The Initiative: Gorbals, Govanhill and Toryglen, helped over 500 Southsiders find jobs in the last year, according to the Local Development Company’s annual report. This brings their total up to 5000 people in the past 15 years.

The new figures show a 23% increase in the number of Initiative clients finding jobs since the same time last year. The Initiative also managed to raise £1.4 million for 89 local community groups, a significant increase on last year’s £625,000. Initiative Chair Kathleen Travers said the year was ‘the most successful yet’.

The Initiative’s Chief Executive Candy Munro said, ‘With the introduction of Community Planning and the new Community Health and Care Partnerships our operating environment continues to change. Next year the Local Development Company Network will be working towards aligning our boundaries with those of our partners. We continue to set ambitious goals for our areas.’

The Initiative also opened a new office in Pollokshields this year, offering their services to a new area, as well as opening their new Bridge End Nursery extension, enabling them to offer up to 60 more childcare places.

Kathleen added, ‘Perhaps most importantly, 75 per cent of residents in our area agreed that the Initiative benefits the whole community. More than any other agency, the Initiative enjoys the trust of the clients it serves.’