in Nahuatl, (an Uto-Aztecean language still spoken by a million people).

My mother makes salsa like her mother used to. Salsas can be used to marinate your meat, as the base of soup, as a topping, or a side-dip. When she roasts red dried peppers on the hob for her salsa, it can feel like getting maced, but honestly it’s worth it. I decided to share her Salsa de Tomatillo recipe (green salsa – no red peppers here). You can get canned tomatillos at Shawland Continental, Lupe Pintos, or if you time it right Bowling Green Together in Pollokshields grow some in their garden. Fresh is best!

Method

1. Prepare the tomatillos: if you are using them from a can, drain them then skip to step 2. If they are fresh, peel the husk and wash them.

2. Roast the veggies: you can do this in a roasting pan in the oven (180°C), over the hob, or an airfryer. Roast the tomatillos, garlic, jalapeño, and onion together (approximately 15 minutes) until the skin is charred and softened.

3. Add ingredients: in a blender or food processor, combine the tomatillos, garlic, jalapeño, onion, coriander, salt, and water. Blend until smooth. If you like a chunkier texture, pulse the ingredients to your desired consistency.

4. Adjust seasoning: taste the salsa and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can add more of any ingredient to preference.

CC Steve Huang – NC – ND 2.0

stories from our streets

Butterbiggins Road

By Devon McCole, with additional research from Bruce Downie Photo by Iain McLellan

In this new series we’re getting into Govanhill’s heritage, street by street.

Butterbiggins was a small village or hamlet that existed from the early 18th century, just outside the city limits, and was once a popular spot for travelling people, who often camped and held funerals there. Over time, as the railway arrived, Butterbiggins became more industrialised and eventually transitioned into the more residential street we know today.

Etymology

According to one source, 'Butterbiggins' is a hybrid of the Gaelic 'bothar,' meaning causeway, and the Lowlands word 'biggins,' meaning buildings – essentially, 'the buildings on the causeway.' Butterbiggins was originally part of a moor stretching from Polmadie to Haggs Castle, so a causeway would need to be built before anything else. Other sources suggest that 'butts' referred to small plots of land. It can also mean places where archery was practised, or architectural features.

Wagging rights

An article unearthed by Bruce Downie credits Butterbiggins with hosting Scotland's first dog show in 1862: “While a few people claim to have organised the first dog show in Scotland, old Duncan Brown, now deceased, likely deserves the honour. He hosted a dog show on his grounds at Butterbiggins Road, across from where the Victoria Baths were built.”

The Victoria Baths opened in 1877 but were demolished after WWII. The space was used as a tennis court before becoming an ambulance station.

Ringing in tradition

In the 1890s, a portion of the land in Butterbiggins was transformed into the St. Andrew’s Ground, home to the St. Andrew’s Quoiting Club. Quoiting, a sport where players throw steel rings at a target, was popular among working-class and mining communities. Govanhill, historically a mining community, embraced the sport, and the club became one of the top teams in Scotland, winning multiple league titles and the Wylie Cup.

Drilling into history

In 1902, the First Lanarkshire Volunteer Artillery Drill Hall opened on Butterbiggins

Road. This hall was a training ground for ordinary soldiers, and the regiment was active during both world wars, participating in major campaigns such as Gallipoli, Palestine, and Normandy. The hall was used later by the Territorial Army until 1961, before being demolished to make way for housing. The developers did make efforts to preserve the carved sign above the entrance to the hall.

Driven by growth

Larkfield Bus Depot, which stood at the corner of Victoria Road and Butterbiggins Road, was built in 1929. A fire in 1992 destroyed 60 buses, leaving a strong memory. Before the depot, the same site was home to four large private houses – Larkfield House, Inglefield House, Butterbiggins Cottage, and Gallowknowe House – all built in the early 19th century. Gallowknowe House was the residence of William Dixon, a local landowner and founder of Dixon’s Iron Works. Industrial growth eventually led to the demolition of these houses, and showing the cycles of history, the bus depot too was torn down in 2014 to make way for housing developments.

Your memories of Butterbiggins

Janet Cannon remembers playing ‘ball on the wall’ outside Farquhar’s pawn shop when the owner gave her two Churchill coins – she still has one today. Louise Gallagher fondly recalls Miss Alice Hynd’s school of dance, held in the Masonic Halls on Butterbiggins Road. Another resident, Karen Kosic, remembers spending time with friends on the corner of Butterbiggins Road and Inglefield Street, where James, the owner of a nearby corner shop, would treat them to sweets from the cash and carry. Zylda Kaye told us the building that is now the Masjid-E-Khazra mosque was originally an Orange Hall with a large function room. Garry MacPhail remembers how beer bottles collected after big games at Hampden were guaranteed 3d return if stamped with an “F” – for Flint’s off sales.

This is the first in an ongoing series. Does your street hold some interesting stories and memories? Send to newsroom@greatergovanhill.com.

BEHIND THE PORTRAIT

Lizy Stirrat

Interview by Samar Jamal

Portrait by Simon Murphy

Musician Lizy Stirrat is a Royal Conservatoire alumna and works as the upper brass teaching musician at Big Noise – a music education and social change programme delivered by Sistema Scotland. Music has shaped her own life and now she uses her passion for helping young people discover their musical talents.

Earlier this year, National Galleries of Scotland outreach team partnered with Big Noise Govanhill to run a series of urban street photography workshops, delivered by Simon Murphy. These workshops were inspired by works in the national collection by historic photographer Thomas Annan who captured famous images of old closes and streets of Glasgow and Edinburgh in the 1800s. The young people made their own images inspired by Annan’s work, capturing the streets of Govanhill today, literally through their own lens. This portrait was taken during those workshops.

I was able to read music before I knew my ABCs. I played the violin, the accordion, and the trumpet, all before the age of 10.

My mum was quite protective and hesitant to let me out of her sight because I grew up in Glenburn, a scheme, and she wanted to keep me safe. She channelled her energy into getting me to play music. She was incredibly patient and determined to change the course of my life from a young age.

The musical opportunities I had were either funded or supported by my grandparents because I was brought up in a low-income household. They weren’t wealthy, but they saw that I had a talent. Without their help, I probably wouldn’t have been able to do any of it.

I wanted to be a musician, but I wanted to self-sabotage my whole life at the same time. I was getting into trouble with the police and ended up with a criminal record at 18, surrounded by people using hard drugs, it was a very chaotic and challenging time in my life.

I was 17 or 18 and I’d left the conservatoire junior department and I just didn’t want to look at music anymore. But I got a diagnosis for ADHD last year, so that makes sense as well. Although it wasn’t the whole picture, ADHD was part of the story: it was something that was making it harder for me to recognise things that were dangerous.

I went to Napier University, but I hated it, so I ran away with the circus to France for two months. When I came back, I decided to try the Conservatoire again.

When I got the interview for Big Noise, I was delighted – I have never worked harder in my whole life to try and get a job. I feel I have something to offer the kids because I can relate to them in many ways which I couldn’t with my colleagues from the freelance world or when I was studying.

I tell the kids, “I love you guys, you’re brilliant,” and you can see their wee faces light up. Big Noise has given them a place to go after school and opportunities I could only have dreamed of at that age. I’m buzzing for it because it gives them an equal playing field.

I think that if I hadn’t had music in the past I wouldn’t be here anymore. I owe a huge amount of my general existence to having that experience. Even when I didn’t want it, it was still there to bring me back to the miraculous thing: living, being here and enjoying life.

My whole life, I’ve seen talented people from backgrounds where music is seen as a luxury. They have charisma and talent, but the environment around them doesn’t allow them to explore it. The culture in conservatoires is changing, but it’s taken a long time to catch up.

I feel like people have had an eye out for me since I was an adolescent. A lot of people did enjoy the fact that I was a bit different from everyone and saw a lot of goodness in me.

Most of what I do now is commercial work, along with musical theatre and some orchestral stuff. But I’ve found my niche – loud, aggressive playing and lead work. Ironically, I now teach at the Conservatoire, the very place where I once thought I wasn’t tolerated.

MAKING A R E AL D IFFERE NCE

We have previously reported on the issues of rubbish and fly tipping in the back lanes around Govanhill – how the council no longer take responsibility for keeping them clear as they are technically owned collectively by surrounding tenements. This means that too often they can become sites for dumping, which the council will do nothing about. Instead residents who haven’t been involved in fly tipping are left to clean it up themselves or foot the bill for having it removed. In this series of articles, we hear from residents who had enough and decided to take matters into their own hands.

The story of how we transformed Kingarth Lane from a site for fly tipping into a community asset

If you had told me a year ago that one day I would be sat down at a table eating a home cooked meal with my neighbours in Kingarth Lane, I would have laughed, but on Sunday 15 September that’s exactly what I did.

Once labelled the ‘worst site for fly tipping in Glasgow’, you would previously have found Kingarth Lane at Bowman Street full of sofas, mattresses, carpets, fridges and bags of household rubbish. Then, in November 2023, the Kingarth Lane Community Group was successful in getting gates erected with the hope that they would bring an end to an endemic fly tipping issue.

This was by no means an easy journey. It began over two years previously with the formation of the community group by myself and two other residents, Nick Lawrie and Dervila Reid. After being

informed by Glasgow City Council (GCC) that Kingarth Lane was a private lane and therefore the responsibility of the property owners that backed onto the lane, we organised litter picks to try and keep the lanes clean.

On one such litter pick we filled two skips with rubbish, which was backbreaking work. A couple of days later the first black bags appeared in the lane again. Nothing has felt more disheartening.

The GCC Neighbourhood Officer then told us about the Lane Improvement Fund that the council were going to launch. She encouraged us to apply with the view that we could use the money to put gates up. Applying for this fund meant we had to constitute our community group and open a business bank account. We then filled in the fund application form where we clearly stated we

would use it to install gates. We were so pleased when we received the full fund of £20,000 in May 2022. The next step was to obtain planning permission for the gates, which we were led to believe was a formality.

