Cost of living: Glasgow community hub reopens after financial crisis

Leithland Neighbourhood Centre in Pollok is now welcoming back local residents after facing financial crisis and closing down at the end of last year.

We previously reported how the venue suffered from rising energy bills and the effects of Covid-19 which saw people struggling to meet up and use the facility.

The community is welcoming the return of the hub (Image: Sourced)

Now it has been saved by the community which hopes to reunite local residents to boost the area.

Local resident Margaret Greig, who has volunteered at the community hub since it opened in 1991, spoke to the Glasgow Times about it being relaunched.

The community gathered at the centre for its opening (Image: Sourced)

The 72-year-old said: “I started as a caretaker, then became a cook in the cafe.

“It was always so busy, there was never an empty room because of all the clubs that used it.

“We had pensioners, dancers, the scouts, dance classes and big events all year round.

“That all fell away eventually and after Covid people just stopped meeting up, I was so sad when it closed.

“Community really means everything, I don’t even have the words to explain how special it is to us.

“I would love to see the hall return to its prime now that it is back open.”

Ex volunteers Margaret Greig and Helen Boyle with local resident Margaret McMillan (Image: Sourced)

Local resident Helen Boyle, 71, who volunteered at the hub for 10 years, said: “A lack of volunteers is a problem, people don’t have the time they did before.

“It needs to be the younger generation pushing forward to make people want to come back in.

“Community is just so important, it lets people look after each other and really care.

“I would love to see the hall be used as much as it used to be when I volunteered here.”

The centre can be used by anyone (Image: Sourced)

Glasgow girl Roza Salih, 33, has been pushing for the hall to reopen since being elected as an SNP councillor.

She said: “It is so great to see the hall opened up again, it is essential in the community and deserves to be used.

“The space had a lot of financial problems before and the pandemic saw it close, but we have worked to get the right people managing the hub now to help this and are working on getting more fundraising.

"Now we hope people will return to use it and support each other.

“It is completely community led so relies on volunteers and people booking out the rooms for clubs and activities.

“I think it's so important for people to have a warm place to go and socialise with others and the hall is perfect for that.

“We hope people start using it soon to get it back to what it was.”

The hall will open from around 9.30am and costs £10 an hour for charities to book while businesses and residents can book spaces for £20 an hour.