SOUTHSIDE HOUSING ASSOCIATION LIMITED 

Grant uplift 'Cost of Living crisis': Construction of building for a charity supporting disadvantaged young poeple in Glasgow

Construction of building for a charity supporting disadvantaged young poeple in Glasgow

Queensland Community Park

This group will use the funding to to work with the wider community of Cardonald to encourage increased engagement of outdoor activity and learning leading to greater community connections.

Detailed description not provided.

Detailed description not provided.

Detailed description not provided.

In partnership with the Nan Mckay Hall, Southside Housing Association will improve the quality of life for Pollokshields residents through the development of a new community hub to replace the fifty ....more

In partnership with the Nan Mckay Hall, Southside Housing Association will improve the quality of life for Pollokshields residents through the development of a new community hub to replace the fifty year old temporary classroom building that currently serves as the Nan Mckay Hall. This will act as a catalyst for wider community regeneration.

This is a partnership bid with Glasgow Life/Glasgow Libraries, Glasgow Homelessness Network, Nan McKay Memorial Hall, Govan and Craigton Integration Network and Glasgow Clyde College. Southside ....more

This is a partnership bid with Glasgow Life/Glasgow Libraries, Glasgow Homelessness Network, Nan McKay Memorial Hall, Govan and Craigton Integration Network and Glasgow Clyde College. Southside Housing Association is the lead partner. The project will take place within the Pollokshields and Cardonald/Craigton areas of Glasgow. The project broadly aims to support people currently not digitally engaged but who would benefit greatly. Key elements of the project include: Installation of Wi-Fi and IT equipment within 4 community bases; providing local, safe and welcoming environments for learning. The bases are community flats (or resident lounge within sheltered housing complexes) converted into common space for local people to come together and participate in positive activities. Current activities include easy exercise, storytelling, arts, and healthy cooking. By providing Wi-Fi and IT equipment we will be able to extend these activities to include digital learning. It should be noted that we have 3 other community bases with Wi-Fi, and we work in close partnership with the Nan McKay Memorial Hall as a welcoming base for learning. These spaces will be used within the project, however in order to reach the target groups outlined above, and a greater number of individuals, this project requires additional support in the form of further Wi-Fi installation, IT equipment and in-kind support from partners. Delivery of a range of courses (by Glasgow Clyde College) within each community base covering the basic digital skills. By doing so we hope to provide people with the skills to improve their ability to connect with others, save money online, enquire and apply for benefits, carry out research and work together to improve, develop and connect within their local areas. We also envisage that by providing Wi-Fi people may choose to bring their own IT equipment to the bases at a time that suits them (outwith the structured learning/activity times). We have completed the delivery of 3 courses, 2 in our Sheltered Housing bases in Pollokshields and one within our Berryknowes Base in Cardonald. 7 people attended each programme, all 21 attendees were taught the basics in using tablets, setting up their own email accounts, send and receive emails and searching online. Some participants brought their own laptops or tablets and used their own equipment to build their confidence and existing skills. We will be running another 2 courses over the summer. Ensuring that people are not simply offered the opportunity of participating in digital learning and using Wi-Fi in their own time (within the bases), but that they are encouraged to connect with existing services and organisations, thus using the project as a foundation for creating pathways to these services and therefore greater outcomes for participants. These other services are currently offered within local libraries, Glasgow Clyde College, the Nan McKay Memorial Hall, Glasgow Homelessness Network and the Govan and Craigton Integration Network. We recognise the importance of ensuring people know what other support exists, which is why this project will be delivered in partnership. Each course incorporated a workshop delivered by Glasgow Libraries where all attendees were informed of the various services the library has to offer. All attendees were given the opportunity to refer themselves to the Glasgow Libraries IT workshops to continue their learning and utilise other services relevant to their needs. Southside Housing Association (SHA) also purchased and donated IT equipment to other local services. We donated a Smart Board to the Glasgow and Craigton Integration Network (GCIN) to support them in delivering a series of ESOL and IT workshops. We also donated a number of tablets to the Nan Makcay Hall to support them in delivering a similar series of Digital learning workshops. By delivering this project we hope to address some of the barriers people find to going online. Some of which include “it’s too difficult to learn”; “it’s too expensive”; “worrying about privacy/viruses;”; “no connection/computer”’ (CarnegieUK Trust, 2013. Across the Divide –Tackling Digital Exclusion in Glasgow). Prior to running these courses, Southside Housing Association coordinated a series of consultation meetings within each base and also distributed a feedback questionnaire to all tenants living local to our bases. The consultations and findings of the questionnaire revealed that a significantly high number of tenants were keen to take part in Digital Learning course but felt they were “too old now” or “it’s too hard to learn that stuff”. We also found that many tenants did not have the finances to install Wi-Fi in their homes and purchase equipment of their own. The local bases provide a safe and free space to learn and break down some of these barriers. At the beginning of each course we asked attendees to complete a Digital inclusion questionnaire, this captured their current skill level and attitudes. We also asked all attendees to complete the questionnaire after the course had completed. We found that all attendees had learned a new skill and most were fairly confident in sending and receiving emails on their own. We observed a change in attitude, particularly amongst older participants who previously believed they were too old to participate. It is good to note that 6 of our older participants now attend the library once a week, use the computer their and also utilise other services the library has to offer. We have just completed and 8 week Keys to Learn programme, delivered in partnership with Glasgow Homelessness Network (GHN) and City of Glasgow College. The programme works with people at risk of losing their tenancies due to debt, mental health issues, drugs, alcohol etc. The Keys to Learn programme introduces participants to different skills and pathways that could resolve or alleviate such issues. The programme includes cooking on a budget, learning digital skills, budgeting and debt management, managing stress etc. Part of the programmes is also to introduce participants to services offer by SHA and within the local community. For example, participants took part in a session with SHA’s Welfare Rights department and were presented with knowledge and information relevant to their needs. They were also offered individual appointments for additional support needed, in the same way, participants completed a session with the Epic 360 service which offer support to people living in Glasgow with budgeting and debt management. Participants have been encouraged to use their local community bases at meeting spaces for such services and to continue accessing the internet.

Southside Community Hub

Not Available

South Glasgow Communities Support Project