To our great surprise our planning application was refused. Some of the reasons given for the refusal included that ‘the design of the gates would appear incongruous with the street scene’ and that ‘the gates would impact connectivity within the neighbourhood’. We were gobsmacked with this rationale and so exasperated that someone who did not live in our neighbourhood could make a decision that went against the wishes and best interests of the community. We appealed the decision and thankfully the refusal was overturned.

By Katie Macmillan

The gates have been in place for nearly ten months now and the fly tipping has all but stopped. When I think about how long this process took and the pointless bureaucracy that delayed us I get frustrated. But that Sunday, as local residents gathered in the lane to prune back greenery, do a small litter pick, set up tables and chairs, and – eventually – sit down opposite one another to talk and enjoy good food, all the effort felt worthwhile.

My message to anyone who may be embarking on a similar journey with their back lane is to persevere. I think deep down everyone wants to live in a nice community, and if you can take the initial steps towards doing your bit to achieve that goal, you’ll usually find some like minded people along the way and together you’ll get there.

Laura Vroomen

What’s the deal with our lanes?

There are 931 privately owned lanes in Glasgow, several of which are in and around Govanhill. Private ownership means they are not ‘adopted’ by the council who have no obligation to carry out repairs, maintenance or street cleansing.

Consequently reporting fly tipping via the environmental section of the My Glasgow app does not prompt action. However, if the situation is so bad it is causing public health concerns, it can be reported via glasgow.gov.uk/reportpublichealth –which includes an option to report problems with accumulations of domestic waste in communal back courts where there is a public health hazard. To do this, go to select Report Environmental Pollution and then select the option ‘Contaminated Land’.

The council do offer online resources including a ‘Private Lane Toolkit’ which provides information on things like forming a residents group, removing foliage, and bin collections. In 2021, GCC established a fund of £700k to ‘further support owners of private lanes to improve the overall environmental quality of these shared spaces’. Constituted groups can apply for up to £20,000 for interventions which may address common issues identified in the private lane strategy such as fly tipping; trees vegetation lane surface, drainage, antisocial behaviour/security, food growing, and enhancing biodiversity.

Organising a community gathering in our back lane

By Dana Cherepkova

As a previous resident of Bowman Street, I am no stranger to the extreme fly-tipping that occurred in Kingarth Lane. However, I believe our lanes have the potential to become vibrant community assets, like a sort of outdoor living room.

Together with Kin Kitchen and the residents of Kingarth Lane, we embarked on a small adventure to bring this vision to life. Over the past few months, we had conversations with residents and formed a working group to brainstorm ideas for lane events. And, on 15 September we finally hosted our first gathering.

After a quick spring clean, the often fly-tipped Kingarth Lane was transformed into a wonderful space to meet the neighbours, share a meal prepared by Kin Kitchen, and have fun, with kids dressing up potatoes as silly characters. The fantastic team from Make a Scene joined us to gather feedback and ideas on how we could turn the lane into a community space.

So far, ideas include creating planters for food growing, painting murals, hosting semi-regular events, workshops, and building outdoor seating and a play area. Kin Kitchen will continue to work in collaboration with local residents doing more events in the lane and transforming it into a community space. Keep an eye out!

Some tips how to gather residents for something similar

Start by engaging with people in your community. A simple way to begin is by setting up a chair on the street with a sign asking a question like, ‘Would you join a community meal in the lane?’. Spend an hour after work for a few days chatting with anyone passing by. While not everyone will want to join a working group, these conversations will help you gauge interest and plant the seed for future participation.

Listen to what people say. There’s no point in organising something like planters if no one is willing to maintain them. Understanding what residents care about ensures your efforts resonate with the community.

Take things step by step and be patient. It took us a couple of months to arrange our first meeting, and even then, no one showed up. Maybe it was the wrong time or date, or the messaging wasn’t right – but we didn’t give up. Reach out to friends, local groups, clubs, or organisations. Someone always knows a neighbour on your street. Use polls in group chats to simplify decision-making, and tackle one idea at a time. In our case, many people didn’t know each other at first. We had to create a space for building connections before jumping into problem-solving. Eventually, we gathered a solid group of residents who helped brainstorm and share responsibilities.

Food works wonders. It’s a powerful way to bring people together. Even with a small budget, you can organise a community meal where people bring a dish or a chair from home. Borrow tools and litter pickers from the South Seeds Tool Library, and reach out to local organisations like Govanhill Community Development Trust or Govanhill Baths for help with furniture, advice, or translations.

If you’re looking to hear more how to do it, or get involved with Kingarth Lane, email us at kinkitchenglasgow@gmail.com or via Kin Kitchen’s Instagram.

How to build a community litter picking group

By Aoife Hutton

This isn’t an article about the council, nor is it entirely about rubbish. This is a story about people, place, and taking a bit of action.

If you’re reading this, you probably live in Govanhill, and you’ve likely noticed the litter, the overflowing bins, the fly-tipping. But you also probably know all the great things about this place: the shopkeepers who greet you with a familiar nod, the kindness of strangers, and this community’s resilience.

I moved to Govanhill about a year ago. In my late 20s, with most of my friends in that age group, I wanted to connect more with the area and feel a greater sense of community. If I’m honest, the persistent litter on my street was getting to me as well. Research shows that people’s local environment impacts their mental health and sense of place. I believe Govanhill deserves better.

One day I posted in a local Facebook group, saying I’d spend an hour or two on Saturday morning doing a litter pick. It wasn’t going to solve everything, but I felt motivated to take some practical action that day. Lots of people commented, showing support. We borrowed equipment – a few pickers and gloves – from South Seeds.

That first time, just a few turned up: enter Karen and Gordon – who have been central to building Govanhill Community Litter Pick. What began as an informal meet-up soon began to take shape into something more organised. Passers-by would stop us, saying how great it was to see people caring for the area.

After a few months of smaller events, we aimed bigger. Yusuf at Al Farooq Mosque offered to host the Govanhill Spring Clean in March. Local businesses pitched in, and over 100 volunteers – young & old, new Scots, and longtime residents – came together. Yes, we picked up a lot of litter, but the real joy was in the sense of community. For hours afterward, we sat in the yard of Al Farooq, chatting and enjoying food together. The sunshine even made an appearance!

Now we organise a monthly litter pick, on the last Saturday of each month, hosted at Govanhill Free Church. There’s a role for everyone, from Mary, who makes teas and coffees for volunteers, to Dana, who leads our social media, to Christine, who dutifully takes cans and bottles to Lidl’s deposit return.

Govanhill Housing Association has been a big supporter of the group, sponsoring some equipment, and the Greater Govanhill magazine has hosted our monthly planning meetings. Glasgow City Council has provided the equipment for larger groups and arranged uplifts.

Our upcoming plans include more partnerships with local businesses, as well as working with local groups to boost engagement and volunteer opportunities – in turn making our events more accessible.

The litter problem in this country stems from a complex of factors: a lack of regulation on packaging, inadequate bins or uplift schedules, poor pay and conditions for cleansing workers, as well as the behaviour of individuals.

It’s a difficult issue to tackle, especially in a time with many other priorities, but it shouldn’t be impossible. In the meantime, we’re doing our bit, spreading some neighbourly care on the last Saturday of each month. We’d love for you to join us.

Instagram/Facebook: @govanhill_litterpick or fill in this form: bit.ly/GHlitter

Iain McLellan

Iain McLellan

Laura Vroomen

Down the Rabbet Hole: Get to

know

your local framers

Meet the couple behind Rabbet, a newly opened framers and arts supplies store at 571 Pollokshaws Road.

Rabbet:

By Devon McCole

The lip of the frame that holds the glass and picture together

In the heart of the Southside, Isobel Neviazsky and Katie Lundie, life partners and co-owners, have opened their first shop together, offering bespoke framing services and a selection of art supplies to the community. Their passion for the arts and local engagement, combined with their entrepreneurial drive, has transformed a former barber shop on Pollokshaws Road into a creative hub.

Rabbet was born out of necessity and opportunity. Isobel, who has over five years of experience as a framer, found themselves at a crossroads when the framing business they worked for was set to close. “I didn’t necessarily want to give up something that I’d practised a lot and got quite a lot of skill at,” Isobel explains. With Katie’s encouragement, they decided to open their own business. The couple recognized a gap in the market, with no local custom framing services or full art supply shops nearby.

The space they found required a complete overhaul, to transform it from a barber shop with “lowered ceilings and lots of fake brick wallpaper”. Despite the challenges, the renovation helped shape the shop’s cosy-but-airy feel, turning what is still a small space into something that feels a lot bigger.

Since opening, Rabbet has already started to build strong connections with local artists and residents. “It’s been nice meeting a lot of different people who’ve been coming in already,” Isobel says, “it’s nice getting to have a little part in people’s lives. Framing art that is important to people; like paintings that they’ve done, or their wedding pictures and things like that.”

“We’re hoping to do window displays of art made by other artists that are quite local to the area,” Isobel shares. These exhibitions will feature work framed by Isobel, offering a display of the Southside’s creative community. “There’s so many creative people that live really near the shop,” they note,“I’m about to frame for Morwenna Grace Kearsley, who’s done a lot of interesting work in the area, a lot of photographic projects. And then we’re doing something for a show with Ruth Ewan, who is a local artist as well.”

In addition to framing, Rabbet offers a beautifully curated selection of art supplies, including Native Scots Colours – paints made from Scottish quarry byproducts – and Japanese Kakimori calligraphy materials. Though their initial stock is limited, they plan to expand their range over time.

