What We Do

What do we do?

Trustees use innovate thinking, provide human capital and good governance

Crookston Community Group (CCG) provides a wide range of activities and services to make a positive contribution to the cohesion & economy of the community, to help neighbourhoods feel safer and to rekindle old-fashioned community spirit.

Who & Why was it set up?

Founded in 2012 by a group of local multi-cultural people who wanted to do something about the significant increase in local crime, lack of opportunities, inability to access services, extreme poverty & hunger, isolation, fear and the rise in racial hostility within our community. CCG is managed & run by people who have experienced real life and live locally. We all have our own personal stories of overcoming challenging circumstances, which helps us connect, communicate and understand each other and our service users eg I (Nasreen Ali, founder & Chairperson), my husband and children, will never forget the humiliation, loneliness and desperation we felt when homeless and the relief when a helping hand was extended to us.

Seeing the need and potential of CCG, Glasgow City Council provided an affordable long-term lease on an unused unit in the heart of Crookston and we transformed it into a community centre. In no time at all, word got out and people started dropping off anything that might be needed by others and were asking “what can we do to help” whilst others arrived at our door seeking help.

We are a grass roots charity with 83% of staff & volunteers coming to us initially as service users.

Within the past 10 years, due to increase in service users (1000s), the wider geographical demand (individuals walking 5 miles to reach us for help) and the increase in needs (now exacerbated by COVID), we took out additional long-term leases in premises in Pollock and Govan.

Our locations, services and activities have all grown organically and change depending upon the needs of our service users. All obstacles to participation are identified and circumvented. Everyone is equal and heard. Our Trustees, staff & volunteers are of the community and work closely with our Advisory Group, multiple local charities, other local authority and community groups and organisations such as the Greater Pollock Area Partnership, to ensure i) no overlap of services ii) the efficiency and effectiveness of our services iii) our services compliment others and iv) the changing needs of the most disadvantaged in our communities are identified and met.

The main continuous needs identified within our communities are Poverty, Challenging Family Circumstances, Homeless, Isolation & Exclusion, Bigotry, Racism, Inequality / Discrimination, Illness, Disability and Inability to Access Services.

What do we want to achieve?

Working together with the local community and through external private & public partnerships, we want to:

- Reduce deprivation inc food & fuel poverty

- Reduce social isolation

- Improve mental health & well-being

- Restore dignity & confidence

- Increase numbers accessing local public & 3rd sector services

- Reduce anti-social behaviour by building connections

CROOKSTON COMMUNITY CENTRE: 48 & 56 Beltrees Road, Crookston (Mon to Fri - 10am till 9pm)

Daily:

CCG Pantry. 12noon till 1pm

-Training, Work Experience & Volunteer Opportunities (pathway out of poverty)

-Foodbank: referrals from Social Services, Councillors, Turning Point, Money Matters etc (20 p/w)

-Foodbank on Wheels, delivering to those physically unwell, poor mental health, hiding from domestic abuser, elderly

-Emergency Food Parcels includes baby milk, nappies & sanitary products (partner referrals eg Refugee Council, Shelter)

-Hot meals for volunteers, service users and families (100 weekly)

-3 vans collecting food, toiletries, toys, bedding, clothing & furniture

-Advocacy Drop In: signposted by trained Project Officers, always with follow-up (9 p/w)

-Language classes: children and young adults (12 p/w)

Wednesday & Fridays:

-Foodshare: bag of groceries (includes toiletries) from £40+ for a donation of £4.50+ (depending upon family size). This reduces stigma and helps with the transition away from Foodbanks (20 p/w)

-Energy Scotland giving fuel poverty advice every 2nd Wednesday (6 p/w)

-Citizen’s Advice Bureau giving general advocacy advice every 2nd Wednesday (6 p/w)

Thursdays:

-online. Thursday Cook n Chat: locals cook, chat & dine together with some arts & crafts activities or guest speakers (15 p/w) eg Money Matters, DWP Glasgow College, Scottish Poverty Network, Inclusion Scotland & Migrant Help and people who have experienced these issues and come out the other side (10 p/w)

-Youth Group: playing games & monthly movie night (12 p/w)

Every 2nd Friday - Local MP Chris Stevens Surgery

School Holiday Lunch Club (140 children p/d):

Aged 5–15, approx 7 different nationalities

Independence from Foodbanks (20 per week signed up for 6 week blocks):

Regular Foodbank users become less isolated and reliant on foodbank, by building knowledge, confidence and community through encouraging participation in educational, social, training and volunteering activities.

Occasional:

-Pop-Up Foodbanks, within communities in dire need

-Get Yourself Connected (IT classes)

-Multi-Cultural Fun Days (1000+)

LADYMUIR CRESCENT, Pollok

Refurbishment had begun when COVID hit, but due to demand, we began operating a Foodbank, Foodshare and School Holiday Lunch Club from March 2020 continuing to date.

TIFFIN COMMUNITY CAFÉ, CATERERING SERVICES & FUNCTION LETS, Govan

All creating multiple revenue streams to help us towards sustainability.

All Services & Activities operating from our Crookston premises will be replicated within all 3 locations with the proposed additions:

-Health & Wellbeing Counselling: Trained Counsellor 1 day/week

-Mum’s & Bumps: Parenting/family support, impacting on the healthy emotional and physical development of young children.

-Sticky Fingers: Making friends, sharing, talking, listening and playing together with peer support for mum/dad.

-Fusion Juniors & Youth: Removing stigma and helping youth develop an understanding and acceptance of one another through teamwork activities.

-Homework Club, with Maths & English Tutors: Bridging the educational gap experienced by disadvantaged young people.

-Patter & Natter/Men’s Den: Women & men’s groups taking ownership of indoor & outdoor activities to build confidence, skills and friendships