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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

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Charities unsure of being able to return home whilst building using for Covid-19 testing

This news post is almost 3 years old
 

Charities are unsure when they will be able to return to their premises as the building is being utilised for community testing

Charities in Drumchapel face being locked out of their home for the foreseeable future.

The Drumchapel Community Centre, home to organisations such as 3D Drumchapel, G15 Youth Group and Thriving Places, has been closed since lockdown last year.

The tenants were hoping to be able to resume services at the centre in the coming weeks as restrictions are eased, however the centre is now being used as a walk-in Covid-19 community testing centre.

The Clydebank Post reported that organisations are unsure as to when they will be able to return to the premises.

3D Drumchapel chief executive Sharon Colvin said: “This leaves us with nowhere to deliver our services at this time when families really need us the most ... we are concerned it is not a building on the list to be reopened by Glasgow Life going forward.

“This is one of the last community facilities left in Drumchapel and it is so important it remains open and accessible to children and families to access and for services to use as a base to deliver vital services required at this time.”

Glasgow Life has not been able to provide alternative premises for the organisations, but have said they can continue to use the centre for storage.

A Glasgow Life spokeswoman said: “A number of Glasgow Life venues are being used by the Scottish Government and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) as part of the nationwide Covid-19 testing and vaccination programme.

"All of these facilities, including Drumchapel Community Centre, have been made available to the Scottish Government for an initial six month period and will be available for use by the Scottish Government and NHSGGC for as long as is required. Glasgow Life receives no rental for any venue used to support the Covid-19 testing and vaccination programme.

"Actual costs incurred for the set-up and for any requirements by Scottish Government or NHSGGC are recharged at cost either by Glasgow City Council for vaccination centres or by Glasgow Life for test centres.

“As Covid-19 restrictions begin to ease, and venues across the city begin to reopen, we will look to support any group who previously occupied Glasgow Life facilities currently being utilised by the Scottish Government and NHSGGC to identify alternative venues, where possible. This will be dependent on the organisation’s needs and availability of a suitable venue, and will be subject to Scottish Government restrictions for managing Covid-19.”