Facts & Figures |
| Organisation Name: | Wellhouse Community Trust (WCT) |
| Individual Name: | |
| Area Served: | Greater Easterhouse, Glasgow |
| Population: | 3,500 in Wellhouse only (but clients are throughout Greater Easterhouse and East End) |
| Sketch: | Wellhouse is a distinct community of 1100 homes located in the south of Easterhouse to the east of Glasgow. The area was designated as No1 in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) 2003 and No.12 SIMD 2006. The area has suffered with the factors associated with deprivation such as high unemployment, poor health, low confidence, addiction problems and the additional issue of historic and notorious gang-related problems throughout the area. |
| Legal Form: | Company Limited by guarantee with Charitable Status |
| Volunteers: | 25 |
| People Benefitting: | The entire community |
| Staff: | 7 |
| Turnover: | £251,558 |
| Earned Income: | £38, 659 |
| Assets: | No buildings are owned by the organisation at present. But following a recent refurbishment of a sports hall WCT aim to investigate asset transfer from GCC and also planning to refurbish further buildings into managed workspace and commercial recording s |
| Value of assets: | Equipment - £25,964 |
Roots & Links |
| Origins: | In 2003, Wellhouse Housing Association had outgrown its own accommodation, but instead of simply renting or building a new office block, they decided on a facility that catered for their office needs and the needs of the community. After discussions and initial planning the community development and management of such a centre that was needed the Housing Association decided to establish the Wellhouse Community Trust (WCT) to cater for the wider needs of the community, and subsequently manage ‘The Hub’, a building from which both organisations could operate. |
| Governance: | The Board of Directors consists of 15 locally elected people. The Trust has a vision for a dynamic and sustainable area that strengthens an inclusive and growing economy, by the creation of successful social enterprises, sustainable activities and support mechanisms – responding to the needs of the community as a whole. |
| Community Links: | Over 25 organisations deliver services through the facilities operated by WCT. The Trust has made considerable impact on the area of Wellhouse by working in partnership with a variety of organisations, in particular, the Wellhouse Housing Association, John Wheatley College, the GE Youth Network, Glenburn Centre, GCC Social Work, Stepping Stones for Families, GE Money Advice, Strathclyde Police. |
| External Links: | WCT is the recognised community planning group for the area and involved in a wide range of community regeneration and safety activities. WCT is a member of DTA Scotland and a committed supporter of Local People Leading. |
Activities |
| Physical Hub: | - THE HUB is a community education and employment facility that incorporates a Community café, Childcare facility, Housing offices, Healthy Living Initiatives, Fitness and Relaxation Classes, IT Learning Centre, Library, Employment and Training advice, Social Events, Activities for the elderly, Support and Advisory Services, Volunteer Opportunities, an Eco Garden and a free cash machine. Many organisations (eg the local credit union and health shop) use the premises to bring their services into the community.
- INNERZONE is based a short walk from The Hub and caters for children and young people aged between 8 and 20. It’s a relaxed, friendly space offering a pool room, a computer suite and a music studio with instruments and recording equipment.
- hubSPORTS
When the sports centre was badly damaged by flooding a few years ago, it was left as an eye-sore within the community, but WCT and WHA worked with the community to raise money from funders such as SportScotland, GHA and the new facilities will include a games hall and share a seven-a-side football pitch with a local school.
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| Builds Local Capacity: | WCT provides a wide variety of volunteering, training opportunities and confidence building initiatives for local people. The Trust has a particular emphasis on encouraging young people to broaden their horizons. The IT suite provides informal learning opportunities for Wellhouse residents. |
| Delivers Services: | WCT is a catalyst and key partner for activities that address a wide
range of local people’s needs including training, education, social needs, financial literacy, health, wellbeing and employment. Activities include a walking club, elderly lunch club, dance, ICT courses, various social and community events/evenings, advice and support, youth drop-in, youth holiday programmes, music/recording studio, family excursions, family support, a wide variety of volunteering opportunities and confidence building initiatives. Through working in partnership with other local organisations WCT is able to also provide: Get Ready for Work Training; IT courses; Credit Union; Alternative Therapies; Employment Advice; Money Advice; Learning Disability Newsletter Group and a variety of other seasonal or ad hoc services and support in partnership.
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| Develops/Manages Property: | The Hub building is owned by the Housing Association and managed by WCT. Innerzone has been developed in the old Housing Association offices with a lease in place with the Housing Association. hubSports is currently owned by Glasgow City Council with £200 rent per year – WCT are investigating asset transfer at the moment. |
| Other: | |
| Main Achievements: | Development of THE HUB - a community education and employment facility, INNERZONE - a place young people can call their own and HUBSPORTS a sports facility for local people.
WCT has worked tirelessly and continues to do so to ensure that the community voices are heard and acted upon.
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What Next |
| Biggest Challenge: | Financial sustainability continues to be the main challenge. WCT has introduced small charges for some of its services, but most of its income still comes from grants, which is time-consuming and makes for an uncertain future. |
| Lessons Learned: | Without the majority of the community believing, supporting and involving themselves in the day-to-day work of the Trust none of the achievements to date would be possible. The Trust are fully aware that the work has only just started and the continued development and commitment of residents, volunteers and staff alongside the implementation of a sustainability strategy is a must. |
| Aspirations: | - The Trust is investigating ways in which it can become more financially self-supporting, eg. by delivering contracts for other organisations.
- The Trust is also currently looking at its structure, considering the creation of a separate management committee for the Sports Hub as a means to attract new people and energy to WCT.
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Contact |
| Name: | Pauline Smith |
| Title: | Manager |
| Address Line 1: | 'The hub', 49 Wellhouse Crescent |
| Address Line 2: | G33 4LA |
| City: | Wellhouse |
| County: | |
| Telephone: | |
| Fax: | 0141 781 1885 |
| Email: | psmith@wellhousect.org.uk |
| Website URL: | www.wellhouse.ik.com |
| District: | |
