Members of Hawthorn Housing Co-operative in Possilpark will mark their 30th anniversary with a community cinema experience during Scottish Housing Day next week.

Mattie McGeouch was elected chair of the Co-op at its recent AGM that was attended by 49 members. Mattie was also a member of the original steering group that was set up in 1984 and led to the Co-operative being formed.

Mattie said: “We are really looking forward to the day. There will be images showing the transformation of this area over the last three decades. We are really excited that Professor Willy Maley from Glasgow University has contributed a piece about his childhood in this community and his journey since then. It is only when you see these old images that your realise the extent of the transformation that we have made and the contribution, foresight and selflessness of so many people who formed the Co-op and have kept it going over so many years.”

Thursday’s event is being part funded from the Community Benefit Fund that Hawthorn Housing Co-operative has obtained as founder members of the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA). The Community Benefit Fund is managed and delivered by Lintel Trust on behalf of SPA.

Kate Christie, senior business development officer at Lintel Trust, will be attending alongside representatives of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF).

Helen Moore, acting chair of GWSF, said: “It’s very timely that Hawthorn’s 30th anniversary event coincides with Scottish Housing Day. One of the aims of the Day is to put a positive focus on social housing and other forms of renting. The housing and other facilities and services provided by so many community controlled housing associations has made a huge contribution to the regeneration of local communities.

“We know Hawthorn’s community cinema event will feature some of their amazing collection of photographs which show the transformation of the area since the 1980s, and it’s great to see committee members and staff looking back at a time when their plans for the future - including new development - are so exciting.”

Mattie added: “It is important that the Co-op remembers where we have come from and what we have achieved. I am delighted at the recent AGM we filled all 15 committee places from our 316 tenants. This shows that the Co-operative continues to connect with the community. It is this support and drive that allows us to move forward and this is shown by the work that has started to build 48 houses.”