Govanhill Baths Community Trust· Campaigning to save our pool

Wellbeing Centre

Wellbeing combines health, quality of life, and satisfaction. It is about the health of individuals and the whole community as well as the promotion of prosperity.

So what is community health?

Community health is about; people recognizing, valuing, supporting and helping one another regardless of age, health, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, sexuality or political affiliation; economic issues - providing jobs, work skills, training and voluntary work; environmental concerns and the provision and development of green spaces and protecting the environment in general; cultural activities, including the provision, celebration and development of all forms sport, physical fitness, recreation, art and musical performance; the provision and presence of physical buildings that are attractive, valued and celebrated.  If all these are attended to then the potential for individuals to be happier, healthier and more fulfilled is greatly increased.

Crucially community health is about seeing health from a whole community perspective and includes how ill-health (physical and mental) is affected and maybe produced by the community (and the society) in which people live.  All the evidence makes quite clear that the health of individuals will be promoted and preserved if there is a stress on the provision of community health. We believe that providing community health must also work on the fundamental premise that community participation and parity in the distribution and use of available public resources that provide it is an absolutely essential ingredient for effective public and community health practice.

So what is our Wellbeing Centre going to provide?

Prior to 2009 the Trust conducted considerable consultations and research in Govanhill and on the south side of Glasgow as to what people wanted to see provided in the Wellbeing Centre. It included specific and detailed research funded by government which included well over 500 individuals and organizations including; all the local schools, statutory agencies such as CPP and NHS, sports and swimming organizations, most community (third sector) groups, Govanhill Housing Association and Development Trust (with whom we are now formally working), some 80 retail outlets, local councillors and MSP’s, faith groups, and Development and Regeneration Services of Glasgow City Council. It is a comprehensive response to a call for both individual and community health needs. Currently, in the light of our application for major Big Lottery Funding we are conducting a further consultation which has been funded (£10K) of its funding Lottery in the light of its call for more information regarding Phase 1 of our Wellbeing Project which includes the opening of the front suite and working towards the opening of the ladies and toddlers pools, arts space, gardening space, Turkish suite and sauna, and healthy eating cafe

Phase 2 will move towards the development of the Steamie as events and community space and the gymnasium.

Phase 3 re-opening the main pool and completing the programme of activities outlined below. At the end of the Project, which we envisage as a 4/5 year plan our aspiration is that the facility will provide; our Centre for Community Practice and the headquarters of the Govanhill Baths Community Trust (opening January 2012).  The preservation of the three swimming pools with hydrotherapy facilities for medical purposes. Flexible changing room facilities and showering in order to provide facilities for sporting and recreational clubs. E.g. local jogging and running clubs, cycling, marathon/10K training etc. A full community gymnasium with all modern fitness and exercise facilities. A Turkish bath and sauna suite. 6-8 “Slipper baths” – individual bathing facilities. (The original baths had some 50 of these for local people who had no bathrooms or showers – there has been a strong call for this facility to be returned).  A flexible space for a community cinema, theatre and small conferences/seminars/meetings. A healthy eating community café at the heart of the building for community use and gathering. A roof garden as an extra green space in Govanhill. The conversion of the “Steamie” into an open community and event space for such things as conferences, community meetings, fitness and dance classes, “gigs”, ceilidhs, markets etc. A suite of rooms for community activities such as meetings and for all art and musical activities (e.g. sound proofed rooms for musical practice, counselling around issues such as drug addiction, healthy eating etc) and work spaces. A “hub” from which to direct community members to health, community development, legal and other services provided by the local authority. Up to 40 part and full-time jobs, with potential for many more in the various CPP community enterprise and business spaces. Those who work at the Centre will be skilled and training will be offered. An apprenticeship scheme is envisaged and volunteer activities from the community will be a vital ingredient.

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