Over 150 people gathered at West Brewery in Glasgow Green last week to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Shettleston Housing Association.

The day was enjoyed by committee and shareholding members, current and former staff, elected members, friends of the Association and colleagues from other Glasgow Associations.

There were speeches from the Association’s director Chris Cunningham and from the chairperson Gillian Johnston. In addition everyone saw the premiere of a short film, ‘A place of your own’, commissioned as part of this anniversary year, which set out the work of the Association. The speeches from both Gillian and Chris reflected on the work of the Association over those years:

“In 1976, Shettleston, like the rest of the East End, was not a pretty sight. Its tenements were run down or lay derelict, awaiting demolition. Gap sites there were aplenty. Flats were lacking in basic amenities and employment opportunities were diminishing as the old heavy industries closed.

“Photographs cannot tell the full story of Glasgow’s East End in those days but they do present a sorry tale of decline and decay. It’s all the more remarkable that there remained a strong enough community spirit that led to the Association being formed in 1976.

“However this is no story of a plucky local community overcoming all the odds to achieve their goal. In reality, it’s the story of partnership with central and local government on the one hand and a local community on the other. It involved an idea of regeneration led by government working with a community, rather than being done to a community.

“However low Glasgow appeared in the late 70’s, and it was pretty low, we also know with hindsight that the building blocks of regeneration were being laid and the physical progress of the 80’s and beyond was now in place.

“It’s a story where success involved keeping faith with a model that worked and delivered over the long term. Shettleston is a better place than it was 40 years ago and its regeneration has been better served by being rooted in the community. Many of the things that have happened in Shettleston over recent years, as you will see in the film, could really only have happened because a local community had the dedicated resources of a housing association to propose and champion them.

“So, policy makers take note. Regeneration takes time. You have to be in it for the long haul, not the quick fix. It may be a truism that you can get results by throwing money at a problem, but our example shows that you can achieve so much more with good planning, partnership with the community and long term commitment - in addition to throwing money at the problem!

“It’s also the story of a partnership between a management committee and its staff team. That partnership depends on mutual respect.”

While the current chair Gillian Johnston expressed her appreciation for all the work of the voluntary members, the director Chris Cunningham expressed his appreciation for the work of all the staff over the same period.

Let ‘A place of your own’ be an inspiration to all communities. The film can be viewed at www.shettleston.co.uk/anniversaryfilm2016. It is also available on Shettleston’s Facebook page.