Opening Rabbet was no small feat, especially with the recent arrival of their third child, Bette. Katie laughs as they remember going into labour after just 13 days of the shop being open. “Now we’re just trying to make it work around family life. The balance of it all,” they say.

For Isobel and Katie, Rabbet is more than just a shop – it’s a personal journey, a way to connect with their community, and a platform for promoting local creativity. Their love for art and community is evident in every aspect of their new venture, making Rabbet a key destination for bespoke framing and art supplies in the Southside.

Follow Rabbet on Instagram @rabbetglasgow or visit their website rabbetglasgow.co.uk for more.

Photos by Alexander Hoyles

Facing hatred with

Illustrations by Seán Casey

In July and August, we watched in horror as racist and Islamophobic riots raged across towns and cities in other parts of the UK. While there were warnings about the potential of unrest coming to Glasgow, we were thankful that – apart from a couple of isolated incidents and an underwhelming ‘pro UK’ rally – we didn’t see the same level of disturbance here.

But what does it mean to be a refugee in Glasgow? What support do we have here in Govanhill? And what can we all do to make sure that people feel welcome in the face of hate? We heard from different people about their experiences…

‘I try to hold onto hope’

The

By Sadia

Photo by Stefan Krajcik

As a new refugee in Scotland, life is far from easy. Each day, I wake up burdened by the constant need to think about where to go and how to find a solution to my endless problems.

The landscape here is unfamiliar, not only in its physical sense but also in the systems and structures that I must navigate. I reach out to different organisations for support but each one has staff members with varying levels of knowledge, and every interaction leaves me more confused than before.

Whose advice do I rely on? Which information is correct? The uncertainty feels suffocating, and I

reality of life as a refugee in Glasgow

find myself questioning if I am making the right choices as I try to rebuild a life that feels constantly out of reach.

Finding a job has proven to be an even more difficult challenge. Back in my home country, I was someone. I had experience, skills, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to my community. But here, the journey to employment is like wading through deep waters and no matter how hard I swim, the shore seems to move further away.

The Job Centre calls me every week to demand updates on my work search. Every time the phone rings, my anxiety spikes. It feels like a relentless reminder that I am not doing enough, that I am failing. I wonder why once a month wouldn’t be enough. It’s as if the frequency of these meetings might somehow speed up the slow and painful process of finding meaningful work. It's exhausting.

And then there are the everyday challenges, like buying groceries from the store. It seems like such a simple task, but when you are living on the edge of survival, everything is difficult.

Every pound spent on food feels like a painful decision because the little money I receive is barely enough to cover basic necessities. For asylum seekers, it's a crushing weight. For those living on just £8.86 a week [in full board accommodation – where the food provided is often culturally inappropriate and substandard], it feels like a cruel joke. How can anyone survive on this? There is so much talk about human dignity and compassion, yet here we are, trying to make do with the bare minimum, barely scraping by while the world moves on without us.

I try to participate in meetings, to raise my voice, to bring attention to the struggles we face. As a Muslim activist, I have always been passionate about speaking up for those who are marginalised, to find solutions that will help us rise above our circumstances. But lately, it feels like every time I try to speak, I am drowned out by the hateful rhetoric that surrounds us. Politicians on TV use language that stings like poison, fueling division and hatred. They speak about people like me as if we are the problem, as if we are not human beings with dreams, families, and the desire to live peacefully.

The Scottish Government recently scrapped plans to provide free travel for asylum seekers, despite knowing the difficult circumstances we face. For many, travelling to attend important appointments or even just to visit friends is now a burden. The isolation that comes with being cut off from these small but vital interactions is soul-crushing.

I wonder sometimes; ‘do we deserve this hate?’ Every time I see or hear these hurtful words, it feels like a punch to the gut. It makes me question if the problem lies within us or if we are simply the unfortunate victims of a broken system. It’s hard not to internalise the blame. It’s hard not to feel as if, somehow, we are responsible for this mess, as if our very presence here is an inconvenience, an intrusion. Deep down, I know that the problem is much bigger than that.

We are not the ones spreading hatred. We are not the ones dividing communities. Yet, every hateful word has a negative impact on our lives, a consequence that many cannot see. The rise in hate crimes, the sense of alienation, the feeling that no matter how hard we try, we will never truly belong – these are the consequences. It wears down your spirit. It makes you question everything. And worst of all, it strips away hope, which is perhaps the most dangerous thing of all.

I try to hold on to hope. I try to remind myself that there are good people here, people who care, who want to help. But on the darkest days, it’s hard to remember that. When I feel invisible and powerless, I wonder if things will ever get better, or if this is the reality I must learn to live with: a life where I am constantly pushing against walls that refuse to move.

A day in the life of a refugee

7am

By V

My breakfast is a mix of Scottish and my home country in Africa. There is an overlap with items like porridge, which I had at home and I have in Scotland. But the way I make it, the taste is spicy, nutty, bitter and salty. It is a colourful food, full of protein, minerals and vitamins.

8:20am

I get the bus to go to my counselling skills class and I volunteer every day. Or I walk if it is close enough and the weather is good. I love walking as it is good for my wellbeing and it helps me to explore things surrounding me. Sometimes I notice something which makes me feel homesick. For example, seeing children playing around the street.

10:30am

I volunteer with a Community Peer Advocacy to support New Scot women, and my volunteer work gives me pleasure. It empowers women. I use my digital communication, finance, counselling and interpersonal skills.

I gained financial skills at university. Back home, my career was in finance but I couldn’t get a paid job because of lack of experience in this country. My ambition still is to get a Certified Management Accountant qualification, and I hope I will achieve it eventually. I also still am looking for somewhere I can volunteer in the finance department to gain experience.

1pm

Most days I have a light lunch like Scottish soup or soup made up with my own recipe from home and a piece of fruit (I miss papaya lots).

6:30pm

Today, I’m happy, I’m going to see my friend. I met her for the first time when I arrived in Scotland. We laugh together, dance and play games. We support each other emotionally, spiritually, informationally, and physically.

It is good to have someone who understands my past, believes in my future, and accepts me today the way I am.

What I wish I’d known when I first arrived

And how to ensure everyone feels welcome

By Marzanna Antoniak

I’ve always felt a sense of curiosity about other cultures. I was already in secondary school was thinking up plans to leave Poland, explore a new land and make a life for myself there.

In summer 2008, by pure chance, I ended up migrating to Scotland, barely speaking any English. I lived in a Polish household here and all my information came from a website for the Polish diaspora. I didn’t know any local groups or organisations, nor did I believe I could possibly join one with my broken English.

At work, I was mainly speaking Polish with my compatriots and Russian with some Latvians. At college, I was practising English with people like me, who were new to this country and had a rather limited command of the mainstream language. I’m not even mentioning my attempts to understand native Scots.

It took me almost two years to make my first UK-born friend. For quite some time I thought of Scottish people as friendly, but not friends.

I remember feeling quite isolated from local life and deprived of opportunities to practise English with native speakers. One day, I asked my college teacher whether he knew of any groups I could join or volunteer with and learned there were many. Right away, I started volunteering with organisations where I finally had a chance to mingle with Scots. It sometimes felt like throwing myself in at the deep end, but after attending a few training sessions conducted in the Scottish accent, my language competence soared and I soon began feeling fairly confident in an office environment.

I wish my teachers – the only local people in my life at the time – had been more proactive about informing me of such opportunities. It would have helped me master English at a much faster pace and I’d have been able to make better use of my skills and all the energy that I was bursting with.

Without easy access to information, separated from the host community by an invisible barrier, it is easy to get stuck. But once I opened the doors to the local world, I gradually began feeling more and more at home in my adopted country.

Having spent eight years working in Govanhill, with all the multicultural shops, projects and organisations operating here, I like to believe that had I lived in this very neighbourhood when I was new to Scotland, the sense of belonging would have filled me much sooner.

I was appointed Govanhill’s community connector just months before Covid-19 hit and we went into lockdown. Amidst all the uncertainty, confusion and misleading rumours, ensuring that vital information reached residents became every organisation’s key priority. Dedicated multilingual helplines were created

both online and in the public realm, should be a constant feature in Govanhill. The strategy also endorses creating spaces where people would be made to feel welcome even before entering them. This can be achieved by using multilingual signage, appealing visuals, and residents being greeted by people with whom they have something in common, be it age, culture, language, or something else.

I’ve seen several initiatives that have made a real difference to how local people access information and opportunities. They include volunteering, employability support and peer education programmes where participants are trained to pass on information to their communities in their native languages. The introduction of link workers at the local medical practice and in schools has also made a positive impact.

It took me almost two years to make my first UK-born friend.

where residents could call for support in their native tongues. Over 70 people volunteered to translate local service providers’ information. We produced a pictorial guide for local services. Local social media accounts exploded with content providing information and debunking myths in different community languages.

Covid-19 made it clear that a variety of channels were needed to meet our multicultural and transient community’s needs. The Govanhill Community Engagement and Information Strategy recommends that highly visual and multilingual content such as infographics, posters, audio and video messaging,

What Govanhill has that not all the other neighbourhoods have is the proximity of so many varied service providers. It is much easier to sort your issues when you can just walk a few minutes away from your home and meet a housing or energy officer face-to-face, get advice and be referred to local organisations. There are also community groups operating in residents’ languages, youth clubs, activities for children, events for all tastes.

All of this makes the newcomers’ experience much less intimidating. The existence of Greater Govanhill – a free, locally distributed, multilingual magazine, plays a big role, too.

Community Sponsorship

The radical initiative that enables local people to welcome families into their community

Community sponsorship enables ordinary citizens to help refugees settle into a new country by raising funds and assisting with logistics like securing housing and getting registered with education and healthcare. There are versions happening in countries around the world, and it was introduced into the UK by the Home Office in 2016. Through agreements with their governments, sponsors take on responsibilities to support refugees who have often spent months or years in countries that are unsafe or where they cannot live with dignity. This local effort contributes to a global movement, reshaping the narrative around asylum seekers, even in challenging environments.

