A CAMPAIGN to save a community centre in the north of Glasgow has stepped up to help neighbours struggling amid the cost-of-living crisis.

The Save Ruchill Community Centre group gathered at the facility on Bilsland Drive for its weekly demonstration on Saturday.

This week, besides placards and banners, campaigners came armed with cupboard essentials and “a real desire to help their neighbours”.

The group hosted a food pantry collection for Najra Helping Hands, a Maryhill-based charity which runs a weekly community food cupboard.

Glasgow Times: Save Ruchill Community Centre campaigners hosted a food pantry collection to help struggling neighbours.Save Ruchill Community Centre campaigners hosted a food pantry collection to help struggling neighbours.

READ MORE: Kevin Bridges speaks about losing schoolmates to drugs and calls for decriminalisation

Cllr Fiona Higgins, for the Canal Ward, said: “The food collection was extremely successful, with local community leader Brian Land’s car boot being filled to the brim!

“Local people from Ruchill and beyond came with cupboard essentials and a real desire to help their neighbours who are struggling with the impacts of the cost of living crisis.

“We would like to thank local children's charity North United Communities for their donation, and also Maryhill Housing Association for generously gifting £150 to the collection.”

Glasgow Times: Campaigners meet at the centre every week to rally against its closure, amid fears it might be sold to a developer.Campaigners meet at the centre every week to rally against its closure, amid fears it might be sold to a developer.

Najra Helping Hands is ran by local nurse Magdalane, who first became concerned about the welfare of people struggling in her community of Ruchill during the pandemic.

READ MORE: See 6 shocking ways you might be breaking the law in your own garden

Cllr Higgins added: “She founded and runs Najra between her night shifts on the wards.

“Even for Saturday’s collection she was between night shifts on the Friday and Saturday.

“She’s a complete hero!”

Glasgow Times: Ruchill residents have been campaigning since the end of the first coronavirus lockdown, after the centre failed to reopen.Ruchill residents have been campaigning since the end of the first coronavirus lockdown, after the centre failed to reopen.

Residents in the north of the city have been rallying for the reopening of the lifeline facility.

The centre, located in one of the city’s poorest areas, has been closed since March 2020, when it shut down due to the pandemic.

The Save Ruchill Community Centre campaign was started after the first coronavirus lockdown by local woman Karen Love, who continues to fight the closure of the centre.

We previously reported the demonstrations continue, with more and more people joining every week, amid fears that the site could be sold to a developer and lost forever.

Cllr Higgins, who has been supporting the campaign, believes the centre would be at risk of permanent closure, after being told a private residential developer expressed interest in the site.

A petition is also active, appealing to Glasgow City Council and all community leaders to save the centre. You can sign it here.