are you living
gloriously?
crossroads
youth and community association
We are at the Barn, the base for one of the oldest third sector organisations in Glasgow, Crossroads Youth & Community Association. Founded in 1968, we have been delivering youth work and community development alongside the people of the Gorbals and Govanhill now for over six decades.
Our history stretches back to when the Gorbals was full of old tenements, overcrowding and a hard life. We saw the first redevelopment when these tenements were replaced with multi-storey and deck access schemes, most of which are now gone, replaced with the newer housing around us. Back in the day almost all the housing was social housing, now much of it is owner-occupied with many of the poorer past residents have been displaced.
WHAT IS GLORIOUS LIVING?
“Everyone should have the right to live “gloriously … whatever in society makes this impossible must be attacked: whatever in the individual may make it possible must be nurtured and strengthened”.
Can you find some of this quote in a mural near the entrance to the barn? Originally, this statement came from Geoff Shaw, an important founder of Crossroads, and it has continued to be the foundation for our work over the years. To us, this means nurturing and strengthening community networks through helping people to support and learn from each other. Meanwhile, we seek to challenge those things that get in the way of a good life, whether that be inadequate housing, racism and prejudice, or poverty and exclusion.
We have always worked to respond to the ever-changing social challenges of the time, understanding that these challenges differ for every individual. In Govanhill, we worked with migrants from around the world to help with their legal status, integration to the community, opening up new opportunities especially for women. Our extensive youth work unleashes the creativity of young people, helping them cope with adversity and opening their minds to the countryside, arts and experiencing moments of joy.
FACING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
Sustainability has always been at the heart of what we do (although we didn’t always see it this way). In the 1970s and 1980s, we supported the Gorbals anti-dampness campaign to see the end of the damp, unhealthy and high-energy consuming (for those who could afford it) housing of the time. We also supported the campaign to prevent a motorway being built through the heart of the area- which would have run along the line of nearby Bedford Street and ramped up energy use, pollution, noise and disruption.
As we look to the future, climate change is no longer a distant threat but a lived reality. Communities already facing social and economic inequalities like the Gorbals are among the most vulnerable to its impacts. Through our latest projects like the Creative Wildflower Space, Gorbals Food Network, Create: Gorbals, and this very walking route, we are working alongside our community to advance climate justice from the ground up.
WHY NEARLY 60 YEARS?
Crossroads has remained significant and valued for three important reasons. Firstly, because we evolved over time, always responsive and realistic about what was possible and where compromises were sometimes needed. Secondly, we have been rooted in clear principles and operate properly in terms of governance, accountability and administration. Third and most importantly, we have been rooted in community networks and alive to people’s concerns and the opportunity to change things.
COULD YOUR LIFE BE MORE GLORIOUS?
If you have any ideas about what you would like to see, or what you’d like to do to make Gorbals better just drop in for a chat at the Barn, or get in touch with us!