The Scotstoun community has been long deprived of a community centre, but we are finally about to build one.

The project began in response to the demolition of Victoria Drive Secondary School’s annexe in the 1990′s.  In response to the loss of this busy community asset, the local residents, the Community Council and local elected members developed plans for the conversion of the Scotstoun West church into a community facility. Unfortunately, the church was destroyed by fire in 1997. The community suffered a further setback a year later when the Victoria Drive Secondary School was closed. The school itself had also been used for a variety of community events over many years.

Since that time, local residents and voluntary organisations have actively campaigned for a much needed community facility that will provide a focal point for local people and act as a catalyst for local community-based activities.

The project involves the construction of new building, owned and used by the community of Scotstoun, converting a brownfield site into a modern and flexible community facility in the process.

This development will provide a major community asset at a key location; establishing a precedent for community ownership and a pattern of use that will ensure local people stand to gain the most from change and investment in their neighbourhood in the coming years.

The design and proposed activities within the building are informed by the community consultation process carried out over a number of years.  In brief, the areas and principle uses are summarised as follows:

  • Multi-purpose hall:
    The multi-purpose hall is the physical and metaphorical hub of the new facility.  The hall can  accommodate almost any community event, or space requirements of local groups and service providers.
  • Café:
    Visible, attractive and welcoming from the street frontage, the café will offer affordable healthy food and refreshment, informal social meeting space, and a flexible venue catering for all sorts of community events and occasions.
  • Childcare facility:
    The building has a carefully designed, spacious childcare facility with external play area.  This facility will enable local families to access other facilities, services, or events within the centre, and help address a serious shortage of local childcare provision.  By working in partnership with neighbouring community run childcare and further education providers, the childcare offered will be very affordable and of the highest quality.
  • Training/conference/meeting room:
    With  additional ITC / AV facilities to accommodate training and meeting needs of local groups and service providers.
  • Drop in area / IT suite:
    This room is designed as an IT access/training space, with a movable partition to the adjoining drop-in space for smaller groups.  The spaces can be combined or divide depending on the needs of the users.
  • Reception:
    A shared access point for all building users, with a welcoming officer to meet people and provide direction or assistance as required.

Please go here for a look at the plans

The Scotstoun community has been long deprived of a community centre despite a number of efforts by local people to establish one.

The project began in response to the demolition of Victoria Drive Secondary School’s annexe in the 1990′s.  In response to the loss of this busy community asset, the local residents, the Community Council and local elected members developed plans for the conversion of the Scotstoun West church into a community facility. Unfortunately, the church was destroyed by fire in 1997. The community suffered a further setback a year later when the Victoria Drive Secondary School was closed. The school itself had also been used for a variety of community events over many years.

Since that time, local residents and voluntary organisations have actively campaigned for a much needed community facility that will provide a focal point for local people and act as a catalyst for local community-based activities.

The project involves the construction of a two storey, 1,700 sq m community centre, owned and used by the community of Scotstoun, converting a brownfield site into a modern and flexible community facility in the process.

The Clyde Waterfront Regeneration Plan recognises Scotstoun as one of six priority areas for the regeneration of Glasgow and the River Clyde.  This development will provide a major community asset at a key location; establishing a precedent for community ownership and a pattern of use that will ensure local people stand to gain the most from change and investment in their neighbourhood in the coming years.

The whole community of Scotstoun will benefit, and specific groups within the community whose identified needs will be met are described in section 8.

The design and proposed activities within the building are informed by the community consultation process carried out over a number of years, as described in sections 10 and 11.

In brief, the areas and principle uses are summarised as follows:

GROUND FLOOR –

  • Multi-purpose hall:

The multi-purpose hall is the physical and metaphorical hub of the new facility.  It is double height, with capacity for 200 people, equipment storage, extra large double doors for direct connection with café and catering space, and flexible space dividers to allow multiple usage.  The hall can therefore accommodate almost any community event, or space requirements of local groups and service providers.

  • Training Café:

Visible, attractive and welcoming from the street frontage, the café will offer affordable healthy food and refreshment, informal social meeting space, ICT and internet access, and a flexible venue catering for all sorts of community events and occasions.  Through special events and learning opportunities the café will also provide food and health related training and education.  The café will attract residents and workers, helping to promote further services or events within the centre, and vice versa.

  • Childcare facility:

The building has a carefully designed, spacious childcare facility with external play area.  This facility will enable local families to access other facilities, services, or events within the centre, and help address a serious shortage of local childcare provision.  By working in partnership with neighbouring community run childcare and further education providers, the childcare offered will be very affordable and of the highest quality.  The facility will further address the lack of local childcare by providing opportunities for recognised formal training and qualifications for local people.

  • Training/conference/meeting room:

With space for up to 30 people and additional ITC / AV facilities to accommodate training and meeting needs of local groups and service providers.

  • Drop in area:

This room is designed as a multi purpose space for smaller groups.  Suitably furnished for informal or messy activities, it is suitable for (but not exclusive to) young people.  The room is adjacent to the main entrance on the ground floor to help encourage any apprehensive groups or individuals to enter.  There is also a small interview room off the main room, providing space for private discussion if required.

  • Reception:

A shared access point for all building users, with a welcoming officer to meet people and provide direction or assistance as required.

FIRST FLOOR –

  • Office space for social economy organisations*:

Office space is available on the first floor to organisations that will contribute more than rental income to the building, in providing services of benefit to the community.  This is not only fundamental to the economic viability of the facility; diversity of services and uses within the building will improve sustainability by attracting more of the community to visit.

(*Proposed to be occupied by the Scotstoun Youth Health Project, Glasgow Physically Disabled Support Unit, Momentum Scotland and Dumbarton Road Corridor Environment Trust)

  • Training/meeting rooms:

Further space to accommodate the needs of local groups and service providers.

Full descriptions of design, operation and management of each aspect of the centre are provided within the business plan.