The Food, Fun and Free pop-up events brought some relief to families emerging from lockdown with a firm emphasis on community togetherness.

Many Ardenglen-organised community events had to be abandoned over the summer due to social distancing requirements.

But equipped with a gazebo, fun activity packs of food and toys and the support of parents and kids, the events ran over three weeks in different parts of the community were an instant success.

Fiona McGovern, regeneration officer at Adenglen, said: “Our busy schedule of summer activities was understandably a victim of lockdown so we opted for another approach. Using a pop-up gazebo, we took our activities onto the streets – and it proved to work very well. Paying close attention to social distancing, we were able to take our activities right to people’s doorsteps.”

The work was supported by Ardenglen’s community committee made up of volunteers which traditionally organises a summer of activities for young people.

The events were run as part of the wider Castlemilk Together community effort which has made a huge difference to people’s lives over the difficult months of the lockdown.

It is made up of many community groups including local housing associations working together by delivering food, offering outreach services and generally helping to alleviate the stress endured by so many whose lives have been disrupted by the pandemic.

The Glasgow City Council Food Programme generously awarded funding to Castlemilk Together to support its partners deliver programmes which provides food and fun aimed at children over the school holidays.

Ardenglen received a share of the money to organise the three pop up events. Kids and mums and dads were offered tasty snack packs, wellbeing packs and a £10 voucher for a local eaterie.