Thistle Housing Association Toryglen Community Action Plan

3rd September 2018

Contents

1. Introduction 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Methodology 1 1.3 Toryglen Community Action Plan 2

2. Contextual and Demographic Information 3 2.1 Deprivation 4 2.2 Tenure 8 2.3 Population 9 2.4 Employment & Education 10 2.5 Health 10 2.6 Asset Mapping 10

3. Resident Survey 1 3.1 Survey Respondents 1 3.2 Living in Toryglen 2 3.3 Things People Like About Toryglen 3 3.4 Things People Would Like More of in Toryglen 4 3.5 Changes to Improve Toryglen 5 3.6 Cornerstone Hall 5 3.7 Communication with THA 6 3.8 THA Opening Hours 6 3.9 THA Newsletter 8

4. Stakeholder Consultation 9 4.1 Community Consultation Event 9 4.2 THA Staff 10 4.3 THA Committee 12 4.4 Wider Stakeholders 13 4.5 St Brigids Primary Pupils 15

5. Conclusions and Action Plan 19 5.1 Toryglen Profile 19 5.2 Toryglen’s Strengths 20 5.3 Opportunities for Change 20 5.4 Aspirations for Cornerstone Hall 21 5.5 THA Role 22 5.6 Toryglen Community Action Plan 23

1. Introduction

Thistle Housing Association (THA) identified a lack of consistent and accessible information about existing activities and services in Toryglen. There are different and varied views about what services and activities are available to the community and this is supported by anecdotal evidence from existing tenants, residents and THA Management Committee members. To date no other local agency has focused on a Toryglen wide community plan.

THA appointed North Star Consulting & Research to undertake a Community Consultation which has formed the evidence base for this report, the Toryglen Community Action Plan. This Action Plan sets out the views of residents and identifies their priorities for the area and highlights their needs and aspirations. It is hoped that the consultation will act as the catalyst for further work to bring forward initiatives to enable the community to engage and interact in a positive manner.

1.1 Background

THA was created through stock transfer from Scottish Homes in January 2001. The association owns 947 properties in the Toryglen area of Glasgow as well as providing a factoring service to 786 owners within the estate. The association is a Registered Social Landlord registered with Scotland’s Housing Regulator and Registered with OSCR in Scotland as a Charity. The strategic and policymaking body of the Association is the Management Committee which is composed of tenants of the Association. The Association is located in a purpose built office in the heart of the Toryglen community.

THA has recently completed all of the major physical regeneration of the houses in Toryglen through the energy efficiency programme. The Association will be reviewing its strategic plan in the near future and is keen to ensure that the outcomes will be informed by the views of the residents in Toryglen. In addition to this THA has over a period of time carried out a number of community events that have demonstrated that the Toryglen Community are very keen for the Association to support wider community and social events. The Management Committee have always been very keen to carry out work that will foster and develop the sense of Community within Toryglen.

1.2 Methodology

1.2.1 Desk Research

Our desk research using existing data available from THA, other service providers and published sources has been drawn together to provide a profile of the community, existing services and unmet needs.

1.2.2 Resident Survey

A short questionnaire was developed and sent by post to all residents in the Toryglen area. A prepaid return envelope was provided to encourage participation along with the opportunity to win a prize draw for £100 of ASDA shopping vouchers. Residents could also return their surveys to the THA office or complete the survey online.

1.2.3 Community Consultation

On Saturday 16th June THA held a Community Consultation day facilitated by North Star in Cornerstone Church Hall. The event provided local residents with the opportunity to provide their views about Toryglen, including what they like about the area; what needs to improve and the types of facilities and services which residents would like to have provided in Toryglen. The community event captured the views of a broad cross-section of residents. Sixty six (66) residents attended the event.

1.2.4 Stakeholder Consultation

Information on the availability and use of facilities and services available to residents of Toryglen has been collected from other stakeholders through a combination of desk top research, structured questionnaires, telephone calls and face to face interviews. Key stakeholders included:

 Michelle McCloy – Parishioner, Toryglen Church of Scotland  Mark Hudson – Sport Development Officer, Glasgow Sport  Karen Alston – Head Teacher, Toryglen Primary School  Evelyn McNair - Toryglen Community Hall  Rose Mulloy - Kerrylamont Residents Association  Carol Stott – Head Teacher, St Brigids Primary School  School Pupils - St Brigids Primary School  Thistle HA Committee of Management  Thistle HA Staff (all staff through 2 focus groups)

We have used the findings from the stakeholder consultation and desk top research to map the assets which are available to the community. This focuses on resources and capabilities existing within the community which can support both individual and community capacity and development. We contacted 19 different external stakeholders but only six agreed to participate in the Toryglen Community Action Plan.

1.3 Toryglen Community Action Plan

This document contains our findings in the following sections:

 Chapter 2 – Contextual and Demographic Information  Chapter 3 – Resident Survey Findings  Chapter 4 – Stakeholder Consultation Findings  Chapter 5 – Conclusions and Action Plan

2. Contextual and Demographic Information

Toryglen is approximately 2 miles south of the city centre, bordering Rutherglen in South Lanarkshire to the east. It is broadly defined as the area between major railway lines to the north, Curtis Avenue to the south and Aikenhead Road to the west. Toryglen is divided by Prospecthill Road, the main road that splits the area into north and south residential areas.

Figure 2.1 Toryglen

Source: Understanding Glasgow, Neighbourhood Profiles 1

The south portion of the area in which the Thistle HA properties are located was originally developed in the 1940s and 1950s by Scottish Special Housing Association on land that was previously a farm and golf course, to provide homes for people dispersed by Glasgow’s slum clearance programme. This is a predominantly residential area of low-rise tenement and multi- storey flats. In 2010, Thistle Housing Association secured £16m Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP) funding for a full external refurbishment programme to 1,083 properties across the estate comprised of 851 apartments in 3 and 4-storey tenements; and 232 apartments across four 10-storey and two 15-storey blocks.2

1 http://www.understandingglasgow.com/profiles/neighbourhood_profiles/2_south_sector/48_toryglen, plotted onto Google MyMaps 2 Lawtechgroup.co.uk/projects – Toryglen estate residential refurbishment.

