United We Will Swim

Govanhill Baths Community Trust wants to thank you all for 2017.  It has been a tremendous year for our project.  In February we opened the Children’s teaching pool, bringing swimming back to Govanhill for the first time in 16 years.  We had our first annual Govanhill International Carnival, bringing people together with a massive parade and celebration of our unique community.  And, most importantly, our Community Shares issue raised the money we needed to move ahead with the ultimate aim of restoring this historic building to be the Welbeing Centre we have been working towards for all these years.

It was only possible because of you, the people who support the campaign through contributions, volunteering and lending us your good will.   We had a footfall of over 24,000 people this year, coming to The Baths for everything from knitting and cooking to internationally celebrated arts events.

2018 is going to be a momentous year.  Towards the end of the year we will close to begin the refurbishment, something that might have seemed impossible a few years ago but became a reality because of the resilience, hard work and perseverance of the people of Govanhill and beyond.

Sometimes, among the hard work, its good just to celebrate, come together to chat and to dance.  Our friend Neil Bryson has organised an end of year party to celebrate our great year and look ahead to next year.  Its at the Rum Shack on Saturday (30 December) Neil will be compering and DJing and there will be live acts, Capone and The Bullets, The Zips, James G Creighton and The Sweet Vendettas.  Michael “Tich” Anderson (Altered Images) will be a guest DJ with some classic punk and ska.  We hope you can join us there and give yourselves a well-earned pat on the back.  Or, if you havent been involved before, come along to join in.  You can pay at the door (£5).

So come along, if you cant make it join us next year for one of our classes events, or pop in for a chat or to access our advice services.  Thank you again,

UNITED WE WILL SWIM!

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Two Exciting New Job Opportunities with Rags to Riches

Rags to Riches, our award-winning upcycling project, is looking for a Manager and an Assistant Manager for our new retail outlet. A full job descriptions and details of how to apply are included below.

 

Rags to Riches Retail Manager

Download Job Description

Download Application Form

Start and Finish: 29th January 2018 – 30th February 2020

Salary: £23,800 plus 3% pension

Hours: Full time. 35 Hours, Flexible working shifts around a six day week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday 10am-5pm, Thursday and Friday 10am-7pm.

A exciting opportunity has arisen at Govanhill Baths Community Trust (GBCT) for a customer focused, dynamic and passionate Retail Manager to join our Rags to Riches new Upcycling Outlet in Victoria Road, Govanhill.

The successful candidate will have experience in managing a Retail Outlet and extensive knowledge of the Upcycling Sector in Scotland

Job Role:
The Rags to Riches Retail Manager, will report directly to the Rags to Riches Manager and be responsible for delivering the commercial excellence of our new Retail Outlet. They will be the role model for exceptional customer service and through inspirational leadership develop your team of staff and volunteers to be ambassadors for Rags to Riches and the Scottish Upcycling sector. They will combine experience, commercial insight and excellent visual merchandising skills to continually grow the success of Rags to Riches and the Scottish Upcycling Network.

Key responsibilities:

  • Responsible for the operational and financial management of the Retail Outlet
  • Manage the creation of practical workloads for staff and volunteers
  • Responsible for online marketing and sales of products, events and courses
  • Work with the Project Manager and Product Development Manager to procure stock
  • Reporting insights into customer buying patterns
  • Work with the Project Manager to increase sales and grow the Retail Outlet and the Scottish Upcycling Network
  • Responsible, under the terms of the Trust policies and relevant legislation, for providing a safe working environment that is conducive to the well-being of employees, volunteers and contractors.
  • Stay abreast with and ensure that the Trust operates in accordance with developments in legislation relevant to its work.


Essential Experience:

  • Experience working as a Retail Manager
  • Experience in working within or knowledge of the Upcycling sector
  • Managed turnovers of at least £50k per year
  • Experience in online marketing and sales of merchandise
  • Experience in working with an accounting system such as Sage
  • Will have managed a small to medium sized team of staff and/or volunteers
  • Strong creative visual experience/aesthetic
  • Extensive knowledge of/or experience of working within a deprived community
  • High levels of professionalism and organisational skills

Desirable Experience

  • Managing a social enterprise
  • Aware of issues of racism, cultural, ethnic and religious diversity
  • Drivers Licence

Applications: CVs will not be accepted. Applications for the post must be made by:-

  1. Completing the Application Form, and;
  2. Covering letter, on not more than 1 side of A4 using Arial 12 point, outlining how you meet the required skills and why you would like the post.

