Starter Pack’s Sparkling Street Party, Govan, Glasgow

July 18, 2012

Author: Emma

Saturday, June 2nd in a sunny Govan, Glasgow. The ‘road closed’ sign is out, bunting hung and even the odd couch or two has been lifted out onto the street. Locals out doing their morning shop look on curiously. Tables begin to appear strewn with plates of party snacks. Co-ordinating it all are Glasgow charity Starter Packs’ Sarah and Claire, the thinkers behind and organisers of today’s event- The Big ‘Govan Sparkles’ Lunch.

Starter Packs Glasgow work in Govan providing practical help to those moving from homelessness to setting up a new home. Today they have closed the street they work from and have invited residents to join in and celebrate their area.

“We want to honor the diamond that is Govan and its people. We’ve encouraged everyone to bring and share a dish, but also their memories of how Govan used to be. We hope it’ll remind people that good things do happen here”, Sarah explains.

Local folks start to appear, interested to see what’s going on. Sipping on cups of hot soup, they chat away to each other around the Big Lunch tables or whilst peering into window displays set up to showcase 60 years of Govan. Music begins and face-painted kids start to plonk themselves down on the couches where a crafty lady sits with a bag full of wool, teaching them to knit-and it all comes together!

Very happy with how the day is going so far Sarah highlights the reasons behind all the festivities: “We just want to give Govan something to celebrate because we work here day in day out and know that given a chance, Govan can sparkle. It’s all about coming together over something that’s not about struggling for resources but celebrating us and where we come from.”