Figures 2.2 and 2.3 Post refurbishment THA properties

Source: Lawtech Group website

The north part of the area included some of Glasgow’s earlier multi-story tower blocks and deck-access maisonettes, built in the 1960s. This area, known locally as ‘The Circus’, underwent major redevelopment by Glasgow Housing Association in the early part of this century with demolition of the high-rise flats and maisonettes.

The north Toryglen area, previously characterised by unpopular housing and vacant land, was one of eight areas in Glasgow identified as a Transformational Regeneration Area (TRA). The TRA resulted in a programme partnered by Glasgow City Council, the Scottish Government and Glasgow Housing Association to provide new mixed tenure communities though new housing, green space and community facilities. Phase 1 saw the construction of 100 new homes for affordable rent by the Orchard Grove Local Housing Organisation between 2014 and 2016 to rehouse tenants displaced by the demolition3. Phase 2 comprised of the building of 104 homes for sale by Cruden Homes, at Kings View with sales prices ranging from £75,000 to £160,000. 4

Substantial developments have also taken place along Prospecthill Road in the last decade with the building of a large ASDA store, and redevelopment of football pitches into a substantial football centre in the run up to the hosting of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. 5

2.1 Deprivation

The THA estate includes five data zones covered by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). The last data were published in August 2016. The small area zones for Toryglen are slightly different than for the last published data in 2012, although the groupings remain broadly similar.

3 www.glasgow.gov.uk Transformational Regeneration Areas (TRA)/North Toryglen 4 www.crudenkingsview.co.uk 5 https://sportscotland.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/profile/archived-articles/kenny-dalglish-officially-opens-scotlands-first- regional-football-centre-in-toryglen-glasgow/

All five zones fall within the most deprived third of communities in Scotland. Three are within the bottom 20% of deprived areas, and two are within the 10% most deprived data zones in Scotland, and one well within the 5% most deprived zones.

Figure 2.4 SIMD Data

Source: simd.scot/2016

Table 2.1 SIMD Data Datazone Employment Income Education Health Access Crime Housing Rank Rank Rank Rank Rank Rank Rank S01010019 154 155 167 194 287 5,166 232 618 S01010017 501 481 377 1,237 374 5,192 2,107 411 S01010016 1,575 1,550 1,445 1,690 1,080 5,380 2,954 1,361 S01010018 1,441 1,552 1,464 1,806 905 5,776 8,60 836 S01010020 1,766 2,223 1,415 2,063 1,326 4,367 1,388 1,882 Source: Scottish Government – Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation6

The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) ranks datazones across Scotland from 1 (most deprived) to 6,976 (least deprived). As an index, it measures relative not absolute deprivation (i.e. how multiple deprivation compares between datazones, rather than how much deprivation is in each). Across the City of Glasgow there are some 56 datazones which are ranked as the most deprived in Scotland. The key factors affecting ranking are employment and income, which have the highest weighting of the factors considered.

6 http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/SIMD/PostcodeLookupGlasgowCity

Data is also available at the ‘small area’ level from the 2011 census. These areas equate to streets or groups of blocks and can give a very detailed picture of the variances in data within the estate. The census data is not as up to date as the recent SIMD information, and will have been collected before regeneration of the wider area. However, it covers a wider range of indicators, and can be used for comparison of the THA area of interest within the wider Toryglen area data published by the Understanding Glasgow indicators project.7 This compares data over a range of indicators for the Toryglen area (including non-Thistle HA areas to the north of the area) with data for the whole of Glasgow.

Table 2.2 Toryglen Neighbourhood Data Indicator Count % Difference Date from Glasgow Population/ Age 0-15 775 17.3% +7% 16-64 2,863 64% -8% 2012 65-74 425 9.5% +31% 75+ 412 9.2% +37% Cultural People from an Ethnic Minority 454 9.7% -16% People who are married/ civil 1,370 35.6% -15% partnership/ cohabiting 2011 Single parent households 300 51.0% +26% Householders living alone 1,088 23.2% +9% People with religious affiliation 3,383 72.1% +16% Environmental/ Transport People who travel to place of work 1,363 54.2% +8% by walking/ bike/ public transport People living within 500m of vacant 4,638 93.6% +55% 2011 or derelict land Households with one or more cars 836 35.7% -28% Overcrowded households 371 15.8% -9% Socio-economic Owner occupied households 828 35.3% -23% People with grade D or E social 788 47.5% +40% classification 2011 People in Employment 1,745 50.9% -10% People Claiming Employment and 215 4.8% +39% 2012 Support Allowance People claiming out of work 780 28.3% +32% benefits Education Adults with qualifications at Higher 1,125 29.2% -40% level and above 2011

7 http://www.understandingglasgow.com/

Young people not in education, 36 12.9% +9% employment or training Poverty People in income deprivation 1,325 29.6% +39% People of working age in 770 27.7% +45% 2012 employment deprivation Children in poverty 370 37.6% +17% 2011 Health People in ‘good’ or ‘very good’ 3,291 70.2% -9% health 2011 People limited ‘a lot’ or ‘a little’ by 1,365 29.1% +28% disability Male life expectancy 72.5 years +0% 2008-2012 Female life expectancy 77.9 years -0%

Source: Understanding Glasgow, Toryglen Neighbourhood Profile

The headline indictors show a greater proportion of older people in the population, less access to private transport, more people on out of work benefits, less educational attainments, higher levels of income deprivation and more people limited by disability.

Using the postcode area data output sets for the 2011 census, it has been possible to compare the areas of Toryglen of interest to Thistle HA with the wider area, Glasgow and Scotland as a whole. Wide variances occur within the estate due to the very small population samples in each output area. The comparisons below therefore consider averages across the whole estate.

