Community Central Hall (CCH)

A former regeneration area, with strong industrial links, Greater Maryhill has seen a renaissance in recent years. However the community still has a poor health record, and suffers from youth gang territorialism. A diverse community, with many cultures living alongside each other, Maryhill still has the spirit of “old” Glasgow and the friendly community feel within the City Centre. Community Central Hall was built in the early 1920’s and when the building came up for sale in the early 1970’s, an action group was formed to prevent the building being sold for private development. Over the past 35 years CCH has evolved from providing community space for local organisations to providing a range of diverse and vital community services.  These include pre-school nursery provision; after and out of school care; youth work; café and catering; day care and homecare for older people.

Company Limited by guarantee with charitable status

£714,000 from fees, charges, café, and letting income

4 minibuses, equipment, working to purchase the building long term, which is held in Trust by Glasgow City Council after being purchased in 1976 from the Methodist Church.

CCH was built in the early 1920’s as the Maryhill Methodist Central Hall. When the building came up for sale in the early 1970’s, an action group was formed to prevent the building being sold for private development. The local authority were persuaded to take over the building, and a local management committee was formed to take over the running of the building with the vision of turning it into a major community facility and resource for the people of Maryhill and North West Glasgow.

CCH is controlled by a community membership of local individuals and local community organisations whom elect a Board of Directors (up to 15 members). The Board provide strategic direction and policy making for the organisation which is led by a Chief Executive officer.

Work to improve integration of all sections of the community through providing a wide variety of opportunities from infancy to old age, in a warm and welcoming environment. CCH works with all the local community organisations including, the Community Councils, voluntary organisations and grassroots associations and groups. It also works with Glasgow agencies to develop partnership projects and activities.

CCH is supported by Glasgow City Council Childcare Strategy Unit; Youth Services; Development and Regeneration Services; Culture and Sport Glasgow; City Building, and Social Service Departments, in either funding or as a supplier of services (both ways).

The building provides a physical hub for the people of Maryhill and North West Glasgow, where individuals can hire space for meetings, and functions of all types and sizes for up to 400 people.

Helps local people to access a means to improve their lifestyles and invest in their own personal and social development through provision of a wide range of services. Enables routes out of poverty and exclusion and provides an accessible and appealing way of integration, recreation, care, personal and social development for all ages.

CCH offers a wide range of services including •a café •a pre-school nursery and after school care • day care and home visiting for older people • recreational and dance/sport classes •room hire for local groups • outreach services • youth work including healthy living, support for ethnic young people, Princes Trust TEAM programme • health promotion •provision of lets for conferences, concerts, musical and cultural events • provision of programme of community events/fairs and community development work.

Has developed and manages the 22,000 square feet community facility. Is working towards owning the building.

• Rescuing the run down facility from private developers and developing it as a recognised community hub/anchor
• The development of a wide range of services and projects for local people
• Building over 30 years a range of community services for all sections of the community
• Generating over 50% of income from non-funding sources.

Increasing income generation and developing new sustainable services, to ensure the building continues to be used by all sections of the community

Need to communicate effectively both with the local community and the internal team, become more business-like without losing the sense of community ownership and direction and to give strong and clear leadership

To transfer the facility into community ownership To build and maintain sustainable services to the community To increase usage of the facility