AN "amazing" service supporting Glasgow's newest residents has marked its 25th anniversary with laughter, love and shared memories.

Govanhill's The Well is a vital high quality advice service assisting ethnic minority communities.

In the 25 years since it opened, it has expanded to include a mother and toddler group, ESOL classes for women and a Chai and Chat social group.

Yesterday at a special event the service was hailed by the Right Rev Colin Sinclair, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

And familiar faces came together to celebrate the service.

Glasgow Times:

Catriona Milligan, who founded The Well, said: "I worked at the Asian bookshop on Allison Street years ago but when it closed down I could see there was a lot of potential in the community to develop something else."

Catriona went door to door in the area with a needs questionnaire to try to determine what local people would like to see in the community.

She added: "Out of that, it was really the community that asked for The Well to be an advice centre.

"We also had to make sure there was nothing similar in the area as we didn't want to do something that was already being done."

Catriona left in 2002 when she had her first child.

Glasgow Times:

She said: "The Well was my baby before I had babies and now it's all grown up.

"One of the remarkable things about The Well is the way it's been able to adapt to the changing community.

"But it has very deep values that are applied to everything it does and it is these values it holds and applies that set it apart."

Lesley Lucan is The Well's longest serving volunteer, having been with the charity since the very beginning when she was inspired to join by a talk Catriona gave at her church.

At first she hesitated to get involved as she wasn't sure she could fully commit her time - yet she's still here, 25 years later.

Lesley, who volunteered in the advice centre but now volunteers for The Well's mum and baby group Bubbles, said: "Every day is different.

"You don't know what people are going to ask about.

Glasgow Times:

"I have loved being part of the team and have made very good friends with people in the community who I have helped.

"I have found listening to the stories of the people who come to The Well very inspirational - it has not been a hard thing to do."

Manager of The Well, Rhoda Moudi, joined as staff in 1998 and took over the running of the centre in 2002.

She said: "It's just amazing to be here and amazing to be in this room full of people.

"Thank you to our service users for coming to us, without you there would be no Well.

"Thank you to our volunteers for all that you have done all that you do."