10 years of community spirit celebrated at Govanhill Baths Big Lunch

July 7, 2011

Author: Steve Williams

Govanhill Baths Community Trust in Glasgow recently held a Big Lunch to celebrate the end of Refugee Week and to commemorate 10 years of community activity to reopen the Swimming Baths at the heart of the community.

With an estimated 42 different nationalities living within the square mile of Govanhill, Refugee Week proved the perfect time to hold a Big Lunch to celebrate this diversity. Food, dance, music and stories from around the world helped bring colour and international flavours to the Southside of Glasgow with an estimated 500 revellers joining in the fun.

Govanhill Baths Community Trust has been working for ten years to reopen the former swimming baths and wash house on Calder Street. Its goal is to turn the Georgian building into a Wellbeing Centre and at the same time contribute to the wider social and cultural development of Govanhill as a community through a range of activities.

The Wellbeing Centre would seek to promote the health of individuals and the community, by approaching the issue of health from a wider community perspective. This is approach is based on evidence which shows how physical and mental wellbeing can be affected and influenced by the environment and community in which people live.

The centre itself will not only preserve the two main pools in the building but also provide green space for the community in the form a roof-top garden, promote healthy eating with a community café and offer dedicated spaces for community events.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the work and plans of the Govanhill Baths Community Trust can visit their website: www.govanhillbaths.com