We spoke to Asia Hart-Eason who is part of the Refugee Sponsorship Ibrox group – the first in Glasgow...

What made you want to get involved with community sponsorship?

I learned about community sponsorship after seeing a group welcome a family at an airport in Canada. Seeing the family have such an individualised, warm welcome struck me immediately as important. I was about to move to Scotland, where I didn’t yet have a community myself, and found the organisation Reset after a Googling session. Reset helps budding community sponsorship groups throughout the process and keeps providing advice after the sponsored family arrives to the UK. They can also connect individuals with existing groups – which is how I got connected with Refugee Sponsorship Ibrox!

What has been the most rewarding parts of the process?

Without a doubt, the most rewarding part has been building a friendship with the family we sponsored. It has been a pure delight to help give them the welcome that everyone seeking safety deserves. However, this is closely followed by the relationships I have built within the group. Three years from when I first moved to Glasgow, I can happily say that it feels like being part of a family.

What about the challenges?

I won’t lie – undergoing the community sponsorship process is by no means easy. Fundraising the required £9000, finding a flat for the family, and overcoming hurdles during the family’s first few months in the UK were all significant challenges. It requires efficient communication, creativity, the ability to build trust, among many other things. However, everything is simplified just by virtue of having a well-balanced, motivated sponsorship group and support from organisations like Reset and Citizens UK.

What have you learned from being part of this?

I have learned so much about the process itself – explaining community sponsorship to someone who has never heard of it before comes super easily. I have also learned how to address comments like, “but it’s just one family” or “I don’t have professional knowledge of this area so I don’t feel I would be able to do it.”

As someone working with people seeking asylum who have not been sponsored by a community, it is incredibly easy to see how different the experience of coming to the UK has been for them. No smiling faces at the airport, no support to learn English or with getting their children into

school, and often no friend to turn to when things get overwhelming. Being part of Refugee Sponsorship Ibrox has given me a vision of how things could be – how people seeking sanctuary could be welcomed into a society. It is an incredibly hopeful message to receive.

What would you say to anyone thinking about doing it?

Most of all, I would say go for it! You will not be alone. I don’t know a single other community sponsorship group in the UK that wouldn’t offer to give advice over a call, bolster you when things feel difficult or celebrate successes. I can at least say that Refugee Sponsorship Ibrox is here to support and cheer you on. This process is not insurmountable – it has been done many times over and, with any luck, will continue to be done for many years to come.

Visit resetuk.org for more info on the scheme.

Some actions you can take to support newly arrived people

• Learn how to greet people in different languages. Check out our multicultural small talk pull out guide from Issue 8.

• Provide donations and write letters of support via Refuweegee.

• Volunteer at Milk’s English language conversation cafe.

• Write to your MP in support of providing safe asylum routes and better conditions and integration support.

• Make a donation to the Scottish Refugee Council or other local charities that support refugees and asylum seekers.

• Sign up to host someone seeking shelter through Positive Action in Housing’s Room for Refugees Programme.

• Join the Glasgow No Evictions Network to learn what you can do if you see an immigration raid.

• Get a group together to start a community sponsorship scheme –there is an open meeting to discuss starting a group being held at Glasgow Autonomous Space on 20 October. Email refugeecommunitysponsorshipgla@yahoo.com for more.

• Stay informed: Understanding the context and being alert can help to fight misinformation when it spreads.

How to Find a Home in a Housing Crisis

Glasgow’s housing shortage paired with ever-increasing rents and Govanhill’s increasing popularity has created a competitive rental market where it can seem like landlords hold all the power. Having moved flats nearly annually for the past five years, here are a few things I have learned along the way.

By Emily Menger-Davies

Illustration by Aled Haywood

Finding a home

Property sites to check include Rightmove, Zoopla, Citylets, and On the Market. Finding local letting agents and their websites can also be helpful as sometimes they will post a property on their site first before it appears on a platform like Rightmove.

You can also apply for housing with social landlords like Govanhill Housing Association or Southside Housing Association. They offer social housing as well as mid-market rent options (for people on low-modest incomes). You have to fill out a form, which will be assessed: if eligible, you will be placed on a housing waiting list and notified if a suitable property becomes available.

Private landlords often list properties on Gumtree as the listings are free. I have had success with this in the past, but they are less regulated, so approach them with a critical eye. In my experience, I have yet to see a property listing on Facebook Marketplace which looks genuine. I would steer clear of them, but you might find bonafide ads in local Facebook groups.

That said, when looking for a flatshare as a student, I did find my flatmate (and now very dear friend) on a flatshare page on Facebook. Spareroom can also be useful for this. In my case, my now flatmate posted to say she needed someone who would be ok with her getting a cat. We met on Zoom, had a great chat, and happily co-parented the sweetest feline for the next four years.

Securing a viewing

If I have learnt anything about flat hunting over the years it is that speed is of the essence. Letting agents and landlords often give out viewings on a first come, first served basis and viewing spots can fill up within half an hour of a property being listed. Turn on property alerts on rental sites, keep tabs for these sites open on your device and refresh regularly as email alerts are not always immediate.

I also recommend calling the letting agent or landlord – rather than emailing – straight away before spots fill up. Unfortunately, viewing appointments are often very rigid and fall in the middle of the workday. Take the earliest viewing you can, even sending a friend in your place, as the listing may be given away before you get a chance to view.

of potential damp or mould problems such as spots on walls and ceilings and moisture absorbers placed around the (these can look like air fresheners). The viewing checklist can also include: type of central heating, whether the windows are double glazed for insulation, and the general state of upkeep in the property.

Next steps

If you’re interested after a viewing, send an application straight away as applications can close within the hour or are accepted on a first come, first served basis. If you feel that a property was overpriced, negotiating a rent reduction after a viewing is also an option – one that I have had success with before, although this can be risky if a property is competitive.

Before moving forward, always check that the landlord or letting agent is registered. You can verify this by searching for their registration number, which they should provide, on landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk. Make sure everything is in writing and signed before sending any money.

Moving with a pet

Unfortunately, having moved flats with a pet a number of times (aforementioned sweetest cat), animals can make it more difficult to be chosen as a tenant. You can offer to pay an increased deposit (within the legal maximum deposit of two months of rent), to cover any damage a pet may make, or provide a reference from a previous landlord to testify that the pet has not caused any issues in past properties. If said pet is a cat, telling a landlord they are a good mouser for old tenements with potential pest problems can also help!

Stronger together

From experience, I cannot recommend enough the support Shelter Scotland offers. They provide free, clear, and professional housing advice and have a live chat function on their website. It’s also worth joining Living Rent.

At a viewing

Bringing a friend for some extra security and a second pair of eyes is a helpful sounding board when making such an important decision. Look out for signs

If you require homelessness advice and assistance, you should contact Glasgow City Council’s Health and Social Care Connect on 0141 287 0555. Outwith office hours, contact the Emergency Out of Hours Homelessness Service on 0800 838 502. The council must give you temporary accommodation if you need it.

Empowering Tenants: How to Stand Up to Landlords and Fight for Your Rights

By Joe Dewhurst, a member of Living Rent

Tenants often have problems with their landlords, whether it is essential repairs that aren’t getting done, long-term damp and mould issues, or unaffordable rent increases. This is not okay, but there is a serious power-imbalance between tenant and landlord that means it can be hard to get your landlord to take your complaints seriously. There is also the possible threat of eviction if your landlord becomes frustrated with you asking for basic repairs or liveable conditions. Dealing with someone who has so much power over your life and living conditions can be scary and disempowering.

But you don’t need to deal with this by yourself – Living Rent is Scotland’s tenants’ and community union, and as a tenants’ union we come together to support our members when they have problems with their landlords.

Landlords have a legal responsibility to provide you with a safe, secure home that is windproof and watertight, free of damp and mould, with appliances in working order, but too many ignore these responsibilities without repercussions.

We have demonstrated time and time again that by coming together and showing landlords that their tenants are not going to take it lying down, we can get big results. We have resisted evictions and rent hikes, got repairs done, and won compensation. This is huge for tenants and proves the power of what happens when we come together.

We show landlords that we are organised and mean business, as well as talking to the press and other people to make them aware of what is going on. If your landlord sees that their behaviour is unacceptable to enough people then they might be convinced to do the right thing.

So, if you’re having problems with your landlord and don’t know what to do, come along to our next member defence session and get involved. Share problems you’ve been having and hear from others who might have had similar experiences. The Southside member defence group meets regularly at Milk (452 Victoria Road) on the last Monday of the month, from 6:30–8pm. You can also join Living Rent and find out more at www.livingrent.org/join.

Finding somewhere to belong

Inclusive spaces for young people

By Samar Jamal Illustrations by Indrė Šimkutė

Finding community can be a transformative experience, offering a sense of belonging, safety, and empowerment. However, for young people navigating these spaces for the first time, the journey can feel challenging and unfamiliar. We spoke with people from some of the Southside’s creative and inclusive communities, who shared which local spaces have given them a sense of belonging.

Glasgow Zine Library

Glasgow Zine Library (GZL) is a community archive and resource hosting an array of workshops all year round, including arts and crafts activities, discussion, reading, zinemaking groups. GZL are located at 32-34 Albert Road and open Friday and Saturday, 12-6pm. For more information visit: glasgowzinelibrary.com

Avi

Glasgow Zine Library is a space where I feel I belong. Since I started volunteering there I have felt nothing but inclusion and safety in the vicinity of it. The library serves as a catalogue for a diverse range of titles made by people from all over the world with different identities and experiences. Being queer and inclusive involves

the library representing many other authors of that identity and also hosting queer-centred groups and events. So many of these groups are inclusive to people of colour which sadly seems to be uncommon within the LGBT+ community. It offers artistic and writing-based opportunities to connect with the community and find those with common interests.

