First Meeting

Thanks to all who a attended a very vibrant and positive first meeting. Below are listed some of the points raised:

Common Themes for Creation of a Glasgow Social Centre

· There is a need for more of a community space

· Time is right for emergence of a centre

· Focus on support in these times of (economic, environmental and social) crisis

· Encouraging co-operation

· Empowering people and empowering communities

· A platform for positive change

· A balance between a strong vision but continuously being open to new people and new potentials

· Activists from different backgrounds and organisations

· Focus on what Glasgow has to offer

· Focus on structures and processes

· How can people and communities take back control through social centre

· Having a space nonetheless; looking at the councils plans and others

· Involving other groups- diversify

· A Place for Action

Key Questions

1. What is such a space is for?

2. Are we recreating the wheel?

3. Lessons to be learnt

4. Obstacles and possibilities

5. Outreach to other groups

6. Creating a vision

A space for:

EDUCATION

· Library

· Roots to sustainability

· Exchange of ideas

· Education focus- on transition from peak oil to sustainability and supporting green jobs

· Relationship between business and social centre

· A convergence centre for the 2014 commonwealth games

· Focal point for minds and skills

· Eco-social centre

· Talks and lectures

· Film screenings

COMMUNITY

· An interactive space

· Supporting asylum rights

· Involve food

· Drop in space

· Roots to sustainability

· Rebuild fabric of community

· Create a space to break alienation

· Disperse around city into local communities

· Contacting new groups

· Support a transition model for Glasgow of environmental and social justice

· There is a need for more of a community space

· Time is right for emergence of a centre

· A soup kitchen

· Focus on support in these times of (economic, environmental and social) crisis

· Non sectarian

· Non party political

· A safe space

· Encouraging co-operation

· Setting up as a coop

· Cafe/ gallery

· Swop shop

· Activists from different backgrounds and organisations



EMPOWERMENT

· Exchange of ideas

· Unemployed workers centre

· Focus on support in these times of (economic, environmental and social) crisis

· Non sectarian

· Non party political

· Empowering people and empowering communities

· A platform for positive change

· A balance between a strong vision but continuously being open to new people and new potentials

ACTION

· An interactive space

· Planning projects

· Supporting asylum rights

· A convergence centre for the 2014 commonwealth games

· Anti gentrification

· Bike recycling workshop

· Eco Social Centre

· Film screenings

Issues for consideration:

· Location?

· Creation of a website

· What timeframe are we working in?

· Other social spaces e.g. Dublin, Bradford, Galway, The Forest Cafe, Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, The Melting Pot, Previous Glasgow social centres