Closing date for applications is 5pm on the 12th of January 2018

Return by email- ragstoriches@govanhillbaths.com

Return by post- Nadine Gorency, Rags to Riches Manager, 99 Calder street, G42 7RA

Interviews: Candidates selected for interview will be notified on the 17th of January. Interviews will take place on 19th January. Please be aware that unfortunately GBCT cannot accommodate interviews outside of this date.

Employment commencing: Monday the 29th of January 2018

 

Rags to Riches Assistant Retail Manager (p/t)

Download Job Description

Download Application Form

Start and Finish: 29th January 2018 – 30th February 2020

Salary: £11,500 plus 3% pension

Hours: Part-Time 17.5hrs. Flexible working shifts around a six day week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday 10am-5pm, Thursday and Friday 10am-7pm.

A exciting opportunity has arisen at Govanhill Baths Community Trust (GBCT) for a customer focused, dynamic and passionate Assistant Retail Manager to join our Rags to Riches new Upcycling Outlet in Victoria Road, Govanhill.


Job Role:
The Riches Assistant Retail Manager, you will report directly to the Retail Manager and be responsible for helping to deliver the commercial excellence of our new Retail Outlet. They will be the role model for exceptional customer service and through inspirational leadership develop our team of staff and volunteers to be ambassadors for Rags to Riches and the Scottish Upcycling Network. They will combine experience, commercial insight and excellent visual merchandising skills to continually grow the success of Rags to Riches and the Scottish Upcycling Network and look to exceed targets year on year.

Key Responsibilities include:

  • Assisting on the day to day operational and financial management of the Retail Outlet
  • Supervise staff and volunteers as required
  • Processing online sales of products, events and courses
  • Responsible for stocktaking
  • Act as Manager of the Outlet in the absence of the Retail Manager


Essential Experience:

  • Experience working as an Assistant Retail Manager or Supervisor
  • Experience in working within or knowledge of the Upcycling sector
  • Experience in online marketing and sales of merchandise
  • Experience in supervising a small sized team of staff and/or volunteers
  • Strong creative visual experience/aesthetic
  • Knowledge of/or experience of working within a deprived community
  • High levels of professionalism and organisational skills
  • Drivers Licence

Desirable Experience

  • Working in a social enterprise
  • Aware of issues of racism, cultural, ethnic and religious diversity

Applications: CVs will not be accepted. Applications for the post must be made by:-

  1. Completing the Application Form, and;
  2. Covering letter, on not more than 1 side of A4 using Arial 12 point, outlining how you meet the required skills and why you would like the post.

Closing date for applications is 5pm on the 12th of January 2018

Return by email- ragstoriches@govanhillbaths.com

Return by post- Nadine Gorency, Rags to Riches Manager, 99 Calder street, G42 7RA

Interviews: Candidates selected for interview will be notified on the 15th of January. Interviews will take place on 17th January. Please be aware that unfortunately GBCT cannot accommodate interviews outside of this date.

Employment commencing: Monday the 29th of January 2018

This project is part financed by the European Social Fund and Scottish Government  under the Social Economy Growth Fund

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montage of pictures showing visualisation of redeveloped Govanhill Baths with swimming pool and gym

Vacancy: Board of Trustees Treasurer

The Govanhill Baths Community Trust is recruiting new Board members who are committed to helping the Trust re-open the Baths as a Wellbeing Centre and contribute to the social, cultural and built regeneration of Govanhill as a community on the Southside of Glasgow.

We are specifically looking for someone with charity accounts and finance experience to take on the role of Treasurer.

These are exciting times for the Govanhill Baths Community Trust. After 16 years of determined campaigning the GBCT has been awarded substantial grant money to begin work on bringing the building back into operation. We expect to have raised the full 6.4 million needed to start the restoration and refurbishment of the building by March 2018. We have just been successful in securing community investment of over £280,000 by issuing community shares in the project and will be transferring our operations to a community benefit society when the building opens.

The refurbishment is scheduled to begin in 2018 and will bring into service the Ladies’ pool, Learners’ pool, Turkish Suite and Sauna, Gym, Rooftop Gardens, a Community Kitchen/Cafe and Multipurpose community spaces. While the former public washhouse, or ‘steamie’, will be turned into a theatre venue and community events and arts space.

Visit our website www.govanhillbaths.com to find out more about the wide ranging work of the GBCT. To request an information pack please email info@govanhillbaths.com

The Board currently meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7pm at the Govanhill Baths at 99 Calder Street, G42 7RA.