Glasgow Sunflowers

Glasgow Sunflowers is a community baseball group based in the Southside, welcoming women, non-binary and trans folks of all abilities. They have sessions every Saturday, 11am2pm at Queen’s Park Recreation Ground. For more information visit: glasgowsunflowersbaseball.com

With my own baseball experience limited to high school rounders, I found the first session very welcoming. Inclusivity is clearly at the heart of the group’s ethos, as the session leader encouraged me to choose any role I felt comfortable with – whether pitching, batting, throwing or fielding. The sessions aren’t about having a highly competitive game but rather about feeling included and having fun.

Rumpus Room Queer Makers

Rumpus Room Queer Makers is a free group for LGBTQ+ young people aged 14-18 to create, socialise and learn new artistic skills from queer creatives. Sessions take place every Wednesday from 5-7pm. For more info, email: leo@rumpus-room.org

I’ve never been in a space so inclusive and open before. It is really a wee slice of heaven. As a disabled artist, I’ve been in so many unstable job positions, but it’s never been an issue here meaning I am much more able to show up for the young people and the team. If I had this when I was younger I can’t even imagine how different things would have been – I guess in a way, this group heals my inner child.

There are other similar people here at Queer Makers; queer people with similar politics, tastes and styles. Rumpus Room is a comfortable safe space.

Exhale Group

Exhale Group is an affordable safe space for QTIPOC+ (queer, trans and intersex people of colour) living in Glasgow and Scotland, allowing them to dream, explore and connect, created by mixed heritage queer folx. Workshops take place in spaces across Glasgow. For info, visit: exhale.group

Exhale is a queer POC group which is great for people who often feel isolated in queer spaces due to micro-aggressions and racism still being present in them. The first time I went there I didn’t have many thoughts of worry about being judged.

Category Is Books

Category Is Books is an independent LGBT+ bookstore located on Allison Street. They sell queer books, zines, graphic novels and comics. Customers can also pay-it-forward for those not in a position to buy books. Category Is Books serves as space to learn more about writing and storytelling and is open Thursday to Sunday, 11am–5pm. For more info, visit: categoryisbooks.com

Every time I visit I’m so impressed with the variety of books they have on offer. I really love that they support emerging queer writers – while introducing everyone to new talent and older LGBTQ+ classics. There’s loads of perspectives, writers and ideas I’ve had the opportunity to learn about and explore thanks to their excellent curation. I love that I get to support a genuinely friendly and inclusive space run by and for the community at the same time! Having a space that’s visibly and proudly queer and community oriented is so powerful, and goes a long way to foster a sense of belonging. I feel really lucky to have it here in the Southside.

Samar

Leo Hella

Grace Anita

This wild ride we call PARENTING and what helped us

By Kate Mackay and Rohese Devereux Taylor

Illustration by Issey Medd

Having kids is beautiful, life-altering and really, really hard. Just as you feel like you can catch your breath something changes and no matter how many kids you’ve had, you are back feeling like a novice all over again. The universality of this experience is part of its beauty, and time and again we’ve seen the positive impacts of chosen community in smoothing the transition to parenthood. This is just one of the reasons that we set up the Glasgow Homebirth Support Group.

We co-founded the group earlier this year with a fellow birthworker – who is now enjoying her postpartum with her baby after a homebirth. We were passionate about creating a space to bring people together who were curious about, or planning to, birth at home.

Robust research shows birthing at home is as safe or safer than birth in hospital for all low-risk pregnancies. Even just planning a homebirth – regardless of where the birth ends up taking place – improves outcomes, yet it is still often seen as a wild-card decision. This leaves those planning a homebirth feeling quite isolated. Some face criticism from friends and family. This is why we also welcome partners and family to our peer-led sessions, to create a space where people can share their worries (as well as joys and excitement) and connect with others going through the same thing.

Support to tap into

Between us we have three kids, all born in different places and at different times but a common thread running through our experiences was the need for community, support, and resources. Here is what got us through those early days.

Kate couldn’t live without her parents’ Whatsapp groups

These were invaluable in finding support in the wee hours when it felt like the whole world was asleep. Some formed from local parent and baby groups including Bookbug and pram walks.

Rohese made use of the Glasgow Sling Library, of which Kate is also a big fan. Babywearing is a life-saver and can radically change your experience of immediate postpartum but it can also be overwhelming and potentially costly – so to have a resource that is accessible and affordable is amazing.

Merry-Go-Found on Nithsdale Road is a staple for most Southside parents, for a browse of all the cute second hand kids stuff but also the variety of meet-up groups on offer. Kate loved the cloth nappy demo and hire at their Nappuccino events.

Virtual breast/body feeding support was vital in supporting both of our collective breastfeeding journeys, when in-person access non-existent during the pandemic or while living rurally. La Leche League, The Breastfeeding Network, and Breastfeeding Scotland helped troubleshoot, offered well-informed advice and provided a listening ear.

For one of the mums who attended our groups, having a space to share gave her the confidence to have the magical home birth she and her husband had been planning. She said: “The meet ups were amazing and gave us access to a community of like minded people who also believed… that planning a homebirth would provide the best outcomes for mum and baby (and for dad too). Kate and Rohese listened… and shared insight and advice in a calm, evidence-based and empowering way.”

Our meets have moved around from central Glasgow to some busy and popular meets in the Southside (including The Community Newsroom) where there is a blossoming home birth community. As a midwife and a doula, we share a love for birth and aim to create an inclusive space that welcomes all questions, worries, and opinions, building community and fostering support.

They are now all available face-to-face again, with La Leche League meeting in the Hidden Gardens monthly, and the Breastfeeding Network in Pollokshaws Burgh Hall weekly. They also run a monthly online Muslim mum’s group. Glasgow Breastfeeding Buddies run a drop in on Mondays in the St Francis Centre in the Gorbals.

We are incredibly lucky with what’s on offer for parents in Glasgow. From writers groups, crafting, and climbing to singing, swimming, and cookery – you name it, and Glasgow will have it. Do what you need to find the community, support and connection that keeps you happy, or at the very least sane, through this wild ride we call parenting.

Follow @glasgowhomebirth on Instagram or email glasgowhomebirth@gmail.com for more.

DEVON STREET URBAN PARK Design Proposal

PollokshawsRoad

Turriff Street

New Cultural Landmark

The Devon Street Urban Park will transform an unused area of land beneath the M74 to create a safe and attractive environment for active leisure, urban sports, and local community events. Thoughtfully designed by artist-skateboarders Toby Paterson and Raydale Dower, along with professional ramp builder John Bailey, the park will be a vibrant new cultural landmark and destination that will improve connectivity between the surrounding neighbourhoods of the Gorbals, Govan, Govanhill and Pollokshields. Carefully commissioned public art will be used to animate the park and encourage people to participate in the new landscape.

Eglinton Street

Glasgow Urban Sports October 2024

Have Your Say…

Please scan the QR code or visit www.glasgowurbansports.org for details of consultation events and to comment on the design proposals:

Active Leisure Space

The park will help to improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of local communities through active leisure and outdoor exercise, and by meeting the growing demand for urban sports with provision of much-needed recreation facilities for young people in the Southside.

In partnership with local schools and community organisations, the Urban Park will offer opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to participate in BMX, skateboarding, roller-skating, and scootering. They will develop new skills, push themselves, and expand their social horizons.

Space for All

The park will be safe and accessible for all, with a range of spaces for active participation or reflective use, including seating and meeting spaces, viewpoints, quiet areas and sculptural terraces. Clear sightlines and well-placed lighting will be present throughout the park. By utilising the cover provided by the motorway canopy, an urban “lost space” will become a vibrant new cultural landmark and destination, an inclusive multi-use outdoor public space.

What languages ‘belong’ to Govanhill?

By Shane Johnstone

Language and belonging are often difficult to distinguish. Growing up on Allison Street, attending St Bride’s Primary, we absorbed hymns, including this one which I can guarantee that any alumni will still remember:

“Saint Bride is our patron for her guidance now we pray for the cross and all its meaning to give us strength to work and play”

Which cross this was was ambiguous; the crucifix obviously, but the uniform was adorned with its own emblem: St Brigid’s cross. This cross looks every bit as Celtic Pre-christian as the Triskele or the Green Man. It signalled to us that we belonged somewhere, as most school logos are designed to do, but the place it signalled was a place that none of us lived in. Some of us visited every summer, some of us only experienced it through Irish dancing, at Comhaltas Ceoltóirí or the Fleadh Cheoil music festival. Some through the culture around football and ‘the rebs’ (Irish rebel songs).

prisoners) in the playground – being unaware of this lingo quickly became cause for receiving acute pelters.

From the teachers and priests, the language was a high register Scottish English (and some Latin naturally). In the playground, a heavily Gaelicinfluenced Glaswegian dialect of Scots. Ralph Waldo Emerson said “The language of the street is always strong”; socio linguist Dr Joshua Fishman said it’s always “strongest”. This might be why this particular dialect only ceased

At the heart of the conflict many feel about the ‘gentrification’ of Govanhill may be this

There were certain albums and artists that would be found in even the least musical households. By age 13, at Holyrood Secondary, I had absorbed Rum, Sodomy and the Lash by The Pogues and A Drop of the Hard Stuff by The Dubliners into my entire being – both the stories and the archetypes that would later contribute to decades of alcohol abuse. At this age we started hearing more of the language of the ‘Jailtacht’ (a distinct form of the Irish language popularised by political

to be my inner voice; that which came to me when I wrote, after I learned Gaelic to fluency. Scottish Gaelic is now the language of my home, and the language I work in. I speak French on a daily basis in Govanhill. It is perhaps, as I’ll go on to explain, not the irony you’d think, that I now speak these two languages more often here than I do the dialect I learned growing up here.

