Community budgeting money sees health and wellbeing events held across the city

Published: 23 June 2016

Four community information events are being held in Glasgow following successful funding from the Council's first ever community budgeting programme.

Run by citywide organisation Glasgow Council on Alcohol, the drop-in events aim to promote health and wellbeing in local communities through a number of information stalls with informal clinics, taster workshops and activities.  

At each event they'll also be a chance for local residents to relax, have a cup of tea and take time to meet and chat with each other and local service providers based in the area.

These events are free to attend and people can drop in at any time. The team are also hoping to entice members of the public in from the street, to join in, on the day.

Following a successful event in Possil a couple of weeks ago the other events are being held:

Saturday 25 June 10am - 4pm - Pollokshaws Burgh Hall, 2025 Pollokshaws Road

Wednesday 29 June 4pm - 8pm - The Albany, 44 Ashely St

Thursday 30 June 4pm - 8pm Cardonald Library, 113 Mosspark Drive

Each Reach Out event is slightly different depending on services in the area but those participating at one or all include Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Community Alcohol Support Services (CASS) that support the homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless due to alcohol misuse, and FASS support service for family members affected by or concerned about a loved one's drug or alcohol use.   

As well as advice and support the events will also encourage positive pathways for health and wellbeing activities including volunteering from organisations such as Glasgow Life and through what is known as the Ripple Effect, where trained volunteers work in local communities following action plans to deliver community-led responses to alcohol and drug issues.

Linda McInally, Head of Services from Glasgow Council on Alcohol, said: "When this community budgeting funding opportunity came up we saw it as a chance to do something that we wouldn't ordinarily have the chance to do in local areas. We actually bid for funding in all areas and were successful in four.

"This money has allowed us to put on these roadshows in conjunction with a host of other partners to provide information for people, offer them diversionary activities or referral pathways to other services, if needed.  Most of all it has allowed us to find out more about who is in our local communities and how we can best serve their needs and perhaps make their lives better in some way."

Councillor Soryia Siddique, executive member for communities and citizenship, said "These roadshows are just one example of the 119 projects and organisations that benefited from our pilot community budgeting event where more than £200,000 was awarded.

"The scheme involved getting residents, community and voluntary groups that are based in or have an interest in a local area, to make decisions on the spending priorities as part of a public budget. It meant giving local people greater influence over, and input into, how services and projects are developed and delivered in their local area. And it is something we'd be keen to do more of in the future."

To find out more about the successful funding awards in each of the 21 local area partnerships please visit.