Table 2.3 Neighbourhood Area Data Census 2011 Data set Sub- Thistle HA Toryglen Glasgow Scotland set data-zones Population Population by age 0-15 17% 17% 17% 18% 16-64 57% 64% 64% 60% 65-74 15% 10% 12% 16% 75+ 11% 9% 8% 8% Culture (households) Ethnic minorities 11% 11% 18% 8% Religious affiliation 72% 72% 72% 64% Single parent households 21% 21% 14% 11% Living alone (all ages) 43% 40% 43% 35% Socio-Economic (households) Owner-occupiers 45% 46% 62% Lacking sufficient rooms for all 12% 16% 17% 9% household members No car 60% 64% 51% 31% Unemployed (16-75) 7% n/a 7% 5% Education (adult population) No qualifications 47% n/a 32% 26% 1 or more Highers or above 28% 29% 48% 50% Health (population) Generally good or very good 69% 70% 77% 83% Limited a little or a lot by a disability 32% 29% 23% 20% or chronic condition Life expectancy Male n/a 73 72% 77% Female n/a 78 78% 81%

Source: scotlandcensus.gov.uk

2.2 Tenure

The area is predominantly high density flatted accommodation. Owner occupation in the area accounts for 45% of households compared to 46% across Glasgow and 62% across Scotland as a whole. At the time of compiling this report, several properties were on the market for sale at ‘offers over’ the following market values8:

 2-bedroom: £65,000 to £77,000  3-bedroom: £69,500 to £77,000

There are also properties for sale in private developments within south Toryglen (at Newhouse Avenue) at a fixed price of £158,500 for a 3-bed property. Unfurnished private rentals in the

8 Rightmove.co.uk & www.zoopla.co.uk -Toryglen area search

Toryglen area are being advertised at around to £450 (2-bed flat) to £580 (3-bed flat) per calendar month9. Owner-occupation is similar to the levels for Glasgow overall, but considerably lower than the Scottish average.

Thistle Housing Association has 947 properties for affordable rent in south Toryglen. They also provide factoring services for 786 privately owned properties within the estate.

Thistle Housing Association has 947 properties for affordable rent in south Toryglen, including 34 former sheltered housing flats on Kerrylamont Avenue now let as general needs properties.10 They also provide factoring services for 786 privately owned properties within the estate.

Satisfaction levels are high with 96.4% of tenants satisfied with the overall service; 97% satisfied with the opportunities to participate in THA’s decision making; 96.7% of tenants feel that THA is good at keeping them informed about their service outcomes. Ninety six per cent (96.2%) of tenants who have had repairs or maintenance in the last 12 months were satisfied with the service. It takes on average 1.5 hours for THA to complete an emergency repair and 2.8 days to complete non-emergency repairs and 99.6% of reactive repairs were carried out ‘right first time’.11

Amongst the THA stock there were 5.1 cases of anti-social behaviour reported per 100 homes and 100% of anti-social behaviour cases were resolved within locally agreed targets. THA takes 12.2 days on average to re-let a property which becomes vacant12.

2.3 Population

The population across the whole of Toryglen decreased by around 13% between 1996 and 2012 across all age groups, particularly so for children and older adults. The regeneration and demolition of large areas of housing in parts of the north Toryglen area may have affected this decline. One of the local primary schools has also noted a decline in numbers over recent years, due in part to natural demographic dips. However, the intake for August 2018 shows a significant increase. There are a higher percentage of older people in Toryglen than in Glasgow as a whole.

The percentage of the whole population from minority ethnic groups increased from 2% to 10% in the same period but remained slightly below the Glasgow average. In the THA area around 11% of the population are from an ethnic minority – including around 5% who define themselves as white Irish.

Around 40% of the households with dependent or adult children are single parent households, and around a fifth of all householders live alone.

9 www.s1homes.com, www.zoopla.co.uk 10 https://www.housingcare.org/housing-care/facility-info-158591-kerrylamont-avenue-toryglen-scotland.aspx 11 https://portal.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk/interactive_multiyear/Report.aspx?PSocialLandlord=FF6CA976-CFA9-E311-93F1- 005056B555E6&year=2016/2017 12 Scottish Housing Regulator https://portal.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk/interactive_multiyear/Report.aspx?PSocialLandlord=FF6CA976-CFA9-E311-93F1- 005056B555E6&year=2016/2017

2.4 Employment & Education

Claimant rates for unemployment and disability benefits are higher than average. Levels of deprivation are much higher than the average for all of Glasgow. Most of the population have no access to a private car or van and are therefore highly dependent on public transport / or local amenities. The proportion of the population with no qualifications is considerably greater than for Glasgow or Scotland as a whole.

2.5 Health

Life expectancy for both males and females has risen. It is now close to the Glasgow average but still notably lower than the Scottish average, with around a third of the population limited by chronic conditions or disability.

2.6 Asset Mapping

The services and assets available in the Toryglen area have been mapped below in Table 2.4 and Figure 2.5:

Table 2.4 Toryglen Community Assets Organisation Activities / Services Thistle Housing Association Affordable housing for rent Community-Based Society Factoring services Welfare Rights Wider role activities, including a Summer Lunch Club Toryglen Primary School Primary education Glasgow City Council Current roll 107 Autism Unit (24) St Brigids Primary School Primary education Scottish Catholic Education Service Current roll 281

Ardnahoe Nursery School Pre-school nursery (term time) Glasgow City Council Capacity 54

Toryglen Medical Centre GP Services NHS, Greater Glasgow & Clyde (822 registered patients 2015/16) St Brigid RC Church Christian faith services(RC) Archdiocese of Glasgow Toryglen Church of Scotland Christian faith services (CoS) The church also provides the following activities in Cornerstone Hall: - Nail care - Caravan project - Boxercise Orchard Grove Residential Care Care home for older people / dementia care

Home 120 rooms Glasgow City Council Long stay, short stay, respite & day care services Orchard Grove Kindergarten Day care facility for 26 children under 5 Toryglen Law & Money Advice Community run outreach service for legal and money Centre advice SE Glasgow Community Legal & Advice Service (charity) Cornerstone Community Hall - Bingo Toryglen Community Trust (Thistle - Church Lunch Club HA) - Line Dancing - Keep fit - Holiday lunch club (primary age children) 13 Ardco - Arts & Crafts activities Charitable group run Thistle Housing Association from common room at Prospecthill Road by a professional art teacher (funded by THA). Former Sheltered Housing - Various social activities are run in the common Kerrylamont Avenue room by a small committee, including crafts, Thistle Housing Association dominoes, watching sport on TV together, bingo, tea & blether. Occasional bus and theatre trips and a Christmas meal are funded by a club of £3 per week. Other funds come from THA or small grants. Pensioners resident in the sheltered complex only. Group 15 - Community group based in the Common Room Thistle Housing Association at Prospecthill Crescent, focussed on social activities for residents and liaison on local issues Geoff Shaw Community Centre Community Sport Hub Glasgow City Council - Parents & Toddlers Group - Irish Dancing - Modern Dance - Karate - Activity sessions for older adults - Holiday activity club (senior age children) Venue for hire - Art class - Karate - Line dancing - Yoga - Boogie Bounce - Children’s Club (age 4-12) - Tai Chi - Health Walks - Senior Citizens Club - Slimming World

13 This is currently a one-off event funded for the 2018 summer holidays through the Glasgow Children’s Summer Food Programme (Voluntary Action Fund).

