Greater Govanhill

The media coverage of Govanhill, a neighbourhood on Glasgow Southside, didn't help to understand the residents' real challenges. So, when journalist Rihannon J Davies moved to this area in 2018, she felt the need to challenge the negative stereotypes and show a realistic portrayal of the area. She aimed to show what Govanhill is: a place with diverse cultures living together, a wealth of community projects, and independent retailers.

In March 2020, after a community consultation, she created a website and published information about the local community. In December 2020, Greater Govanhill published the first free issue of its printed magazine, telling local stories and connecting the Govanhill community.

Aware of the many cultures, languages and social groups co-existing in Govanhill, the information is available in the following languages: Urdu, Arabic, Polish, Czech, Slovak, and Latvian.

The free print magazine brings high-quality journalism information to residents and guarantees that people who can't access the website will still be able to read Greater Govanhill's content.

The organisation is a Community Interest Company (CIC) regulated by IMPRESS, and it is also an Independent Community News Network (ICNN) member. It won several awards, including the Social Enterprise Scotland Award in 2021, the Launch / Relaunch of the Year category from the PPA Scotland Awards in 2021, and the Regional Supplement/Magazine of the Year from the Newsawards in 2021.

Furthermore, the organisation develops various community projects, especially with young people, thanks to the financial support of grants from philanthropic organisations and local government, print advertising, consultancy services, paid members, individual donations, crowdfunding campaigns, and event ticket sales.

Some of these projects are a radio show on a local community station, and journalism skills training for young people from underrepresented backgrounds.

In partnership with The Ferret, Greater Govanhill has also opened a Community Newsroom. This is a collaborative space for their editorial teams, as well as a co-working space where desks are available for rent to community members in the fields of journalism, media and community development. The Community Newsroom also organises a variety of events open to the public.

Last updated: January 2023

Source: Oasis Europe