SURF Awards Winner:
Improving Scotland's Places

Sandwiched between motorways, Blackhill and Provanmill sit three miles north-east of Glasgow City Centre, and are in the bottom 2% of the SIMD. Flourishing Molendinar is a grassroots programme that looks to redesign the infrastructure in the community to most benefit those who live there, rather than those passing through.

St Paul’s Youth Forum (SPYF) is a crucial community anchor organisation. Since 1997, SPYF have been transforming the area, reducing youth crime by 97%, based on 2006 levels. The last few years have seen further significant change, from the reopening of Molendinar Community Centre, to the creation of a community farm, and the opening of a world-class community golf facility. The community also designed the first grassroots travel infrastructure project in Scotland.

The Community Centre creates spaces and activities for all. From advice surgeries with partner agencies, a Recovery Cafe, a programme of daily after-school activities for primary school children, to a weekly veg barra, there is something for everyone. The Community Café, situated within the centre, is the only public indoor gathering space within the community. Over the past year it has served more than 4000 customers. Blackhill’s Farm provides training opportunities for local people and an outdoor gathering space. Over 350 people came to the summer fun day.

On Bikes, a social enterprise bike shop, enables profits to be put back into the community. SPYF are currently working with Barlinnie Prison to upskill inmates as bike mechanics, with the bikes then being donated for free to people in the community. 2,000 bikes have given out over the last year to local school children living in the 20% most deprived SIMD areas. By training people to cycle safely, SPYF are enabling people to move around the local communities and beyond. The team have recently begun offering adapted cycles to ensure everyone can ride a bike.

Golf IT, a local world-class golf facility, is not only making the sport accessible, affordable, and inclusive but it is also developing a series of learning and volunteering programmes. Along with key community partners, St Paul’s bike programme has contributed to the success of Golf IT’s Fairways to Learning Programme. Targeting young people aged 16 plus, the programme is a blend of personal development, experiential learning, and accredited awards.

The judges were really inspired and impressed by the collective impact of the projects being delivered supporting a ‘Flourishing Molendinar’ with a clear plan to alleviate the worst impacts of social, economic and environmental challenges – through focus on ‘eating, education, empowerment and exercise’. Their youth work programmes have massively reduced youth crime. Their community growing, gardening and community larder have helped reduce isolation and support healthy eating. The re-opened community centre provides services and activities the community need and is home to the new gym business operated by one of their former young people.

SPYF have led the development of a transport project, using innovative approaches to engage young people, which will make cycling, walking and wheeling safer. SPYF’s partnership with Golf It is bringing new opportunities with apprenticeship and work programmes.