Meet the WEST CPP Team

A team of eight make up the local community planning team responsible for the two local partnerships in the West of Glasgow.
Based in Drumchapel, the team work hard on behalf of the local community and groups and with other agencies and partners, delivering within the five key objectives on which the community planning partnerships are based:
• A working Glasgow
• A learning Glasgow
• A vibrant Glasgow
• A healthy Glasgow
• A safe Glasgow

The Community Planning Manager for the West, Jonathan Brown, explains: “The team work closely with a wide range of individuals and local community groups.
“Giving advice and support and ensuring that communities are involved in key decisions that could affect them.”
The team are tireless in their efforts and continue to develop programmes to bring together key public, private, community and voluntary organisations.

Their goals are simple
To improve public services and make it easier for everyone to access exactly what they need and to ensure the work being undertaken continues to improve the quality of life for both Glasgow’s citizens and visitors to our wonderful city.
The articles in this special feature will give you a snap-shot of what has been funded by the West CPP in your area.
To contact your team, with any questions or to find out more information on what is happening in your area, please call them on 0141 276 9900.
Email westcpp@glasgow.gov.uk

Or visit the website www.glasgowcpp.org.uk

Vibrant West

Almost £600,000 has been invested in a series of environmental projects across the West and Central and West community planning areas in the past year.
Everything from new children’s play parks to a new outdoor gym and jogging trail, developed as part of a package of sport and health facilities within Knightswood Park.
With still time to enter the Great Scottish Run, a half marathon and 10k being held in Glasgow on Sunday 5 September, the jogging trails are the ideal location to don your running gear and get active.
If this September is just a bit too adventurous, then start slowly and aim to take part next year or the council run Women’s 10k in May 2011.
Other projects have included the redevelopment of a play area in Yoker Park, which has included resurfacing and the installation of new play equipment.
All of which has been a source of great fun over the summer months with local children and families.
Money has also been spent on improving a seating area outside Anniesland Library and in Drumchapel footpath upgrades have been carried out between Heathcot Avenue and Great Western Road.
In Jordan Street Park in Whiteinch, and in partnership with the local friends Of Jordan Street Park Group, investment has been made to enhance and maintain the green space for community use.
In the Hillhead and Woodlands areas, locals can now benefit from new play equipment and safety surfacing at Millennium Park and improvements to the seating area and a lick of paint to surfaces in Napiershall Park.
Last, but by no means least, budding sports boys and girls in the Peel Glen area are now able to show off their football and basketball skills at the new multi purpose games court.
With all-weather surfacing, floodlighting and safe access paths, this equipment can be used by youngsters throughout the year.
Bailie Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of the Central and West Local Community Planning Partnership, said: “People living in these areas have seen significant improvements to the environment as a result of this funding.
“The support of partner organisations is a tremendous boost which shows their commitment to helping improve the lives of local people.”
Funding for all the improvements was awarded from a number of agencies including Fairer Scotland Fund, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Housing Association, Drumchapel Environment Trust, Hold Your Breath, Fairplay and the Thomas Fortune Centre.
And following the success of the environment and open spaces programme, discussions are already well under way for the forthcoming year.
Funding had already been agreed via the council’s integrated grants fund with £100,000 committed for the west CPP and £65,000 for the central & west CPP.

Befriending Service Offers Fun and Friends

An 11-year-old boy with autism is learning to overcome his fear of crowds and noise with help from the Young Persons’ Befriending Service.
Michael’s anxieties about trying new activities and meeting new people severely restricted his social life. But after being matched with a suitable befriender, Rachael, and developing a relationship of security and trust,he has enjoyed trips to 10 pin bowling, Lazerzone, Stirling Castle and soft play.
After just a few months, Michael has gone on to make more friends at school and has even joined some clubs.
His teacher said: “Michael tells me all about his befriender and the new things he is trying. He’s definitely more confident since he got a befriender. It has had a really positive effect.”
The Young Persons’ Befriending Service aims to improve quality of life for young people aged eight to 18 who are considered vulnerable or at risk. Adult volunteers who are recruited, trained and supported by the service provide one-to-one befriending. The volunteers spend time with the young person building a positive relationship to help them enjoy more social or recreational activities.
To find out more about the befriending service call the Volunteer Centre Glasgow on 0141 226 3431 or go to www.volunteerglasgow.org/befriending

