Community groups and organisations in Govanhill lose essential funding in 2026
Greater Govanhill and Community Renewal Rom Romeha lost multiyear Glasgow Communities Funding, meaning your support is now more important than ever...
Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be Thankit!
That’s the Selkirk Grace, a Scottish prayer attributed to poet Robert Burns. It’s simple and traditionally would be said before eating meals. It's said to show gratitude for the food on the table and for the people we break bread with.
Even though it isn’t hard for community groups and orgs like ourselves to fall into a sense of insecurity when it comes to losing funding, we’ve never been more grateful for the community behind us.
That’s why I’ve shared this poem today, not only because Burns Night is this weekend but because it reminds us to show gratitude for what we do have on our plate and those sat at our table. We have you, readers and residents, sat at our table, keeping us going — Sae fur that, let Govanhill be Thankit!
There’s plenty more to celebrate this week, including; tickets for Kenmure Street doc celebrating resistance going on sale soon; funds being raised for the Trans community; and a newly established charity delivering its first support session for asylum seekers and refugees this month.
If the good news has fired you up this Friday, see how you can help support some of these local groups and communities in this weeks newsletter.
That’s all for now, have a great weekend and enjoy the read.
- Devon
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Latest stories from our website…
Greater Govanhill and Community Renewal Rom Romeha lose Glasgow Communities Funding
The Glasgow Communities Fund is one of the few opportunities to source vital multiyear operational funding. Greater Govanhill is one of several community organisations in the neighbourhood to lose out this year, meaning your support means more than ever.
Tickets for Everybody to Kenmure Street at GFT go on sale Monday
The full programme for the Glasgow Film Festival has been announced. This year’s festival opens with Felipe Bustos Sierra’s film Everybody to Kenmure Street in February and closes with the screening of James McAvoy’s new film California Schemin’ in March.
Extract from How Does Change Happen: Scenes From Frontline Activism
While community council meetings may seem dull, they give residents real influence. Low attendance risks losing our collective voice on local issues that shape a fairer, cleaner, more connected neighbourhood. One resident explores the topic further.
Like my grandmother used to make: Utica Greens
In our latest issue, giacinta explores a nostalgic vegetarian recipe rooted in Italian-American “depression food”. Touching on tales of migration, memory, and how escarole was cooked the way Utica families did, helped make flavour stretch through hardship, gardens, and generations.
My Life before Govanhill: Nicola Scott
In our latest segment of My Life Before Govanhill, A South London–born creative reflects on mixed heritage, film, community and belonging, tracing a journey through museums, grassroots arts and finally finding home, friendship and inspiration in Govanhill.
Want to stay up-to-date? Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or BlueSky, where we always share the latest stories from our website.
Elsewhere in the news…
Southside charities running new asylum seeker and refugee family cooking classes need your help
Last week Seham & Najma — a charity supporting ‘a sense of belonging, dignity, and the general wellbeing of people seeking sanctuary' — partnered with Weans’ Scran Kitchin’, a local cooking school for children, young people and adults, to deliver their first ever session for asylum seekers and refugees.
After delivering their first support session for those in the asylum system who have no access to cooking facillities (or no financial support at all), Seham & Najma have called upon people to interesting in supporting them in anyway — even if just to help provide teas and coffees to make the space welcoming — to get in contact with them.
You may recognise the Seham & Najma CEO as Sadia Sikandar, who wrote about her first-hand experience of the asylum system and the conditions those seeking refuge have to make do with in her award-winning article: Facing hatred with hope.
Whether you’d be interested in volunteering your time or donating some funds, be sure to directly contact them through Instagram or Facebook. Or simply donate to their Emergency Fund For Asylum Seekers Living Without Kitchens to help them reach their funding goal. So far they have £590 left to raise of their £600 target.
You can register for a new 4-month Digital Confidence programme
If you or anyone you know is struggling to navigate modern life online consider registering to join a new 4-month Digital Confidence programme.
Funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery this training course is completely free. It’s a great opportunity to grow your confidence and gain new, essential digital skills — we’ve reported on the impact of digital exclusion before so we know how important it is to stay connected today.
The course starts in March 2026. You can sign up for the full programme or just the specific sessions that interest you.
Applications for the EBN Architecture and Arts Grant 2026 are open
The Architecture and Arts Grant offers £5,000 to young adults who ‘want to shape the future.’
The money will enable successful applicants to propose their own projects in the realms of art and architecture.
People aged 17-35 years old (residing in the EEA, UK, or US) should apply between 1 Jan - 28 Feb. Association EBN will notify the successful applicant on or before 30 April. The project must be completed and presented by June 30 2027.
Write to the funders at associationebn-hello@yahoo.com with any questions.
LOBO on Pollokshaws Road are hiring!
Are you an experienced chef de partie? Looking for a new job? Try LOBO. The local Mediterranean-inspired eatery. 30-40 hours are available to someone with the experince and availability to work them.
LOBO said: ‘The candidate must be dependable, positive and eager to learn. In return we can offer a fun, fast paced place to work with the chance to contribute creatively to our regularly changing seasonal menu.’
For more information you can get in touch by calling Rosie on 07951168757 or emailing alex@loboglasgow.co.uk with the subject ‘FAO Rosie’.
Upcoming events…
🏴 Join the Kingarth Lane Burns Gathering this Sunday 25 Jan from 11am for a local litter pick followed by lunch, songs and poems sung around the fire pit.
🇵🇸 Help Art Workers For Palestine Scotland transform the CCA space into the Liberated Zone today from 4pm - 8pm. Funds raised tomorrow will raise go to @gaza_skate_team and Gaza Mutual Aid Funds.
🏴 Milk are opening their doors to all for a Burns Night feast on Saturday 25 Jan from 6:30pm. Tickets are £30 — every event Milk put on supports the work they do with refugees across the city. Spaces are limited so boook your ticket now if interested.
📽️ FEMME: Screening Rebel Dykes at Adrian’s Bar on Jan 29 — now International Rebel Dykes Day! Book your tickets this January and join pop FEMME and the Glasgow Leatherdykes at Adrian’s Bar on Vicky Rd from 6:30pm for a celebratory showing of the film, followed by a Q&A with Rebel Dykes filmmaker Siobhan Fahey.
🏳️⚧️ Trans Health Access Glasgow are hosting a Pub Quiz Fundraiser on Sunday 1 Feb from 6:30pm at Variety Bar in the City Centre. Help Trans Health Access Glasgow raise funds this February at an LGBTQ+ themed quiz. The event is ticketed on a sliding scale basis.