- Bingo - Adult art class - Chest, heart & stroke - Spiritualist church meetings - Councillor surgery

Toryglen Community Trust (a subsidiary of THA, currently not trading) Toryglen Community Base - Employability courses Glasgow Housing Association - Law & Money Advice ‘Click & Connect’ learning centre & - Job Club internet café - Community Café Venue for hire Post Office Post Office Toryglen Pharmacy Pharmacy Itest Opticians McBride Kondol & Co Solicitors Headlines Hairdresser General Store Mini-mart Karahi Grill Takeaway Asda Superstore & Fuel

Community Assets in Toryglen

3. Resident Survey

3.1 Survey Respondents

A total of 145 survey responses were received. Almost half (42%) of respondents were aged 65 or over, 26% were aged 55 to 64, 15% aged 45 to 54, 8% aged 35 to 44 and 7% aged 25 to 34. No responses were received from those under 25 years of age.

Figure 3.1 Age of Survey Respondent

The vast majority (72%) of survey respondents are THA tenants while 25% are home owners, 2% rent from a private landlord and 1% are tenants of GHA.

Figure 3.2 Tenure of Survey Respondents

3.2 Living in Toryglen

Over three quarters (78%) of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Toryglen is a good place to live while 19% neither agreed nor disagreed and 3% either disagreed or strongly agreed.

Seventy per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Toryglen has a strong sense of Community while 23% neither agreed nor disagreed and 7% disagreed or strongly disagreed.

Eight six per cent (86%) agreed of strongly agreed that the quality of housing in Toryglen has improved in recent years, 11% neither agreed nor disagree and 4% disagreed or strongly disagreed.

Figure 3.3 Living in Toryglen

3.3 Things People Like About Toryglen

Survey respondents were asked ‘What do you like most about Toryglen?’ A number of potential answers were provided including ‘other’ where respondents could provide an answer not on the list.

The most popular response was ‘Community Spirit’ (56%), followed by local shops (46%), Cornerstone Hall (37%), open spaces (33%), access to health services (32%), nursery/ playgroups (27%), sports activities/ clubs (26%), arts and craft activities/ clubs (19%), keep fit activities (19%) and the Community Cafe (15%).

Figure 3.4 What do you like most about Toryglen?

A number of respondents chose ‘other’ and the responses provided included:

 Trees  My neighbours/ close  Transport links and proximity to city centre  Community transport  Welfare benefits advice

3.4 Things People Would Like More of in Toryglen

Survey respondents were asked ‘What would you like to see more of in Toryglen?’ A number of potential answers were provided including ‘other’ where respondents could provide an answer not on the list.

The most popular response was ‘Social and community events/ clubs (48%), followed by health related activities/ clubs (45%), employment opportunities (42%), Community Cafe (37%), learning opportunities (36%) and support services to allow more independence (32%).

Figure 3.5 Things People Would Like More of in Toryglen

A number of respondents chose ‘other’ and the responses provided included:

 A cleaner Toryglen  More dog waste bins  Education on bulk item uplifts/ disposal  Evening and weekend events  Tackling drug and alcohol misuse  Handyman service for pensioners  Community Bus  Updated park for the kids

Respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statement:

‘Events/ clubs needs to be free of charge to allow me/ my family to attend’

Fifty six per cent of respondents (56%) agreed or strongly agreed with this statement while 36% neither agreed nor disagreed and 9% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Agreement rises marginally to 57% when we consider only THA tenants.

3.5 Changes to Improve Toryglen

Respondents were asked ‘What changes would most improve Toryglen?’ 68% of respondents provided an answer. The responses were:

 Cleaner streets/ less littering (11%)  Less fly tipping/ better bulk item disposal (11%)  More bins/ better bin service (10%)  Less dog fouling (9%)  More social activities (8%)  Gardens properly maintained (7%)  Better bus services (6%)  Better stair and close cleaning (6%)  More shops (5%)  New play area for kids (4%)  Parking restrictions/ controls when events at Hampden (4%)  More police patrols (2%)  Employment opportunities (1%)  Washing not being hung on balconies (1%)

Respondents were asked if they had any further comments or suggestions to make, 40% provided a response but all the topics raised have been described above.

3.6 Cornerstone Hall

Respondents were asked ‘What activities/ facilities would you like to see provided in Cornerstone Hall?’ - 46% of respondents provided an answer. The most common responses were:

 Social activities/ opportunities for people to meet (19%)  Activities for children (13%)  Exercise/ keep fit (12%) – including Yoga, Zumba, Table Tennis, Badminton, Bowls  Youth clubs/ play schemes (10%)  Bingo (6%)  Computer Skills for beginners (4%)  Tea dances (3%)  Teenage football team (3%)  Cooking classes (3%)

 Brownies/ Guides (1.5%)  Addictions Support (1.5%)  Sewing classes (1.5%)  Weight Watchers (1.5%)  Charity Events (1.5%)

3.7 Communication with THA

Half (50%) of survey respondents said that their preferred method of communication with THA is by post, while 46% said by telephone, 32% prefer to visit the THA office, 13% prefer by email and 3% through social media.

Figure 3.6 Preferred Method of Communication with THA

When we consider only THA tenants, we find their preferred methods of communication are similar to all respondents with 54% preferring communication by telephone, 54% by post, 34% prefer to visit the THA office, 14% prefer by email and 1% through social media.

3.8 THA Opening Hours

Respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement ‘I regularly visit the THA office’ – 42% agreed or strongly agreed, 36% neither agreed nor disagreed and 22% disagreed or strongly disagreed. When we only consider THA tenants 51% either agree or disagree, 34% neither agree nor disagree and 15% disagree or strongly disagree indicating that, as we might expect, THA tenants are more likely to visit the THA office than other residents.

