I was delighted to accept my invitation from P7 at Parkview Primary to attend their Burns Supper this afternoon. P7 used the event as an enterprise project with teams assigned to work on finance, entertainment and catering. All the pupils had a role in the dancing, singing and poetry reading.
The event was huge fun and a big thanks go to Mrs Rowan and her excellent staff, the proud parents and of course the stars of the event, the pupils.
Over the last four years I’ve always enjoyed the work of staff and pupils at all our Primary Schools when it comes to showcasing the talent of our young people. So hats off to the young, and not so young stars, of Caldercuilt Primary School. Simon Cowell eat your heart out.
Scottish Liberal Democrats have launched a major campaign to reverse the SNP’s planned £40 million cut to college budgets which threatens 9000 college places across Scotland as well as the number and quality of courses available.
With youth unemployment rising at a faster rate in Scotland than across the UK it clearly makes no sense to limit the opportunities for our young people. But the SNP’s Education Secretary Mike Russell has described his £40 million cut as a “full, fair and final settlement”.
Scottish Liberal Democrats disagree and are calling on the SNP to reverse the cut, a cut they do not have to make because Liberal Democrats in the UK government have helped to secure more than £400 million of additional money for Scotland. We want this money to be used to save college places which are vital to the future prospects of our next generation of Scots.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “Colleges throughout Scotland are extremely concerned about the impact these cuts are going to have, which threaten 9000 places. We should be in the business of creating opportunities for young people, not cutting them. Colleges play a vital role in helping young Scots get the opportunities they deserve, to gain the skills to get up and get on in life. The SNP need to stop the dither and delay, use the extra money that Liberal Democrats in the UK government have secured for Scotland and invest in the taxpayers of tomorrow who will help us get our economy back on track.”
Glasgow’s colleges do great work helping people to get on in life, but the SNP budget cuts will hurt the prospects of staff and students. If the SNP insist on this cut then it could mean the loss of over 1,700 college places in Glasgow.
| College | SNP budget cut of 6.9% | Estimated cut in student places | ||
| Anniesland College | £612,246 | 178 | ||
| John Wheatley College | £495,245 | 131 | ||
| North Glasgow College | £576,923 | 177 | ||
| Stow College | £512,756 | 167 | ||
| City of Glasgow College | £2,103,102 | 661 | ||
| Langside College | £661,601 | 193 | ||
| Cardonald College | £905,446 | 270 | ||
I fully back Willie Rennie’s campaign to save these vital college places. It is important that all of our local communities rally around our colleges to help protect student places and I urge people to join the campaign to protect Glasgow’s colleges.
Congratulations to Cleveden Community Club who have recently celebrated their first anniversary.
The Club was started last year to make the facilities of Cleveden Secondary School available to the Kelvindale Community.
Staffed mainly by volunteers and supported by the local Maryhill Kelvin Ward Councillors, the Club has provided access to swimming, football, badminton, basketball, table tennis and the use of the school fitness suite. There is also a book exchange, model making, flower arranging and jewellery making, plus taster sessions in bowls, martial arts, cycling and trying your hand at a musical instrument. You can also relax with old friends and new in the Community Cafe.
Local young people were founder members and have served on the management committee from the start. Several have taken first level courses in coaching football and basketball and have now become volunteer coaches.
This summer the Club has also joined with Kelvindale Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club to refurbish their two tennis courts. Other links between these two organisations are in the pipeline.
Last August the launch of Cleveden Community Club was celebrated with a hugely successful Ceilidh attended by family groups of all ages – and our two community police!
Ceilidh
This year’s Ceilidh takes place at Cleveden Secondary School on Saturday 20th at 7pm with entertainment from the Cloud Howe Ceilidh Band.
Prices are £5 for over 16s
All welcome
Summer Programme
Weeks beginning 1st and 8th August 10 -12.
CCC has two venues and will be on Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday for the next two weeks. In the morning there will be coached football, badminton, basketball, racquetball (Tuesday) and the pool will be available. These sports will be at Cleveden Secondary from 10 am to 12 noon. Cost £1 for members (please bring your cards) and £2 for non members. CCC will ask you to fill in contact details etc on Monday, so please be patient. There will be some drinks on offer, but the main cafe will be in the afternoon at Kelvindale Bowling and Tennis Club in Baronald Drive. Come along and join CCC for some tennis (a coach will be on site and they are keen to start a junior section so all ages welcome) and perhaps try some bowling between 2 pm to 4pm. CCC would love to see you there.
Great news from Cleveden Community Club and I’d just want to pay tribute to my fellow Liberal Democrat ward councillor, Mary Paris, for the tremendous work she has done on this.
The Cleveden Community Club (CCC) was started by Kelvindale residents who recognised the limited opportunities for sporting activity within the Kelvindale community. The CCC pilot was supported by Kelvindale Community Council, Culture and Sport Glasgow, Education Services Department and the four local councillors. Applications for start up funding to a number of bodies including Maryhill/Kelvin Area Committee were largely successful. A local business has also provided sponsorship.
The Club’s aims are to provide:
The structure and programme of the Club has been developed with the help of Culture and Sport Glasgow (now Glasgow Life).
5 pilot sessions have been run with, to date, 141 people having completed application forms for membership. 67 are now fully paid up members. The age range is from 3 – 78. Under 10s require an adult to accompany them. There is a mix of coached and free play available in most activities. The café provides a forum where families can meet. It will also be used as space for non sporting activities such as a book group and jewellery making. Links with other sports clubs are being explored in particular with Kelvindale Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club. Several of the members including young people have volunteered to undertake training in order to be able to work as volunteer coaches for various activities.
The formal opening of Cleveden Community Club by the Lord Provost will take place on Sunday 22nd August 2010 at 2pm at Cleveden Secondary School, 42 Cleveden Road, Glasgow G12.
Members can enjoy a variety of activities including swimming, basketball, badminton, football, table tennis, model making, jewellry making, book swap and ….. a cup of tea!