The community of Pollokshields is celebrating the award of two major grants from the Scottish Government and the Big Lottery Fund for a new community centre.

At a celebration event in the existing Nan McKay Hall, staff and committee from Southside Housing Association and the Nan McKay Hall, alongside users and partners of the Hall received a grant award of £550,000 from the Scottish Government (as part of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund via Glasgow City Council).

The award follows a £1,184,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund which SHN reported last week.

The development of the new £2.1m centre will be led by Southside Housing Association who will part fund the building.

Pauline Fletcher, community initiatives manager at Southside Housing Association, said: “We are delighted with the award of both grants. Working in partnership with the Nan McKay Hall will make this new centre a vibrant, essential resource for the local community and with extra purpose built space we will be able to build upon what the Nan McKay Hall currently provide, and offer a wider range of activities and services under one roof.”

Dorothy Murray, Southside Housing Association chair, said “Southside Housing Association is committed to over £30million investment to the Pollokshields neighbourhood over the next three years. The new community hub will be at the heart of this investment alongside modern, warm, affordable homes, fit for the 21st century. The hub will be a fantastic resource to the local community where they can access welfare rights and housing information, alongside health, social and learning opportunities currently provided by the Nan McKay Hall.”

The new community space will be at the heart of a new housing development at St. Andrews Drive in Pollokshields and will provide a base for Southside Housing Association’s welfare rights and housing services. The Nan McKay Hall has delivered valuable support services to the local community for over 34 years from temporary portakabins and will move to the new modern community facility to become the anchor tenants. The East Pollokshields Mobile Creche will also move to the new centre.

Nicola Sturgeon MSP said: “The Nan MacKay Hall is at the heart of Pollokshields and I am delighted to see this expansion. I know how important this is for my constituents and I can’t wait to visit the new facility.”

Stuart McKenzie, Nan McKay Hall chair said: “I have great pride in representing the Nan McKay Hall. On behalf of the members, committee and staff we recognise that this new future comes with a mix of emotions; caution at moving from a building we have loved, and hope for what lies ahead. Our many partners, most importantly Glasgow City Council have been vital for us as a voluntary organisation to be able to deliver a range of services to our community over the years and from here it is onwards and upwards.”

Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland chair, added: “I am delighted that Pollokshields will benefit from a new state of the art community hub, thanks to this contribution from the National Lottery. Since its launch ten years ago, our Growing Community Assets fund has invested £98 million in 181 projects across the country.

“This award to Southside Housing Association in partnership with the Nan McKay Hall is another great example of local people doing it for themselves and I look forward to following their progress as they pursue their community ownership ambitions.”