Now that Autumn is here and winter approaches, the Growing Spaces in the garden at Gartnavel Royal Hospital have started to take on new colours and shapes. Seed heads and falling leaves carpet the walkways and yet the Sunflowers still offer a striking reminder of the summer now gone.

This year’s Volunteers’ Week is from 1 to 7 June, and is a time to say thanks and recognise the fantastic contribution made by volunteers across Glasgow City Health and Social Care (HSCP) services.

Hundreds of vulnerable homeless people are receiving their first Covid-19 vaccinations in Glasgow as teams of nurses visit temporary accommodation and support services to provide injections.

Now known as the Overnight Welcome Centre, the emergency accommodation for people at risk of rough sleeping in winter will be provided in a Glasgow hotel, rather than in Lodging Housing Mission in East Campbell Street.

A brand-new multi-agency advice and support hub for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness was opened on 24 September in Glasgow’s Argyle Street.

The Art in the Gart creative recovery programme at Gartnavel Royal Hospital has welcomed five times as many visitors as last year to the Growing Spaces sites in the hospital grounds during lockdown.

Staff and service users at the Glasgow City HSCP Chara Centre in Possilpark have been using the good weather during lockdown to maintain the centre’s garden. 

The social work centre provides emergency homeless accommodation for 27 females from all walks of life and cultures.

Anthony Leebody, Senior Finance Officer in Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, reached out to his neighbours at the start of lockdown. He set up a neighbourhood chat group to bring people together and help identify those who needed extra support.

National Volunteers’ Week takes place from 1-7 June every year and is a celebration across the UK of all the contributions volunteers make to their community.

Teams across the council family have been working hard throughout lockdown to make sure that there are enough temporary furnished flats available for homeless households who need them.