2 days ago
'We strengthen Glasgow every time we invest in our communities'
This centre has been at the heart of the Ruchill community for years.
It has hosted youth clubs, parent and toddler sessions, and much more.
It wasn't just a building – it was a space where neighbours came together, isolation was tackled, and opportunities were created.
Local people were led to believe the centre had a future.
In May, the SNP City Administration proposed closing the centre permanently – despite those earlier commitments.
The building has been closed since 2020.
Local campaigners – including Ruchill Community Council – worked tirelessly to make their voices heard.
Backed by Glasgow Labour councillors, their efforts forced the administration to delay their closure plans.
But this shouldn't have happened in the first place.
Ruchill is not alone.
Across Glasgow, vital community facilities are being lost or left to deteriorate.
From Possil to Pollok, facilities that once served communities are being shuttered, mothballed, or handed over without proper support.
These aren't just administrative decisions – they are political choices, the costs of which are borne by people who rely on these spaces for connection, support, and resilience.
When community centres close, we lose more than just bricks and mortar.
We lose the after-school clubs keeping children safe, mental health support groups, and clubs combating loneliness.
These centres are a lifeline – and it is shameful that they are being treated as expendable.
Glasgow Labour will continue to stand alongside communities like Ruchill and call for both more funding from the SNP Scottish Government and political will and creative solutions from the council.
In conjunction with the local community, Glasgow Labour successfully forced the SNP-led administration to defer the closure decision, but our work isn't done.
We're calling for a clear, despite promises, and also upon the Scottish Government to allocate what Glasgow needs to ensure we maintain our community infrastructure.
The people of Ruchill deserve better.
Glasgow's communities deserve better.
It's time that we valued communities.
Because when we invest in communities, we don't just save buildings – we strengthen the very fabric of our city.