Ninety two per cent (92%) of respondents said that THA’s office opening hours meet their needs while 8% said they did not.

Figure 3.7 THA Office Opening Hours

When we consider only THA tenants we find that 96% think that THA office opening hours meet their needs and 4% think the hours do not meet their needs.

When asked what changes, if any, they would like to see to THA’s office opening hours, 77% said ‘no change’ while 12% said the office should stay open at lunchtime, 12% said the office should stay open later and 2% said the office should open earlier.

Figure 3.8 Changes to THA Office Opening Hours

Again, when we consider only THA tenants we find 81% require no change, 10% said the office should stay open at lunchtime, 8% said open later and 1% said open earlier.

3.9 THA Newsletter

Respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statements:

‘THA newsletter tells me what I want to know’ ‘I always read THA’s newsletter’

Ninety two per cent (92%) of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the THA newsletter tells them what they need to know, with 1.5% disagreeing and no respondents strongly disagreeing. This rises to 97% agreement when we consider only THA tenants.

The THA newsletter is well read with 90% of survey respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing that they always read the newsletter, while 2% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing. This rises to 96% agreement when we only consider THA tenants.

4. Stakeholder Consultation

We have collated information on the availability and use of facilities and services available to residents of Toryglen, the challenges in Toryglen and what consultees would like more of in Toryglen from a wide range of residents through a Community Consultation day, THA Committee and Staff and wider stakeholders through a combination of focus groups, semi- structured interviews and telephone interviews.

4.1 Community Consultation Event

THA and North Star facilitated a Community Consultation event which was held in the Cornerstone Hall. Sixty six members of the Toryglen Community attended. Six groups of residents took part in providing feedback on a number of key questions which mirrored the questions asked in the Residents Survey. This allowed further exploration of why people responded in the way they did. Each table had a facilitator and note taker provided by either North Star or THA staff. The responses provided by each group have been collated below.

All agreed that Toryglen has good community spirit with many long established residents. Although some said that ‘it needs a bit more help to keep it that way’ and one group said ‘it’s not a great community spirit’ others said ‘people complain but they are not interested in helping’ and ‘it’s not like the old days when neighbours helped each other’.

Residents liked the shops (ASDA and Rutherglen shops) and the choice of schools. Residents thought that there is a need for more good quality local shops on the estate for people without easy access to ASDA, although they also recognised that the new supermarket makes it difficult for them to compete.

Neighbours were said by many to be one of the things they like best in Toryglen, with many families having lived in the area for at least two generations, along with the friendly people.

Challenges identified by community members included:

 Sports activities being too expensive  Not enough health services  Not enough for children and young adults to do  Not enough variety of activities for adults of all ages  Lack of activities during evenings and weekends  Social isolation amongst older people  Vandalism  Dog fouling  Fly tipping  Street cleaning  Bins  Bulk uplift  Garden maintenance  Estate maintenance including roads and pavements

 Parking – especially when there is an event at Hampden  A steep walk up the hill  Anti-social behaviour  Lack of police presence

Residents thought that the following services should be provided in Toryglen:

 More social activities, such as a Ladies nights, pensioners clubs, carpet bowls, indoor sports, dance classes, fish supper nights, a monthly dance  Activities should be provided at times to suit all age groups and working/ non-working residents including a disco for young people, Brownies/ Boys Brigade, Majorettes, Boxing, Football  Re-opening of the Community Café  Bus trips/ away days  More clubs for young people  Community Café  Better bus services – and a bench half way up the hill!  A bigger park, with more seating  More activities at Cornerstone Hall  Nurseries  Learning opportunities, Apprenticeships, Classes in IT, Sewing, Knitting, Arts and Crafts, languages, DJ’ing, First Aid, Health & Safety  Employment opportunities  Confidence building  Services to tackle social isolation  Voluntary activities such as litter picking/ cleaning uo the area

Many of these activities could be provided at Cornerstone Hall. Residents also thought that the Cornerstone Hall should be available to hire at reasonable rates for functions. Feedback shows that residents do not think that events and activities held at Cornerstone Hall receive enough marketing and publicity and that this could be improved. Generally residents thought that if activities are free more people will be able to attend, although some felt that a nominal charge needed to be made to avoid lack of attendance.

Residents also thought that more Community Consultation/ Community Fun Days/ Events should be held on a regular basis. Recent community events organised by THA have been well attended and have received very positive feedback as a focus for residents to gather socially.

4.2 THA Staff

THA staff also felt that the community spirit where everyone looks out for their neighbours was one of the best things about Toryglen. The majority of residents have a strong sense of community and it was described as ‘close knit’.

Staff felt that the area is now pleasant and looks good but there are some areas where littering and inappropriate disposal of bulk items are a problem.

Staff were aware that residents in the sheltered housing complex have established their own group which organises bus runs, lunches and snooker events. There are, however, many older people in the wider community who would benefit from similar activities.

Staff were keen on a Community Café but recognised that the previous attempt was overly reliant on volunteers and suffered from a lack of continuity of those involved. They identified a need for a general meeting space and somewhere where people could bring issues such as requests for help in completing various application forms.

Staff were aware of clubs and activities for children but thought that the majority of activities charged for attendance and that this limited those who could attend. There is no youth club in Toryglen and there are opportunities to develop primary and high school age youth clubs over the summer.

The development of the Regional Football Centre removed much of the open spaces where children and young people previously played. There is no access to the facility for local children who play outside it. Staff thought there was an opportunity to develop a local football league for young people but the group would need to hire a pitch.

Staff thought that any activities would need to be free or with subsidised costs in order to make it affordable and accessible to local people.

The Community Base was thought to be more focussed on educational activities and many local people do not attend. Some staff said there are plenty activities available but individuals need to ‘self-refer’ and those who do not have fewer opportunities.

Staff felt that Cornerstone Hall should be open for social events and described receiving many enquiries to use the Hall for Communions, birthdays, parties and social events. They also saw opportunities to run bus trips for older residents to tackle social isolation. Staff were aware of line dancing, keep fit and Bingo being provided in the Hall but felt that it was underused and could provide more activities.

Poor public transport links were raised as an issue with local buses only operating on an hourly basis during the day and not reaching all parts of the estate.