When people talk of a language as being natural to an area, it is always unclear which time period they believe it to have been conceived in as ‘the’ language of an area. What constitutes the ‘the’-ness is always vague. When I grew up here, standard English was the

official language of the school, but it was not ‘the’ language of Govanhill. Anyone could see or hear that Polish, Panjabi, Urdu, Italian and other languages were being spoken daily, comprising local people’s sub-consciousness as much as this particular melange of Scots, Church English and Irish made up mine. It has been this way for centuries. Glasgow grew into the city it is today as a result of the Gaelic-speaking immigration from Highland Scotland and Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries, whereas international migration during the 20th century laid the groundwork for the linguistic rainbow waterfall that is Glasgow, and specifically Govanhill, today. My linguistic experience of Govanhill may differ from a few people in that I have four communities (all defined linguistically, and all intersecting in complex ways) that I may dip into at different times, which make part of the subconscious matter of the area. I learned Gaelic mostly while living here. There are Gaelic speakers here – both Scottish and Irish – who live their lives almost fully in the language. Like wee birds that only appear in your garden when you leave seed for them, they may not be likely to appear to you unless you offer some kind of nourishment. Still, I can assure you, they are here.

I remember a sceptical friend, who grew up here but has moved away, comment that MILK offering French classes was a sign of the area catering to the interests of middle class

Portrait by Rob Reid

professionals who have moved here rather than locals. This might be a sign that these people have, for some reason or another, been unable to listen to the area as a whole. Many French speakers live in my own close – including my French teacher, a Belgian-Moroccan with a complex relationship to the language.

I first learned French from another pal in Calder street, and toured France through knowing her. This may seem quite ‘New Govanhill’, but I am considered a ‘native’ to the area who has never really broken out of poverty. Through listening, I have formed a sort of acquaintance with some homeless people who speak French and next-tono English, the constant immediacy of their life preventing them from learning anything other than survival. They are all multilingual people, some Romani, who lived in France and came here looking for a less dire experience. Their relationship with French varies from visible pride to pragmatism: believing it to was their best chance of not being on the receiving end of aggression from locals.

My friend (from the Irish diaspora)’s attitude towards the French language classes may be representative of a pervasive alienation. He feels he doesn’t recognise the area, a sentiment I have heard over and over from people from the diaspora. Interestingly, I have heard it exclusively from English speakers whose nostalgia is often based on a vague memory of times when the craic was flowing and Celtic were starting to break out of a dark time. It is not necessarily xenophobic, but it can be. Ironically, more concrete forms of ‘Celtic’ identity and culture are on the up in the city, so the anxiety of “losing Irishness” or “Scottishness” may not be said to be about culture alone (the number of Gaelic speakers in Glasgow has, according to the last census, increased, though that does not account for fluency), but a more nebulous anxiety around the absolute fact of change.

This experience of arriving, integrating and looking back with, at times nostalgia, at times dissonance, has been mirrored throughout hundreds of years of immigrant experience in Glasgow, and more recently Govanhill. But it will not be the experience of those who speak English as a first language, who can walk into almost any country and expect to find that the infrastructure at least bends to their preferences. At most it is completely pre-furnished for their entire linguistic make-up – and this makes them different to any other group who

has historically moved to Govanhill. This is not some bitterness against people from this demographic, but rather a question to contribute to the current conversation about Govanhill. In my experience (which includes years of communication with non-English speaking residents), this demographic is often quite good at interpreting what marginalised groups in the area want to work towards and are looking for. There is quite often an assumption from ‘Old Govanhill’ (i.e the Irish Diaspora) that the willingness from ‘New Govanhill’ (i.e ‘hipsters’) to help or contribute actively to integration, through the setting up of infrastructure like free language classes, comes from some kind of vanity or pompousness.

This ‘influx’ of people without the various struggles that come with generations of integration and instability, in an area where rent prices have become sickening and frankly, exploitative, could be seen as symptomatic of the dismantling of community and culture. I know that, for many, hearing the loss of the Scots language among children in the area, as well as the total loss of many of Govanhill’s languages – due to nursery and school programmes prioritising Scottish Standard English – can be hard to take.

At the heart of the conflict many feel about the ‘gentrification’ of Govanhill may be this. The migration of Standard English speakers may (perhaps unintentionally) contribute to the language loss of many of the area’s cultures, but it may also help to contribute to important infrastructure in the area – like the magazine in which this article is being published, Living Rent, Govanhill Baths Community Trust, South Seeds, MILK and Govanhill Law Centre.

The obvious answer to the question of ‘What languages belong to Govanhill’ is ‘all of them’, but we should be careful to bring the question of ‘how can the languages and cultures of Govanhill be more equal?’ into the conversation especially where there is an assumption that this conversation should happen exclusively in standard English.

Shane Johnstone is the author of Govanhill Mythology –Beul-aithris Chnoc a’ Ghobhainn, a new compendium of poetry in English, Gaelic, Scots and French (with translations) about the effects of change on a community and its people. Available to purchase from arkbound.com

Shuas An Seo

chithear pòitearan a’ spùtadh à dorsan taigh-seinnse Uí Cheallaigh mar dhomlas à beul. Ceithir ùrlaran fodha cha mhòr nach fhaicear uallach an dualchais mar chruachan-mòna a’ cnàmh-losgadh air an aigne. Nì an gogan agus toit cuisle a shnàigeas suas a-steach dhan uinneig agus cadal a’ gheòidh agad. Uair air uair bidh pub Uí Cheallaigh a’ casadaich agus a’ tarraing nan slugairean air ais gus dùnadh nam for-uinneag agus an sadail a-mach mar smugaid mu mheadhan-oidhch’, gu dìreach dhan t-siopa sceallóg far am bi na drongairean a’ gabhail anail olach agus a’ tòiseachadh air caismeachd an doill dhachaigh. Leigidh co-dhiù dithis an dòrainn chianalach on ghlùn thairis air doras a’ chlobhsa. An ath là air an t-slighe gu Sgoil an Naoimh Bríde gabhaidh sinn timcheall air a’ mhùin ghoirt san dol seachad air a’ bhus gu Gaoth Dobhair a’ pìochaill taobh a-muigh a’ phub.

Up Here

you see the doors of Kelly’s pour its innards – limp day-drinkers –to the street like bile from a mouth. Four floors down you can almost see the generations sitting on their spines, heaped like stacks of smouldering peat. Cackles and fumes form a nerve that slinks up and enters the window as you try to sleep. Hour by hour Kelly’s coughs and draws the drinkers back in ’til its windows start to dim and inch down. Quarter-to-twelve it grogs its last for the night, right into the chippy where the fissling frequenters breathe oil and fat and begin the stumble home. At least one reeking reveller takes the time to empty all those generations of cortisol from Donegal to Govanhill on our close door. The next day, on the way to Saint Bride’s school, we step around the stale pish and pass the express bus to Gweedore, wheezing as it waits outside Kelly’s.

Where to

Reuse & ReCYCle

around the Southside

By Eva Camille Harrold, Rags to Riches

by Laura Wade

At Rags to Riches, the upcycling branch of Govanhill Baths Community Trust (GBCT), we are excited to introduce the Southside Climate Directory, a new online resource designed to help residents of Govanhill and the surrounding area access sustainable solutions locally.

The directory will offer a wealth of information on sustainability, with a focus on recycling, repair services, and eco-friendly initiatives available throughout the area. We want it to become a one-stop shop for all sustainability needs in the Southside, offering guidance on where to find specific recycling bins, tips on growing your own food, and information on where to repair clothing or electrical items. This builds on the work done by South Seeds which already provides information on some of these areas.

While there’s lots of sustainability information available online, it’s often scattered across different platforms. We’ve worked hard to gather locally relevant, userfriendly resources in one place.

We strongly believe this directory should be a collaborative effort within the Southside community. The directory will launch in the next few months on govanhillbaths.com. If you know of a business or resource that should be included, get in touch by email eva@govanhillbaths.com.

Here are a few of our favourites.

Repair Cafe

The Repair Cafe runs on the last Saturday of each month from 12 – 3pm at Clyde Community Hall in Ibrox. Bring items you need repaired and their skilled team will take a look at what can be done. It is a free service with donations accepted. The Repair Cafe covers a wide range of items including clothing, electricals, jewellery, and appliances.

Lidl Return scheme

You can take clean PET plastic and aluminium drink containers back to Lidl on Victoria Road, which is taking part in the first Glasgow-wide supermarket bottle return scheme. Customers receive a 5p reward for each item returned. This can be redeemed against their shopping or donated to charity.

Elen’s Tailoring & Alterations

A fixture of Vicky Road – a stone’s throw from Queen’s Park – Elen’s can adjust and repair your clothes, from old favourites to second-hand finds. As well as general tailoring and adjustments, services include bridal alterations, curtain-making, dress-making and leather repair, with a quick or same-day turnaround available for most jobs.

Second Cashmere

Second Cashmere recycle and reinvent second-hand cashmere items. They also offer a knit repair service to keep your woollies in good nick. Look out for one of their knit repair workshops at Bawn Textiles and learn the art of darning.

Illustration

DiRect Sewing Machines

Based in Elderpark Workspace in Govan Direct Sewing Machines offer sewing machine repairs and servicing. They also have an amazing selection of second-hand machines to buy.

Merry-Go-Round and AppareLXchange

Just around the corner from each other (on Nithsdale Rd and Nithsdale St) both shops accept young people’s clothing donations: ApparelXchange from 4-16 years old and Merry-Go-Round from birth to three years. Merry-Go-Round also accepts toys, as well as maternity wear and accessories.

