Glenkens Community Spaces Network reflects on a positive first year

Our community halls and centres across the Glenkens play a vital role in offering a space within which to socialise, learn, hold events, access sports and the arts - all organised and managed by hardworking and sometimes overstretched volunteer committees.

Jim Reid, Becca Nelson, Peter Andrew and Col Sweeney outside Dalry Town Hall

The Glenkens Community Spaces Network (GCSN), which held its first meeting in January 2023, was created in order to bring these voluntary committees together for peer support, to encourage partnership working across the Glenkens and to amplify their efforts. This was a key priority of the Glenkens & District Community Action Plan. To make it happen, the role of Network Facilitator is funded for one day per week by the Glenkens and District Community Fund, through Glenkens Community and Arts Trust.

Following an initial round of fact-finding interviews to set priorities for the network, we have hosted 7 Network meetings to date, four of which have featured guest speakers. These meetings have been attended by members of 14 Town Hall, Village Hall and other community space committees across the Glenkens. Those who have been unable to attend have been kept up to date by email and invited to join in with projects and share updates.

GCSN Facilitator, Becca Nelson, commented:

“It's been a really rewarding first year, which has seen members share successes and expertise, ideas and resources. I would like to thank all of the members of the Hall committees across the Glenkens for the huge amount of voluntary effort they put into keeping all our Community Spaces thriving – the Glenkens is much the stronger for them - as well as the Glenkens and District Community Fund through Foundation Scotland, who funded the project.”

A full Report on the first year of delivery, plus a look ahead at the challenges & opportunities and testimonials from the Halls, is on the Glenkens Hub here: https://glenkens.scot/glenkens-community-spaces-network. Any questions, or to join the Network, contact Becca on: becca.glenkens.anf@gmail.com.