A HUGE community festival aimed at spreading “joy and happiness” in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis will take place this month in Castlemilk.

Organised by activists Bridget Crossan and Cath Milligan, The Love and Solidarity Summer Festival on August 12 will bring dozens of acts and activities together at Castlemilk Youth Complex, including music, comedy, DJs, arts and crafts, circus skills and bingo.

Bridget explained: “The pressure created by this cost-of-living nightmare, and the roller coaster of life itself, is bearing down on us all and creating anxiety and stress. That impacts on our mental health, which leads to loneliness and isolation for many.

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“We want to pull the community together again and bring everyone a free day of happiness and fun. The need is greater than ever."

She added: “We will be giving out free food - soup packs, fruit and non-perishable items, toiletries and more on the day.

“We have managed to get lots of organisations and projects to open their doors for free so if people can’t get to Castlemilk Youth Complex, there will still be lots of things going on in other areas.”

Long-time friends and campaigners Bridget, who runs Castlemilk Cooks Up Memories, and Cath, who stood for Castlemilk Against Austerity in the Glasgow council elections, set up Food Souperheroes last year, in a bid to help provide soup packs and other foodstuffs to local families struggling after the pandemic and the cost of living crisis.

They organised Cmilk’s Got Talent, a celebration of the area’s biggest stars, such as magician Ryan Davidson, poet Charles T. Lang, BD Dance Academy and The Modern Kind rock band, last November.

Donations of non-perishable food items can be handed in to Castlemilk Senior Centre on Thursdays from 11am until 2pm and Castlemilk Youth Complex on Fridays from 11am until 2pm. You can also email foodsouperheroes7@gmail.com

Bridget said: “We are so grateful to Castlemilk Youth Complex for their continued support in helping us to stage these events there for free.”

The Love and Solidarity Festival takes place on August 12 from 2pm until 7pm and entry is free.