Remote Technics

If you have a record collection sitting gathering dust because of an out-of-action turntable, contact Remote Technics –based on Pollokshaws Road – who have been repairing, servicing and customising DJ equipment such as Pioneer CDJs, mixers and all-in-one units, since 2010. Find them on Facebook and Instagram @remote.technics

Rags to Riches

We might be a little biased on this one. Rags to Riches offers a fantastic range of textile, wood and plastic recycling. We accept donations of wood and fabric at the Deep End, which are then reused in our upskill workshops. HDPE and PP5 plastics can be donated at the Deep End and the Tramway. These donations are cleaned, chipped down and melted into new materials. Email ragstoriches@govanhillbaths.com if you’re unsure about which items you can doante.

Glasgow Community Food Network

The GCFN website features a wealth of information on accessing food in Glasgow, offering a handy map showing low and nocost options for accessing food and providing urban growing tips and info on where you can donate food waste to composters.

The Pram Project

Based in Shawlands, the Pram Project repairs, resells and rents prams, giving parents greater choice and freedom when it comes to an expensive but essential purchase. They say they are “working hard to keep prams on the road, out of landfill and through donation into the hands of those that need them most.”

Clever Clogs

Located in Shawlands, Clever Clogs specialises in shoe repairs for various footwear from boots to sandals, breathing life into those old favourites. For detailed information on the types of repairs available, or to discuss a specific request, get in touch with Clever Clogs.

‘Politics is a moral game’

Interview with John Grady, Labour MP for Glasgow East

We invited Govanhill’s new MP to The Community Newsroom to answer questions from our readers.

By Rhiannon J Davies

Photos by Miriam Ali

Originally from Bedford, John Grady first moved to Glasgow in 1996. Now a father of two, living in Partick, he left his position as partner and consultant at Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP when he became elected as Govanhill’s MP in July.

The firm represents huge companies, including the likes of Shell. Asked about this work, Grady explained: “I did do some work with oil and gas companies – I mean, everyone’s entitled to legal representation... My main work was actually on the green transition. So I did my first work on an offshore wind farm in 2001... Offshore wind is one of the success stories of the last 30 years.”

Grady says he got involved in politics at 13 as the Labour candidate at a school election during “peak Thatcher.” He joined the Labour Party at 16. Speaking about what motivated him to stand for election this year, he said:

“It’s become very clear that we’ve stopped focusing on the things that really matter – jobs, decent pay, decent working conditions, poverty... We’ve had absolute chaos in Westminster and you sit there and it’s all good moaning about it, but maybe it’s your obligation to do something about it; get back to having serious politics focused on serious issues…as opposed to show business like we had with Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.”

He stated the issues he would be focussing on included supporting the government’s programme, a New Deal for Working People, championing “a proper wage that people can live on as opposed to a pretend living wage, and better trade union organising rights… as well as things like flexible working.” He also said he would be supporting the government in environmental policies – like GB Energy, which will be a new, publicly owned, clean energy company – for a number of reasons: “It’s cheaper and it gives you energy security so

“Turning this around will take a long time...”

you’re not exposed to energy from tyrants. There’s also a moral case for it. I think it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that politics is a moral game.”

In the run-up to the general election, as part of the Scottish Beacon’s ‘Citizens Agenda’ project, we asked people locally what they wanted candidates to be speaking about as they competed for votes. While we didn’t hear back from Mr Grady before the election, we still wanted to get his perspectives on the issues you said you cared most about.

On child poverty

“Our starting point is to make work pay... When you talk to families, people have really struggled because everything’s gone out of control – rents, prices in the shops. Running the economy carefully is crucial for the most vulnerable… We also need to address the longer-term drivers of poverty, like housing – poor and inadequate housing.

The two-child cap wasn’t a decision anyone in Labour enjoyed making. We’d love to get rid of it, but we can’t spend money we don’t have. It’s just a fact of government. If you don’t have the money, you can get into a financial mess and be forced to make rushed cuts. We’ve been clear about this. I understand many people would say child poverty should be the priority of a government. There are other areas where money could be saved and spent on lifting children out of poverty. We’re absolutely determined to do that. Despite protests from employers, we’re going to introduce the biggest pro-worker rights package in decades.

I would say, judge us over a reasonable period. Turning this around will take a long time… We’re not into sticking-plaster politics.”

On cost of living and energy bills

“Our primary focus is to attack the root causes of fuel poverty. Frankly, we pay far too much for energy because

we’ve had stop-start development, for instance, of renewables under the Tories. I’d say in Scotland, actually, one of the things is the planning system really delays important renewable projects, which could reduce people’s bills now… The other thing we’re very focused on is getting back to a proper program of insulating homes...”

On food insecurity

“The problem with poverty Is that people aren’t getting enough money in. People are badly paid. They’ve got insecure work. So we’ve really got to attack insecurity at work. But also… we’ve got to review things like Universal Credit. Because it’s not working, is it?…

So we’ve got to carry out those reviews, but, first things first, let’s get work paid. Another thing that’s very important actually on this is getting the economy growing as well, because the economy’s not growing.”

On protecting LGBTQ+ rights

“There’s been a lot of progress over the last 30 years... but you can lose that progress quickly if you’re not careful... One of my main focuses as a lawyer was making sure the firm was inclusive for LGBTQI people, and we won awards for it, which is something I’m very proud of…

When it comes to transgender people, there has been a spike in hate crimes against people and in my view… there are laws out there and they should be robustly enforced. If you’re putting hatred on the internet, you should be facing the consequences… The debate has also become very polarised and people have stopped listening to each other. People who should find lots of common ground have stopped finding common ground. That’s very, very worrying in this space and elsewhere.”

On the distinctiveness of Govanhill

“Across Glasgow, people want to get on, they want their kids to do well. It’s the same here, it’s the same in Baillieston... Govanhill is a much more diverse community and that’s the thing that truly makes Govanhill actually beautiful… I was brought up in a very diverse town. My dad taught English as a second language to first-generation immigrants, and I followed him around... It’s something that gives Glasgow its strength.

The Roma community have historically been discriminated against across Europe... That’s why I joined the AllParty Parliamentary Group for Gypsies, Travellers, and Roma communities. I joined because I don’t think it’s any good for someone to turn up and think they know everything just because they’re the MP. One should have the humility to

think that there are always more people you can listen to and learn from…”

On Palestine

“I’ve been clear from the get-go that there needs to be a ceasefire... It’s really important that we work for long-term peace in this area... That means a twostate solution, where Palestinian people live in dignity, free from fear, and have the opportunities that kids in Glasgow have. And it also means an Israel free from fear… We have to get back to focusing on the tough diplomacy that can get us to a two state solution.That is going to be very hard work, but that’s what the Labour Party is absolutely focused on.”

On promoting safe and legal migration routes for asylum seekers

“I think you probably picked up that I’m in favour of immigration. I think it’s been great for Glasgow and the UK... We’ve inherited a really difficult situation and I think we want to make sure that people coming to Britain are treated with dignity, dealt with in accordance with the law and dealt with fairly. I get a lot of immigration casework – it’s my biggest load, and I take it seriously. These are people from war-torn environments, facing real danger…

I think we’ve got to have conversations with our European allies about how we deal with migration in a fair and reasonable way... One of the things the last government did was cause massive offence to people in Europe – and the leaders of Europe. And we need to move beyond that and start working with Europe constructively again.”

On tackling the climate emergency

“We’ve got the Climate Change Committee, which looks at this very carefully and it’s very clear that one of the things we need to do is stop using

as much energy in heating buildings. So we’re very focused on that, and we need to decarbonise the electricity sector and we’re very clear on that by looking to get to net zero on the energy sector by 2030… We’re also very clear on a range of other steps.. like encouraging the uptake of electric cars, looking at things like hydrogen for heavy goods vehicles, and so on… Global warming involves hard international work and we’ve got to get back to that as well. But it is the defining challenge of our lifetime.”

On the housing crisis

“I think the first thing we’ve got to do is make sure that people think that Britain is a stable economy… If you play fast and loose with the economy, you make the very things you want to do much more expensive. [As housing is a devolved issue] I think the other thing frankly I can do is, work with other people in Scottish Labour like Anas Sarwar and his team… to speak up about this. And I think generally it’s incumbent on all of us to think very seriously about speaking up in favour of development. There’s always a reason why this piece of land or that piece of land isn’t built or needs to be kept empty, but actually when you have, kids living three, four or even five to a bedroom, that’s not good enough, is it?”

On the recent direction of the Labour Party

“We need to be speaking to as wide a range of people as possible and reflecting their views... I think Keir Starmer has reformed the Labour Party and brought it back to a position where it can win elections and implement real positive change... The Labour Party has always got to be relevant to working people... Keir Starmer’s brought us back there. And I greatly admire him for it.”

Answers have been edited for clarity and length

W h at ’ s

For more regular events and groups, or to share an event, visit: greatergovanhill.com/noticeboard

O C TO B E R

Black History Month:

When: 1–31 October

Where: Various venues around the city

Featuring an exciting range of events including talks, performances, workshops, film screenings and exhibitions at St Mungo Museum, Glasgow Women’s Library, Kelvingrove, CCA and The Burrell Collection. More info: blackhistorymonthscotland.org

Tape

Letters Scotland

When: 13 October–31 January, 11-5pm Wed-Sun

Where: Tramway, 25 Albert Dr, G41 2PE

The latest exhibition in the Greater Govanhill Community Canvas space upstairs at Tramway features recordings and photos capturing stories sent back and forth between Glasgow and Pakistan via the medium of cassette tape. It forms part of a nation-wide project from Modus Arts, but all the stories featured here come from Glasgow families around the Southside, accompanied by the photography of Miriam Ali.