Social Whirl at Garnethill Centre

Everything from Cantonese Opera to sewing clubs and tea dances is available at Garnethill Multicultural Centre.
The thriving community hub in Rose Street is a charity managed by local residents and around 800 people a month visit it to enjoy cultural, recreational and educational activities. It is open seven days a week from 10am to 9pm and aims to promote integration across cultures, generations and abilities. Garnethill has a large Chinese community, a high elderly population and several supported accommodation units for people with disabilities. The Mother Teresa Albscot International Women’s Group recently opened in the centre and runs English as a Second Language classes once a week.
Mahboubeh Pilehvar from Tradeston attends the classes and her son, Arad, enjoys the crèche.
She said: “I come here to improve my English.”
Tiny Songbirds is a music and dance group for toddlers. Chinese Tai Chi, traditional Kung Fu, karaoke and regular children’s parties add to the social whirl.
If you fancy trying the activities on offer at the centre phone 0141 332 9765 for further details or go along to 21 Rose Street.

In Full Bloom

Drumchapel, Yoker, Peterson Park and Whiteinch areas are blooming marvellous thanks to a local community environmental therapy project set-up a couple of years ago.
The initiative is a joint partnership between Drumchapel Community Business and the Thomas Fortune Centre and with funding from the West community planning partnership.
This successful project has many long-term benefits for the local community – from a safety as well as an environmental aspect by clearing identified sites that have been neglected or overgrown, making them unsafe to walk through or use by locals.
As well as providing upgrading and maintenance of local community gardens in the west of the city – planting flowers and vegetables in some areas.
In addition, the skills gained by the numerous service users of the Thomas Fortune Centre, ranging from age 16 – 68 and many with additional support needs, who have worked on the project has been crucial to the success.
As Liz Atkinson, manager, Drumchapel Community Business, explains: “The project provides an opportunity to benefit the people involved in delivering this service as well as the local community and other volunteers.
“The workers benefit from achieving a set goal, a sense of achievement as well as job satisfaction, new training opportunities and learning new skills.”
Volunteers from the Yoker Resource Centre have also played an active role in providing help and support and members of the local community have given their backing over the last two years.
With a good profile in the local area, the new partnership between Drumchapel Community Business and the Thomas Fortune Centre has also resulted in strong links developed with local organisations.
“We believe that the project has resulted in a change of understanding towards people with learning disabilities and the project has been independently evaluated receiving glowing praise from users, workers, clients and local communities,” says Liz Atkinson.
Future plans include the introduction of a recognised certificate for the volunteers and project managers are currently in discussions with staff from Anniesland College.

Need Help to Develop Your Group?

Hillhead Library is the place to go for community group members keen to improve their skills or develop their organisation.
From this month (Aug), the library will hold a range of useful publications and local contacts for anyone keen to learn new skills.
It could help if you want to know how to get more people involved in your group, set up a new project or sustain an existing organisation.
Just go along to Hillhead Library and ask to see the West Community Capacity Building (CCB) Resource Library.

Technology Increasing Opportunities for Disabled People

People living with disabilities now have access to an innovative new assistive technology service offered by Momentum’s Adapt and Assist programme in Yoker.
The service, which has been set up with funding from the West Community Planning Partnership, features an assistive technology suite to enable people with wide-ranging disabilities to connect with information and communications technologies which can empower them to excel in all areas of their lives.
The suite features cutting-edge technologies, including screen readers, eye gaze and mouth control systems - which allow individuals to operate a computer and communicate with the movement of their eyes or mouths, as well as accessible desks, keyboards, and computer mice adapted for a range of disabilities.
Momentum’s highly-trained staff will offer personal assessments for people with disabilities to identify the assistive technology solutions which can best fit their needs, as well as provide training on how to use the various technologies. Momentum’s Adapt and Assist programme is also available to employers to support them in making workstations accessible for people with disabilities in the workplace.
Garry Ryan, Momentum’s Assistive Technology Coordinator, said: “For someone living with a disability, integrating into a work place, or learning in a classroom is often a challenge. But with the use of assistive technologies, many of these challenges can be overcome, and people with disabilities can become full participants in all facets of society.”
Councillor Paul Carey, Chair of Glasgow West Community Planning Partnership, said: “I am delighted that our board has been able to assist such an innovative service for people with a disability. The programme fills a clear and significant gap in service provision.”
For further information on the Adapt and Assist programme, contact Garry Ryan on 0141 952 6494 or email garry.ryan@momentumscotland.org