Facts & Figures

In the 1950s displaced people from inner city slum clearances were moved to Castlemilk. Poor initial planning lead to isolation and a lack of basic amenities. Unemployment grew due to decline of local industries and poverty/social problems ensued. A locally driven housing stock transfer to Cassiltoun Housing Association (prev. Castlemilk East Co-Op) initiated the beginnings of both a physical and social regeneration of the area which continued with the restoration of Castlemilk Stables. Cassiltoun Housing Association and the Cassiltoun Trust are key community anchors as both are vehicles for change within the community and the Stables are a nationally recognised focal point for the area.

Both the Association and the Trust work in partnership with other agencies who contribute to the regeneration of Castlemilk.

Cassiltoun Housing Association Ltd is a charity.
The Cassiltoun Trust is also a charity and is a subsidiary company of the Housing  Association

£3,200,000

Housing - 1000 properties; Castlemilk Stables.

Roots & Links

The Castlemilk East Housing Co-operative.was first registered in 1984 when local tenants decided to do something about their appalling housing conditions. In 2004 the housing co-operative converted to charitable status, and changed the name of the organisation to Cassiltoun Housing Association. The Cassiltoun Trust was established in 2000 to undertake the conversion of the Stables Block as a community hub.

Any tenant, joint tenant, dependent or resident of Castlemilk can become a member of the Housing Association by purchasing a share of the organisation for £1. Members elect a Management Committee at the AGM to govern the organisation’s affairs. The Trust Board is made up of a mix of community representatives, elected members and representatives from local agencies and is also elected at an annual AGM.

The Association and the Trust have strong links with all the local schools both primary and secondary and the local nurseries.  We work in partnership with other local Housing Associations and the Jeely Piece Club.  We are also developing services alongside Glasgow Regeneration Agency and Glasgow City Council.  The Association actively engages with the local community through events and activities and community consultations

The anchor organisation is represented at a local and national level through a number of forums/bodies including the Community Planning Partnership, Local Housing Forum, Wider Role Forum, Employers in Voluntary Housing, Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and DTA Scotland. The Housing Association holds Investors in People Gold status.

The multi award winning Stables Block now houses offices, a nursery, education/recreation facilities as well as the Housing Association offices and has external courtyard and community garden space.

Activities

Yes. The Stables Block now houses offices, a nursery, education/recreation facilities as well as the Housing Association offices and has external courtyard and community garden space.

Opportunities to develop skills, training and employment are offered to local people.

We deliver: affordable mainstream housing; supported housing; benefits advice; premises for a nursery facility; space for training/away days and meetings; physical, craft, healthy eating and environmental activities.

Owns and manages 1000 residential properties; developed, own and manage Castlemilk Stables.  Currently developing a residential home for elderly homeless men.

Rental income from office and nursery space provides long term sustainable future for Castlemilk Stables. Stables Block running costs are low due to use of renewable energy – ground source heat pumps and sun spaces.  The Stables is a platform for wider regeneration activities which now include Castlemilk Park and plans to develop a social enterprise.

Physical regeneration of the existing housing stock
Development of new homes for people with health problems (2 developments completed, 1 under construction)
Restoration of Castlemilk Stables and retaining this important building as a well used financially viable community asset
Increasing the profile of Castlemilk through wider engagement work. 

Capacity building amongst volunteers who have control and leadership of the organisation. 
Increased income into the community through benefit maximisation of approx £1.5 million since 2007.

What Next

Accessing funding in a challenging economic climate.Delivering a range and variety of programmes with multiple funders with different funding parameters.

Never underestimate the level of time and commitment required even to deliver a small project.  
Investing time in developing good working relationships with partner organisations is essential.

Further regeneration of Castlemilk Park
Development of new Social Enterprise to increase economic activity within Castlemilk and increase opportunities for training and employment.

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