More info: Free. More info at tapeletters.com

Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival

When: 10–27 October

Where: Various venues around the city

This year’s Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival explores the theme of ‘In/Visible’. Events in the Southside include one at Tramway exploring what it’s like to be a Latin American living in Scotland and a night of music and performance from Paragon at Glad Cafe.

More info: mhfestival.com

How to talk to your racist uncle… and other difficult conversations

When: 14 October, 6-8pm

Where: MILK, 452 Victoria Road, G42 8YU

Join this interactive session with guests Living Rent, and practise tricky conversations with more productive outcomes. This event aims to stop the ‘finger-pointing’ and blaming neighbours, by taking a human rights perspective to look at the real cause of societal problems.

More info: Email hellomilkglasgow@gmail.com to book

Creative Plastic Fusing

When: 15, 22 October, 3:30-5pm

Where: The Deep End, 21 Nithsdale Street, G42 TBX Transform plastic bag waste into something amazing. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the art of heat fusing to create brand new material from old plastic bags. With the help of Rags to Riches tutor, Gail, you’ll craft your very own bag or coin purse.

More info: FREE but ticketed via govanhillbaths.com

Radical Southside Tours

When: 16, 18, 19 October – various times

Where: Govanhill and Pollokshields

Take a walk through some of the radical local histories of Pollokshields and Govanhill in a tour ‘once famously described as being packed with radical oral histories aka vintage leftwing gossip’.

More info: Ticketed via radicalglasgowtours.com

South Seeds Seasonal Tree Trail Walking Group

When: 18 October, 10-11am

Where: Queens Park Victoria Road entrance

Join South Seeds’ tree trail walking group with their tree trail expert Eric and learn about the diverse trees in Queen’s Park. This is an outdoor walking group and participants should dress for the weather.

More info: FREE but ticketed via Eventbrite.

Email info@southseeds.org for more info.

GAMIS Weird Weekend IV

When: 25-27 October

Where: OFFLINE Glasgow, formerly GAMIS,138 Niddrie Rd, Glasgow, G41 2AB

The festival showcases handpicked New Weird Cinema alongside brand-new restorations of genre classics. The main theme is THE OBSERVER EFFECT, exploring the outsider perspective of cult cinema and cult audiences, the relationship between viewer and film, film-maker and medium, and the blurring of all lines.

More info: Tickets are pay-what-you-can via makeitweird.co.uk

Halloween Family Party

When: 25 October, 6-9pm

Where: Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, G51 1EA

Embrace the Halloween spirit at Scotland’s biggest family fancy dress party. Enjoy a night out exploring all the fun of the science centre’s three floors of interactive exhibits, including: Frankenstein’s dissection; Monster Mash Disco; Spooky Shows; and Creepy Craft.

More info: Tickets £12.50 from glasgowsciencecentre.org

Soundbath

When: 28 October 7-8:30pm

Where: Queen’s Park Govanhill Parish Church Glasgow Soundbath return to Govanhill for a new regular soundbath on the last Monday of every month in the stunning sanctuary of Church.

More info: Tickets £20 from Glasgow Soundbath on Eventbrite

Halloween Darktronica

When: 31 October 7:30-11pm

Where: Rum Shack, Pollokshaws Road, G41 2AB

Travel through the heart of Halloween with electronic beats and gothic splendour. Sev Ka, Dora Lachaise and Ember Quine bring ethereal soundscapes, dark songs and retro sounds.

More info: Tickets £8-12 via rumshackglasgow.com

N OV E M B E R

Femme 45 Party

When: 2 November, 8pm-1am

Where: Rum Shack, Pollokshaws Rd, G41 2AB

Femme45 are hosting their first ever party, a celebration of music, dance, community and safe spaces. Expect DJs, live performances, and singers.

More info: rumshackglasgow.com

Poetry Open Mic

When: 13 November, 6:30-8pm

Where: Glasgow Zine Library, 32-34 Albert Rd, G42 8DN

A night of creativity and expression in the heart of Glasgow’s Southside. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or trying out the mic for the first time, this is an opportunity to share your voice and connect with fellow artists.

More info: glasgowzinelibrary.com

Teru Beru

When: 15 November 7:30pm; 16 November, 2:30pm

Where: Platform, 1000 Westerhouse Rd, G34 9JW

The previously unstaged play by the late Beldina Odenyo (aka Heir of the Cursed) who we interviewed for this magazine. It is named after a funeral ritual practised by the Luo people of East Africa, and brought to life for the first time in an intimate production which features recordings of the late performer’s voice as well as a cast of actors.

More info: Tickets £5-9.50 via platform-online.co.uk

Arika

When: 13–17 November

Where: Tramway, 25 Albert Dr, G41 2PE

Episode 11 is a five-day event of films, music, and discussions, exploring alternatives to the destruction caused by capitalism and colonialism. It gathers artists, activists, and scholars to inspire new ways of understanding and existing in the world.

More info: Free before 4pm. Evening passes on sliding scale via tramway.org

De-escalation Skills Training

When: 22 November, 9:30am-5pm

Where: Glasgow Autonomous Space, 9 Hollybrook St, G42

During this one-day training session you will develop your skills and confidence in responding to confrontation during events and actions, in a way that centres collective care.

More info: Tickets on sliding scale via Tripod Training Eventbrite.

Open Hoose

When: 29 November, 7pm–1am

Where: Upstairs at McNeil’s

A club night where the aim is simple: create a vibe where folk can dance, connect, and get lost in a mix of sounds and good energy. With sets from four founding DJs, and back-to-back sessions that’ll blend everything from percussive hoose and bass-driven electro to squelchy acid and pumping techno, it’s going to be an eclectic ride.

More info: @ohparties on Instagram

CROSSMYWORD By The Anymen

Crossword No. 5

The Anymen are back with their fifth Govanhill-themed crossword! We hope you enjoy solving the grid to reveal some local establishments. To enter the prize draw please hand in your completed crossword to The Community Newsroom (82 Bowman Street, G42 8LF) or send a picture of your completed crossword to newsroom@greatergovanhill.com by 11 November.

ACROSS

1 Artsy nail van whizzes around eccentric decorator (12)

9 Excellent cafe (4,5)

DOWN

2 Renegade cat uprising (9)

3 Spikey, primal porcupine leaves in a hurry - ouch! (5)

The winner and crossword answers will be published online on 11 November.

The Anymen are back with their fifth Govanhill-themed crossword! We hope you enjoy solving the grid to reveal some local establishments. To enter the prize draw please hand in your completed crossword to The Community Newsroom (82 Bowman Street, G42 8LF) or send a picture of your completed crossword to devon@greatergovanhill.com by 11 November

The winner and crossword answers will be published online on 11 November

Morning Goodbye off Albert Drive

By Henry Bell

I’m home half cut as you get up keys graze the lock fingers rucked on the storm doors’ lips as you open them up

I slur and laugh you ask the fuck am I doing soaked and clearly still up you’re off to work and I’m in luck there’s eggs in the pan and tea in a cup

I say ‘I love you’ and you say ‘yup’

I say I’ll cook dinner when I get up you kiss my forehead

I wish you luck

St Bert’s bells ring and I hiccough

11 Ape disturbed princess! (3)

12 Accessories expert misplaces top earring in a sticky situation? (7)

13 Buttons scratch car cushions (7)

15 Behold wise chant freezing time (3,3)

17 Never miss Romeo returning flat as a pancake (4)

20 Quiet two ducks empty bowels (3)

22 I am lost in Eglinton…Eglinton… (3)

23 Pistachios stun on rollback (4)

25 Biscuit inverted. Oh boy! No boy! (6)

27 Body part can keep moving (7)

29 Remove a candelabra in glee? (7)

30 Weightlifter Aunt: Miss Universe (3)

32 Scots bovine each time they flog barrels (9)

34 Dazzling, portable communications repairer (6,6)

4 Ken’s CV becoming top style (1,5)

5 Filthy irrelevant pigpen (5)

6 Duolingo removes Algerian, papa confused (3)

7 One thousand superhero ants transported their fruits in plastic bowls (4,5,5)

8 Spark found in royal french coffee bar (6,4,4)

10 I vented furiously to be crystal clear (7)

14 Primarily it’s eaten! (3)

16 & 21 Reliable takeaway flipped (2,2)

18 Bland caravan? I’ll accept heartedly (7)

19 Trivial and confused goblin eats endless dear (2,3,4)

21 See 16d.

24 Peruse without each application (3)

26 Ph loss dissolves with splish and splash (6)

28 “Crap cravat” said prickly thing (6)

29 Fantasy rammed (lacking masculine frenzy) (5)

31 Back beginning butchering bath (3)

Greater Govanhill is a grassroots, non-profit organisation trying our hardest to make a difference. But it’s hard when we don’t have long term sustainability. The easiest way to get there? Hundreds of local people chucking in a few quid each month would build a solid base from which we can grow.

Sign up to become a member and support the magazine by visiting community.greatergovanhill.com/join or scanning the QR code.

Any members signing up in October will get a free Greater Govanhill mug!

If you’re an existing member and you’d like a mug, we’ve got you too. Just email newsroom@greatergovanhill.com to arrange collection.

Across 1. Artsy nail van whizzes around eccentric decorator (12)

Tape Letters Scotland: Glasgow Exhibition

Opens to the public:

13th October 2024 - 31st January 2025

Wednesdays - Saturdays 11am - 5pm

Greater Govanhill Community Canvas Space (upstairs) Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, Glasgow G41 2PE

Tape Letters is a social history project that highlights the practice within the ScottishPakistani community of recording and sending voice messages on cassette tape between the 1960s-1980s. The exhibition platforms the stories uncovered from cassette tapes and interviews from the Glaswegian Pakistani community. tapelettersscotland