Overall, staff felt that Toryglen is ‘always missed out with fundraising and resources going to other areas’. One described Toryglen as ‘the Bermuda Triangle – there is nothing here’. They also thought that those services and activities which are available suffer from a lack of promotion and marketing which means residents do not know what is available.

Staff also identified a lack of services for people with mental health and addictions issues. Staff said that a Stakeholder Forum was required to bring together all the local agencies to develop a co-ordinated plan to deliver services.

Staff saw the opportunity for the Toryglen Community Trust to take an active role in providing services required by the community. They recognised that THA staff may be required to provide additional services to ensure continuity of delivery which had been missing in the past.

4.3 THA Committee

Committee Members said that the people are a key strength of Toryglen. There is a stable long-term population, with many families having lived in the area for 40 years or more. It was considered that people moving to the area may find it difficult to become integrated because it is hard to get people to join in and there is no clear focus of social activity.

The Toryglen Community Trust is a subsidiary of THA and three members of the management Committee are on the Board. The Trust is not trading at present. Committee members said that although community members are willing to help with specific events there seems to be a lack of interest in attending meetings.

Committee considered that now the dedicated THA Community Regeneration Officer is in post this officer could take a lead on managing bookings and events and possibly co-ordinating events. Committee members said that with staff support, it might be possible to have a looser committee – to develop a list of people willing to turn up and provide practical helps for things on the day, who might then be encouraged to take on a more formal role over time. The Community Regeneration Officer could act as a ‘social convenor’ to drive things forward, where previously there has been no clear focus on doing this.

The Committee feel strongly that the Association should be involved in the community more, bringing people together. They described the Community Café which ran for just over a year providing a range of affordable meals and healthy lunches and was open from 9am to 4pm. A number of issues hampered the success of the Community Café including:

 Lack of funding  Over ambitious menu  Untrained volunteers, lacking adequate training and certificates (i.e. food hygiene)  People put off by ‘the drug element’  Catering for events was not cost effective  Administrative issues such as lack of volunteer transport which meant THA staff had to buy in supplies  Licensing issues

Committee felt that the community miss the café and are aware that there is support for a café in the future. The Committee are supportive of Cornerstone Hall being run by the Association / Trust as a community hub and are keen to see THA take a stronger role in the community.

In relation to activities currently being provided Committee members were aware that there are a number of classes provided at the Toryglen Community Base. While it was thought that some people from this area attend most do not. Committee described a community with a

very high percentage of pensioners and working age adults who are not in work, with most on benefits. People attend free events but fewer attend if they have to pay.

The Committee recognised that it can be difficult for some older people to get out of their homes and there is a lot of social isolation in the general needs housing. THA previously ran bus trips and there was sufficient demand for two buses when it was free, this reduced to one bus when a small charge was made. There continues to be a bus trip for the sheltered housing tenants, but other pensioners in the area cannot access this opportunity.

Committee thought that a noticeboard in a central place would be good to provide information to the community. Dependent on location there may be some people who would not see it. Committee suggested a Toryglen Facebook page might be more accessible to a wider range of residents.

Committee described the key challenges in the area a the general upkeep of the estate and were aware that cleanliness is a big issue for residents. In particular there is a lack of dog waste bins. Committee acknowledged that the majority of complaints fall under the responsibility of the City Council but considered whether THA could take on a wider role or whether the THA Tenant Scrutiny Panel could have a role.

Committee described a limited range of shops locally and said that there had been a number of other shops which closed when ASDA opened. It is now difficult for people who cannot get to the big supermarket or who only need single portions of food.

Committee identified a need for more activities for older school age children and young adults, this should be somewhere for them to gather like a youth club. Availability of activities for working age adults is thought to be limited, restricting the opportunities to mix with other residents informally. Transport for older people is also an issue which contributes to social isolation.

4.4 Wider Stakeholders

Stakeholders described an area where many residents have long term connections to the area. They thought that some people get involved but that there is not a strong sense of the community coming together. The THA Easter Fun Day, however, attracted an unprecedented number of people. Stakeholders suggested that regular events may provide a greater focus.

Stakeholders said that there is some crossover between the old and new parts of Toryglen, but as in most areas of Glasgow most people remain in their own area. However use of facilities in the area is also said to be mixed, some are attended by local people and for other activities people come in from some distance across Glasgow.

Stakeholders thought that there is a need to build community capacity in order to increase engagement and participation. Many members of the community will have no experience in managing bank accounts, chairing meetings, taking notes etc., so every engagement process needs a lot of additional support to get to a base level of involvement. Stakeholders concluded that relying solely on voluntary input would be a challenge. Some parents have been brought

in to support activities for children, but they have been harder to motivate and confidence to step forward and take part in things is generally lower than experienced in less deprived areas.

Stakeholders were aware that Sport Scotland are keen for sport hubs to include broader community initiatives, not just organised sport and that the Geoff Shaw Centre is looking to expand the range of ‘activities’ that will bring people in and together. It was thought that new activities can be hard to get going but tend to grow over time as more young people get involved.

The church hall experience of organising activities has been variable. They had some success with film nights in the summer, but it fell away as people became intimidated by youths hanging around. There have been initiatives between the Church and the local primary schools. Toryglen Primary School has an after-school club that is free to attend. The youth officer is trying to establish a youth club but has not yet attracted attendees in sufficient numbers. This may be because the publicity has been too dependent on paper leaflets and there may be a need to consider use of social media to market the opportunity better. It was noted that there is currently no street based outreach youth work, which has been seen to be very successful in other parts of the city.

There are differences across Toryglen with stakeholders describing parts of the area as ‘very rough’ and others as ‘very quiet’. There is thought to be less community cohesion amongst younger people and there are pockets of vandalism and anti-social behaviour, but not throughout the whole estate.

Some parts of Toryglen have very high levels of deprivation. People in the poorer areas have fewer opportunities and therefore lower expectations and different priorities for their time and money. Healthy activities may not be an immediate choice. It can therefore be a harder job to convince people to change their priorities to be take part in sport or other activities.

Lots of facilities are available but families don’t always access them. This may be due to a lack of confidence and fear of joining something new or due to a lack of knowledge about what is available.

Stakeholders identified a need for events which people can come out to and be a community at. Somewhere they can meet with neighbours and take part in the community. The lack of disposable income was identified as a barrier to participation.

