Govanhill Baths Community Trust ·

Making A Splash - Baths Building Work Begins

Posted: 20th Oct. 2011 By Andrew Johnson

To the great excitement of all those involved in the Govanhill Baths Community Trust during the last 10 historic years, building and refurbishment work to the front suite of the Calder Street Baths began on 10th October. The Trust is delighted to announce that this marks the beginning of Phase One of the refurbishment of the iconic Baths building, which will see the relocation of the Trust’s HQ and Centre for Community Practice (CCP) to the site and the creation of space for community use and events. The move in will be in November – look out for the launch! The old sign - weather-beaten and crumbling has gone but look out for its shiny reincarnation soon! So too have gone those grotesque shutters from most of the front suite - the light is back in the baths!

This momentous occasion of the commencement of Phase One is testimony to the commitment and loyalty of all those who have been involved in the successful campaign to re-open Govanhill Baths since its closure on March 17, 2001. Special thanks must go to all those who have given their time and energy to the cause and to the various sponsors who have provided financial support. Recently the Trust has benefitted from assistance from the Scottish Government’s Social Enterprise and Equally Well community health schemes, the Big Lottery Fund and Govanhill Community Action who have backed the project. The Trust continues also to acknowledge and appreciate the unyielding support of Nord Architecture, our sponsors, together with positive support from City Properties and the Council for granting a licence to use the premises.

Throughout Phase One of the re-development, the Trust will continue to explore conventional, innovative, and enterprising sources of funding to ensure that the Baths building and its Wellbeing Centre benefits from the highest standard of refurbishment that it justly and rightly deserves. Working in close contact with the Trust’s, partnership organisations, the whole community, the Friends of the Baths, the Govanhill Baths Art and Regeneration Team (GBART), the CCP and the Emporium Charity Shop it will continue to provide a range of programmes and services aimed at Govanhill residents and the wider surrounding community, all of which will work towards the ultimate objective of re-opening the pools and the development of the Wellbeing Centre. A Centre that will promote all-inclusive community participation in a range of educational, recreational and sporting activities and events.

It is eagerly anticipated that Phase One will see the opening of the Govanhill Baths Cinema Club and a community café as well as a vibrant CCP programme of 6 different regular events.

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