Volunteers who have been cleaning up their neighbourhood in Easterhouse are celebrating the opening of a new community eco hub.

The Denmilne Community Action Group officially opened their new building on September 7 and are inviting residents to get involved.

The eco hub boasts a garden for people to grow food, a private meeting space and a community room thanks to £50,000 funding from Glasgow City Council and help from councillor Ruairi Kelly.

(Image: Images supplied) Potential plans for the venue include, tea and coffee mornings, citizens advice and financial support advice for people needing help including asylum seekers. Previously the group met in vice chair Jan Maguire’s back garden pub but now have their own base just off Easterhouse Road.

Jan said: “It is amazing. It brings the community together. People have been coming in an planting seeds. People are welcome to come in and have a wee chat.”

Marion McCarron, children’s event officer, said: “We had a vision but never believed it would actually be a reality.”

Children from Lochend High School have visited the hub to make a bird house and residents from a nearby West of Scotland Housing Association sheltered housing unit have popped in.

A mortgage advice session is planned for October 15.

Issues being faced in the community include a lack of homes and poor maintenance of rented accommodation as well as poverty.

Trisha Gowans said the group would like to help with the distribution of food parcels as there are concerns about people having to choose between heating their properties and eating in the cold weather. Other goals include a forest school in woods beside the building and a compost toilet.

The group’s work is growing after they started out cleaning up their streets by lifting rubbish, flytipping and tidying up neglected spaces.

Group chair Dennis Docherty said: “We are expanding but keeping to the same principles, including keeping the place tidy, improving quality of life and helping with housing issues.”

(Image: Images supplied)

SNP councillor Ruairi Kelly and MP Maureen Burke, Labour, have helped the group obtain the premises and garden.

Councillor Kelly said: “The Denmilne Action Group is a shining example of the impact that a dedicated group of local people can make in their community. I was delighted to be able to help them secure the £50k to carry out this project and look forward to seeing the impact it makes in the local neighbourhood.”

Group member Finlay Davidson said: “We want the community to know this is here and available for them. People can contribute ideas.”

Commenting on how elderly people need information and help to access services, Mr Davidson said: “You can’t get people on the phone. It is online and people don’t have the means to do it.”

The group are grateful to local companies who have helped carry out the work on the project including Steven McIver and Belvedere Garden Landscape and Design. Wicks donated garden tools and other materials.

Their  good work hasn’t gone unnoticed as the group was awarded Best Clean-Up Campaign in the Glasgow Times Streets Ahead Awards in 2021.