Stakeholders said that there are problems at night with older children getting drawn into negative activities and associations. Many have positive talents and skills that could be used in a better way and there is a need for activities for teenagers, but stakeholders thought that this would need to be backed up with ways to engage them beyond peer pressure. Stakeholders suggested working with the primary schools to ensure early engagement.

Wider stakeholders felt that Cornerstone Hall could be used for room or hall hire if reasonably priced. There is likely to be demand as rates at municipal venues are becoming increasingly expensive. They also thought that the hall could be used to provide a Youth Club and as a base

for Streetwise outreach activities. Other suggestions included: casual use of the hall such as pay as you go access to pool tables.

Stakeholders were very supportive of the school holiday lunchtime programme being run this summer and are interested in provision of activities for children with autism.

4.5 St Brigids Primary Pupils

We held two consultation sessions with pupils from St Brigids Primary school. In the first session we spoke to nine children from Primary 1 to 3 and in the second session we spoke to ten children from Primary 4 to 6. All of the children lived in Toryglen and all said that they liked living there.

Several of the primary 1-3 children said that they do not use the park in Toryglen. Those who do use the park said that they liked the monkey bars, spiders’ web and climbing frame. Almost all the children said that they would like a bigger park as there are often too many children in the park.

The children described a lack of places to go and said that the school football pitch is only open on a Friday. They also said that they would like more clubs and activities and highlighted that there is no library in Toryglen.

Several of the children attend activities and clubs in the Geoff Shaw Centre (including Karate, gymnastics and dancing) but said that they had to go to the Gorbals if they wanted to go swimming. They also said they wanted to play football but they could not access the Regional Football Centre.

The children would like to see more activities provided including:

 Badminton  Basketball  Cricket  Tennis  Netball  Cheerleaders group  Rainbows/ Guides  Arts and craft clubs  A safari park  A drinking hot chocolate club

The children drew pictures of what they would like to see in Toryglen and a selection are provided below:

The Primary 4 to 6 children use the parks in Toryglen but thought that the parks could be made bigger and have more playground items. They said that they missed the roundabout which has been removed from the park. They said that the park is always very busy and that they did not want to use the same park as ‘the wee kids’ and hoped that there could be a ‘big park and a baby park’. The children said that they really like to play outside but that this is not always possible.

The children attend many activities and clubs, some of which are in Toryglen but for many activities they travel to Rutherglen and other areas. The children said that they would like to see clubs and activities available on more days than they are currently provided.

The children would like to see the following activities/ clubs provided:

 Drama  After school clubs  Karate  Irish Dancing  A pantomime at Christmas  Youth Club  Fitness classes  Cinema club

The group were aware that some clubs had closed due to lack of funding and suggested that they could do fund raising to create a fund which could pay for a youth club. They also said that clubs were often age specific so that they were attending clubs which they then became too old for and there was nothing else for the next age group.

The children said that the area is not always safe and that they would like to see CCTV to make the area safer. They also said that there is a very busy road close to the school’s main gate and there is only one lollipop crossing.

The children drew pictures of what they would like to see in Toryglen and a selection are provided below:

5. Conclusions and Action Plan

THA identified a lack of consistent and accessible information about existing activities and services in Toryglen. To date there have been different and varied views about what services and activities are available to the community and no other local agency has focused on a Toryglen wide community plan.

The extensive community and stakeholder consultation has provided a strong evidence base which sets out the views of residents and identifies their priorities for the area and highlights their needs and aspirations.

It is hoped that the consultation will act as the catalyst for further work to bring forward initiatives to enable the community to engage and interact in a positive manner. In this section we set out the key findings from the research and a Community Action Plan for Toryglen.

5.1 Toryglen Profile

Toryglen is approximately 2 miles south of the city centre, bordering Rutherglen in South Lanarkshire. Thistle Housing Association has 947 properties for affordable rent in south Toryglen. They also provide factoring services for 786 privately owned properties within the estate.

The area is characterised by:

 High levels of deprivation with all datazones ranking in the 1/3 most deprived in Scotland  High levels of older people aged 65+  High levels of single parent families  Low levels of car ownership  Very low levels of owner occupation  Low levels of employment  High levels of benefit claimants  High levels of people in income deprivation  High levels of people in employment deprivation  Lower levels of ‘good health’  Higher levels of people limited by disability

THA performs well with high levels of customer satisfaction. Demand for THA housing is strong and properties are on average relet within 12.2 days.

We approached a broad range of stakeholders to take part in the consultation and development of the Toryglen Community Action Plan. Participation levels were very low and this seems to confirm the views presented by THA staff, THA Committee of Management and local residents that there is a lack of direct service provision in Toryglen itself.

Those services and facilities which are available to residents of Toryglen include:

 Thistle Housing Association  Toryglen Primary School  St Brigids Primary School  Ardnahoe Nursery School  Toryglen Medical Centre  St Brigids RC Church  Toryglen Church of Scotland  Orchard Grove Residential Care Home  Orchard Grove Kindergarten  Toryglen Law & Money Advice Centre  Cornerstone Community Hall  Toryglen Community Trust (Thistle HA)  Ardco – THA Tenants Group Prospecthill Road  Group 15 – THA Community Group Prospecthill Road Multi-storey flats  Geoff Shaw Community Centre  Toryglen Community Hall Cultural Hub  Toryglen Community Base  Local shops including: Post Office, Pharmacy, Optician, Solicitors, Hairdresser, General Store, Takeaway

5.2 Toryglen’s Strengths

Each of our consultation exercises have found that Toryglen has a strong sense of community. Our resident survey shows that 78% agree or strongly agree that Toryglen is a good place to live. Residents like the community spirit of Toryglen with 58% indicating that this is what they like best.

