Case Studies   The Glasgow Case Study. The Gorbals

Resources

Resources flow into the area from –

•  The local authority which provides services such as education, social work and care services;

•  The Scottish Government via the Scottish Executive which funds the SIP;

•  Scottish Enterprise which funds the Crown Street Regeneration Project and partly Gorbals Initiative;

•  Housing Agencies - New Gorbals Housing Association, Communities Scotland and in the near future the new Glasgow Housing Association;

•  Central Government through national welfare to work programmes;

•  European Union.

The allocation of SIP funding for 2003/04 is attached as annex 1. The SIP Board makes decisions on the allocation of SIP resources to local groups and projects. However one of the objectives of SIPs was that they would have the ability to bend mainstream funding coming into the area to support the SIP core objectives. This has not happened, and in fact the Scottish Parliaments recent ‘Community Regeneration Statement' has explicitly made reference to improving the effectiveness of mainstream expenditure in deprived area through the process of ‘Community Planning'.

A major challenge is that much of the funding that comes to the area is short term and annualised. So, in effect, agencies on the ground are trying to tackle long term ingrained problems with short-term resources which reduce each year. There is also little or no cohesion between funding bodies, and funding decisions are often made in isolation. In a climate of funding cuts this can have disastrous effects on projects and services on the ground which strive to achieve a joined up integrated approach which is dependent on multiple funding streams.

A breakdown of Gorbals Initiative income and expenditure is attached at annex 2.

Private sector involvement and corporate social responsibility is often talked about but difficult to achieve and demonstrate results. However last year Gorbals Initiative organised the first Gorbals Open Golf Charity Event. Local businesses donated prizes, competed in the event and generally dug deep into their pockets. The result was £7,000 raised for distribution to local community based groups and a general feel good factor as the business community and resident community came together for a fun day out.

The Gorbals Today: Challenges and Opportunities    Lessons from the Gorbals