A ‘call to action” has been issued asking for community groups and organisations to take over community facilities and deliver local services.

Glasgow City Council has launched the initiative to allow people more say in how facilities are managed.

There will be a strong focus on Glasgow Life facilities as the council-owned organisation has been hit financially during lockdown and will struggle to re-open many facilities in communities across the city.

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It has identified dozens of facilities for re-opening but others are likely to stay closed for longer.

The call to action asks for community groups, the third sector and businesses to propose new operating models for facilities in their area.

The council said its People Make Glasgow Communities programme will encourage the people who know, use and are passionate about their local resources to make them more relevant and accessible to everyone in the local community.

Glasgow Times: GV of Glasgow City Chambers, George Square, Glasgow city centre. Photograph taken from roof terrace of 5 George square...   Photograph by Colin Mearns.28 October 2016.

Council-owned community centres and sports pitches are some of the buildings and facilities it wants people across the city to become more involved in operating and managing.

David McDonald, deputy leader of the council, said: “The aim of this call-out is to identify new opportunities to support the city’s social recovery and to find radical and creative approaches to community empowerment. Glasgow’s communities, and the people who care deeply about the places they live in, will be at the heart of our city’s renewal from the Covid-19 pandemic”

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One facility mentioned is Nethercraigs sports pitches. which Pollok United FC helped keep open in a pilot project for the scheme.

Andy Elliott, Pollok United Development Manager, said: "It’s a credit to everyone involved that the project has gone so well and that’s really due to the great relationship we have with Glasgow Life.

“Our joint effort to keep Nethercraigs open has worked fantastically well, especially as the local kids have been itching to get outside and have a kick-about. Once restrictions are eased further, we’re looking forward to more people from Greater Pollok and Cardonald being able to enjoy full use of these brilliant facilities again.”

In a paper to councillors, Bridget McConnell, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life, said: “Glasgow City Council’s “call to action” was launched on the 25th February 2021, inviting expressions of interest from community, third sector and other organisations to propose new operating models for Council facilities. It is anticipated that there will be a large number of property requests by community organisations, especially around the facilities operated by Glasgow Life.

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“This new approach will be reliant on the entire family of council departments to identify the opportunities that exist within their service area for new models of community collaboration to be established.”

She said other than the 61 facilities, which includes the Royal Concert Hall, Emirates Arena and a number of libraries and community facilities, “Glasgow Life is unlikely to be in a financial position to reopen any more venues”.