Other aspects of Toryglen which residents like best include:

 Local shops  Cornerstone Hall  Open spaces  Access to health services

5.3 Opportunities for Change

Through each consultation activity it was clear that there is a demand for more social and community events in Toryglen with almost half of survey respondents seeking this. Other things which residents would like more of in Toryglen include:

 Health related activities/ clubs  Employment opportunities  Community Café  Learning opportunities  Support services to allow greater independence  More bins and dog waste bins

 A cleaner area  Improvements to bulk item uplifts  A Community Bus  A Handyman Service  Improvements to the park

Those things which residents think will improve Toryglen were:

 Cleaner streets/ less littering  Less fly tipping/ better bulk item disposal  More bins/ better bin service  Less dog fouling  More social activities  Gardens properly maintained  Better bus services  Better stair and close cleaning  More shops  New play area for kids  Parking restrictions/ controls when events at Hampden  More police patrols  Employment opportunities  Washing not being hung on balconies

5.4 Aspirations for Cornerstone Hall

There is a significant appetite within the community to have more services and activities provided in Cornerstone Hall. Community members see the Hall as a valuable community resource and are keen to have it used more effectively and more frequently. Many residents view the Hall as a potential hub for the community and hope that it will be open on a regular basis providing co-ordinated activities and events.

Reflecting the view that more social events and activities are needed in Toryglen the most common response when residents were asked what they would like to see provided in Cornerstone Hall was ‘social activities’ and ‘opportunities for people to meet’.

There is also demand for activities for children and young people. There is no youth club or play scheme and this was considered to be a good future use of the Hall alongside wider activities for children. THA has been successful in securing funding from Glasgow City Council to run a summer lunch club (11am to 2pm) for primary school aged children at the Cornerstone Hall for 5 days a week over the school holidays. This will complement a summer activities programme being run for senior school children at the Geoff Shaw Centre.

Exercise and keep fit activities were also considered by many in the community to be the best use of the Hall. While many others are keen to see the Community Café re-opened again, albeit with formalised management and delivery options.

There is also demand for educational, learning and employment skills in the Hall.

5.5 THA Role

THA is the key agency providing services in Toryglen and there is an appetite amongst staff and the Management Committee to enhance this role and develop THA as the anchor within the community. This is reflected by the demand for services expressed by the community.

THA office opening hours meet the needs of 92% of the community and 96% of THA tenants. THA may wish to consider an extension to office opening hours, perhaps opening late one evenings a week and keeping the office open during lunchtime to meet the needs of this group. While the newsletter is well read there are also opportunities for other communication methods to be developed including the THA website, a local notice board and social media.

Residents have also expressed concern about close cleaning, garden maintenance and back yards. These housing management issues should be addressed by THA. Residents of Prospecthill Crescent have described difficulties in returning home from the shops on foot due to the steep hill and lack of railing on the pavements. Some residents said that a bench half way up the hill would be helpful to them and allow them to continue to make this trip. This would be a relatively quick win which could have a positive impact for a number of local residents. There will be other issues like this which are quite specific to certain areas of the neighbourhood and particular residents. THA may wish to consider the creation of a small community fund and the use of Participatory Budgeting so that local residents can decide how and where it is spent to best effect.

THA has an opportunity to respond to the needs of the community as expressed through the consultation findings. There is a clear demand for better use to be made of Cornerstone Hall and in the absence of other agencies driving delivery of services in Toryglen THA emerges as the obvious agency to drive change and co-ordinate delivery of these services. Fortunately, staff and Committee appear to welcome this challenge. The Toryglen Community Trust, which is effectively dormant (managing only Bingo nights in Cornerstone Hall) is likely to be the most appropriate vehicle for this but in a revitalised form. There is a need for strong leadership from the Trustees supported by effective management, co-ordination and delivery of services from THA staff. The Community Regeneration officer (with supporting staff) are the logical team to support and drive this. A Hall Caretaker or Manager may be required.

There are a several improvements to the local community which are likely to be outwith the immediate control of THA. Many of these are having the greatest negative impact on Toryglen. Of particular note are dog fouling, mismanagement of bulk items, street cleaning, lack of bus service or access to bus routes and parking problems. THA should share the findings of the community consultation with the responsible agencies and work to find solutions or improvements to the current situation. There is also an opportunity for THA to establish a community forum with other local stakeholders to create a focus on improvement in these areas and foster greater partnerships and joint working. This may be difficult to achieve given the lack of engagement from the majority of agencies in this consultation and in the provision of services locally.

5.6 Toryglen Community Action Plan

In this section we have summarised the key actions which are required to respond to the issues raised during the community consultation. THA should decide the timescales for delivery and the lead person/ role for each activity.

Table 5.1 Toryglen Community Action Plan Action Comment Responsibility Completion Date Re-establish Toryglen Community There is a need for strong leadership to ensure success of THA Trust future Trust activity Toryglen Community Trust to provide Social activities, events, exercise, learning, employment THA a wide range of social events and and health. activities for the Community in Offer the Hall as a function venue for local residents at Cornerstone Hall reasonable prices. Re-establish Community Café Toryglen Community Trust to take lead supported by THA Community Regeneration Officer (and caretaker/ manager) Re-establish social outings (for older Bus trips are currently only available for pensioners living residents) in the former sheltered housing. A high proportion of households live alone and social activities outside the area would help to reduce social isolation and also broaden the horizons and opportunities of local residents Set up Toryglen Service Providers Multi-agency forum with focus on services for Toryglen THA/ Service Forum Providers Consider extending THA office Committee should consider the benefits of and the THA opening hours resources required to extend THA office opening hours Develop THA website To promote local services, events and activities. THA Introduce local notice board This could be a route to involving some of the older Develop social media teenagers / young adults. Link to need to expand range of non-written communications with residents to promote and publicise

local events and services Address Close Cleaning issues THA Address Garden Maintenance issues THA should consider whether there is potential for a THA/ Residents gardeners club / tool loan service / men’s shed. Improve back yards THA Consider a bench on Prospecthill Subject to relevant permissions this would be a positive THA/ GCC Crescent gain for little expenditure Consider hand railings on Prospecthill THA/ GCC Crescent Consider Participatory Budgeting This will require some skills development and could THA/ Forum Approach possibly be a role for the stakeholder forum. Address dog fouling Role for THA to lobby for improvements THA/ GCC Improve street cleaning Address parking issues We note that there is already a Dial a Bus service, so THA Increase buses to Toryglen – consider should explore ways to support his with funding and / or Community Bus to promote the service more widely Address social disengagement of Work with local youth and community education /public THA/ Forum younger people (identified through health services to develop outreach work for older lack of response to consultation and teenagers and young adults, developing diversionary reports of some anti-social activities and to find a way to engage young people’s behaviours) skills more constructively within the community