Words by: Maddie Nisbet (she/her)
Living through the rise of Farage’s Reform UK and anti-immigrant propaganda, it is heartwarming that instead of diversity being a divisive tool, a scapegoat for the area’s problems, it is viewed by most as what makes Govanhill unique and special.
As a student, I am all too familiar with the seemingly unlimited supply of overpriced coffee shops, the brunch spots offering avocado galore, and the “thrift” shops selling vintage pieces that cost an-arm-and-a-leg in the name of sustainability. Don’t get me wrong, a vanilla iced latte is sitting in front of me as I write this, and I hope to wander down Byers Road on my lunch break to window shop. Unfortunately, I wholeheartedly acknowledge the role I myself play in the pure gentrification that has taken hold of Glasgow. I want to do better.
Looking at the array of autumn leaves hitting the grass of Kelvingrove Park, or the city’s lights illuminating the skyline while driving across the Clyde, it’s almost hard to believe that 16% of the population (around 890,000 people each year) were living in absolute poverty as a result of housing costs in the 2021-24 period. Wealth inequalities in Glasgow are not a thing of the past, and only become more apparent when areas are gentrified. Landlords jump at the opportunity to skyrocket housing prices which force locals out of their homes before their trendy makeovers. It’s not that Glasgow doesn’t deserve to have time, effort, and money put into areas across the city, but it should work for existing communities, not against them.
I myself am from an area listed as the 5th most deprived area in Scotland in a 2020 BBC article; I have a vivid memory of being shown the index this data came from in a modern studies class during secondary school. This was followed by a chorus of helpless laughter, because what else is there to do? During my last trip home, local businesses protested against the implementation of bike paths in the area, as the construction deeply affected their footfall – neon barricades make shopping local a very difficult feat. No one I know is actually against regenerating the town, but note that council money is consistently spent on the wrong things.
What often slips by unnoticed is the pure strength of community organisation, serving the needs of Glaswegian people in areas that are actively harmed by irresponsible gentrification. Govanhill is an area with a history of housing issues and poverty. But it is also known for its diversity, being one of the most multi-cultural areas in the country. Speaking to a journalist in May of 2025, local resident Sri Kannagi notes that gentrification has been a long, ongoing process with areas in the city becoming “trendy”, and with diverse ethnic groups holding a majority of residents at various points in time. He embraces this diversity, stating that ‘the more […] culture, the more you learn.’ Southside resident James Gorman, born and raised, celebrates Govanhill’s multiculturality, and explains how inhabitants welcome it: ‘The people are so proud of it. You get different people, different classes, everything.’ Living through the rise of Farage’s Reform UK and anti-immigrant propaganda, it is heartwarming that instead of diversity being a divisive tool, a scapegoat for the area’s problems, it is viewed by most as what makes Govanhill unique and special.
This sentiment is reflected in the community groups that seek to provide ethnic minorities with the skills and opportunities to thrive in the area. The Space in Govanhill, in their own words, ‘enables families living with the hardships of persistent poverty to build better lives’, and has supported over 1000 families by developing trust and building solid relationships. The work they do involves meeting educational needs, and providing spaces for community drop-ins, where families can access essential products at a price point they can meet. The advocacy work they do fosters an approach to complicated tasks, such as welfare benefit applications, which are manageable for the everyday, working-class person.
While The Space does focus on minority groups, they are open to a clientele of any racial background, and it is community bonds like these which emphasise the need for collective growth rather than singling out individual faults. The Space highlights the needs of its community from childhood to beyond retirement, and the life-changing services they provide can only continue if those leading the gentrification march recognise the demand and importance of their work. Urgent issues such as unsafe housing and health outcomes need to be improved before Govanhill can be built back up.
The subject of gentrification remains a divisive topic; however, by listening to voices that sometimes go unheard, the people affected have more agency in the decisions that have the potential to make or break their community. Cafes and boutiques do not make a community thrive and prosper, but real, pure bonds between neighbours striving for better do.