This is a voluntary position.

Deadline to apply: 22/12/17

Registered Scottish Charity No: SC036162 Company No: SC314823

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Govanhill Theatre presents: The Devil’s Christmas

Govanhill Theatre and Radio Theatre Group are back collaborating on a Christmas Show at Govanhill Baths on 14, 15 and 16 December.  For further details and ticketing see our “Whats On” section

As with all of GBCTs shows we are offering the G42 pound ticket.  If you are in receipt of benefits, or are unwaged email info@govanhillbaths.com with your details.  There are a limited number of tickets for each show issued on a first-come first-served basis.

The Devil’s Christmas

The Devil’s Christmas is inspired by a story called The Girl with Silver Hands by The Brothers Grimm.
In hard times, a miller is tricked into selling his daughter to the Devil. Protected by her innocence, she escapes but the Devil forces the Father to chop off her hands. Leaving her father behind, she encounters a prince in his castle but that is only the beginning of her long journey towards the light…

(Suitable for 8 years and above)

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Govanhill Baths ‘Pools’ Together In Effort To Improve Sexual Health and Tackle Period Poverty

Govanhill Baths Community Trust (GBCT) has become the first registered NHS Free Condoms Venue in Glasgow’s Southside that is not run by the NHS or a registered pharmacy.  As well as this measure, GBCT also provides free sanitary products for women who attend Govanhill Baths for wellbeing classes and community groups.

GBCT General Manager Fatima Uygun said:

“No one should have to worry about accessing free condoms or lubricant to improve sexual health or worry about access to sanitary products due to financial constraints. As Govanhill Baths aspires to be a Health and Wellbeing Centre for people living in the Southside, We feel that offering these products from our Baths is a practical step forward for one of the most deprived communities – tackling sexual health issues and period poverty as well as demonstrating the commitment of Govanhill Baths to move forward with being a more accessible venue for Health and Wellbeing matters.”

From this week Govanhill Baths will have a wide range of Male and Female Condoms and lubricant. The Baths has also been providing free sanitary towels since the start of November. This has been welcomed by many local Period Poverty campaigners.

Local MP Alison Thewliss added:

“I am delighted that Govanhill Baths Community Trust (GBCT) will be offering free sanitary products to all women who take part in any one of the number of classes that they organise; from yoga to cookery. This move underlines GBCT’s commitment to help tackle period poverty in Govanhill and other areas of Glasgow.

“It is estimated that the UK Treasury generates around £15 million from VAT on ladies sanitary products. Tampons are not a luxury item – they are a basic requirement for women and should not be subject to tax.”

Free sanitary products and a wide range of free condoms, including female condoms, can be found in all GBCT toilets. Information on different sexual health services is also available at GBCT reception for anyone who is concerned about their sexual health. For anyone suffering from period poverty, we can provide information on food banks who also supply free sanitary products to those who use their services.

pic by Mhairi Muir

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Govanhill Baths Celebrates Community Shares Success

Govanhill Baths is celebrating the close of its first Community Shares’ issue. The campaign was launched on the 22nd September by local MSP and long-time supporter Nicola Sturgeon and closed at midnight on the 30 November. During the 70 days the campaign ran, 560 people invested £267,000.

Govanhill Baths Manager, Fatima Uygun, expressed the feelings of the staff and Trustees: “We’re absolutely ecstatic with the response we’ve had. For one of the most-deprived communities in Scotland in a time of continuing austerity to raise £267,000 is quite simply stunning. It shows not just how important Govanhill Baths is to the community, but the resolve and unwavering commitment of people working together and refusing to surrender.”

With 560 investors, the Baths’ campaign is one of the most successful Community Shares projects hosted by Crowdfunder. It is also unique in being the first instance of an urban project in Scotland with Govahill’s socio-economic background utilising this innovative fundraising mechanism.

Right up to the midnight deadline people were pledging their support, with the majority investing £100. Earlier in the week, Big Society Capital invested £100,000 of match funding. A feature of Community Shares is that no matter how much a person or organisation invests everyone has an equal say in major decisions about the Baths.

Alan Walsh, Chair of Govanhill Baths Community Trust said: “This Shares’ issue marks an important stage in the journey of returning the Baths back to full use as a Health and Wellbeing centre with enhanced facilities. Since 2001, many people have helped and today we now add hundreds more to the Govanhill Baths’ family as co-owners of this remarkable and much-loved building.”

Refurbishment and redevelopment will begin in 2019 with Govanhill Baths due to reopen in summer 2020.

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