News

Do you want to find out more about our community-owned renewable energy co-op?

Then please come to our public meeting and AGM on Wednesday 12 March 2025, 6-8pm.

We’re hosting the meeting at The Pavillion – one of the organisations we’ve been supporting through our Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund – and will be providing a buffet meal from 6pm. Please make sure you register to attend if you’re planning to come along:

Register to Attend

Glasgow Community Energy
Public meeting and AGM
Wednesday 12 March 2025, 6-8pm
The Pavillion
47 Aberdalgie Road
Glasgow
G34 9HX

Press Release: Thursday 28 March 2024

New solar-powered grant scheme launched in honour of local activist, Cathy McCormack

Glasgow’s new ‘Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund’ launched this Wednesday 27 March, using proceeds from selling renewable energy.

The £10,000 pot has been generated over the last three years by the Glasgow Community Energy co-operative, which has solar panels installed on the roofs of two schools in Greater Easterhouse and Pollokshields, supplying green electricity to the Council.

The new grant scheme aims to ensure that Cathy McCormack’s legacy lives on in Glasgow. The legendary community activist and anti-poverty campaigner from Easterhouse, who died in 2022, supported the early stages of the Glasgow Community Energy project in 2018.

She was known for her campaigning against damp housing conditions in Council-owned schemes and for making the connections between these local social injustices and the global climate crisis. In the early 1990s she helped to secure funding for a pioneering solar heating project on the Easthall housing scheme, the first of its kind in the world.

In the first five years, the ‘Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund’ grants will be awarded to community organisations close to the two schools, including: The Pollokshields Trust, St. Paul’s Youth Forum, Connect Community Trust, East End Flat Pack Meals and Fuse Youth Café. These organisations will be encouraged to use funds for projects or activities inspired by Cathy’s radical spirit, aimed at addressing the root causes of poverty, not just the symptoms.

From 2027 onwards, the aim is to open up the grant scheme across Glasgow to give others the opportunity to apply. With Glasgow Community Energy’s plans to expand, developing new renewable energy sites across the city over the next few years, the hope is to create a much bigger funding pot – generated in an ethical way – which has the possibility of delivering more radical change across the city.

Gary McCormack, Cathy’s son, welcomed the launch of the new Fund, saying “we’re absolutely chuffed and honoured – as mum would be too. In the final years of her life, she got so much joy from seeing the next generation of community activists take up her fight for social, economic and environmental justice in Glasgow and across the world. We hope this new fund will inspire and support more local people to get involved.”

Neil Young at St. Paul’s Youth Forum said: “We are honoured to be one of the recipients of the first ‘Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund’ grants. Cathy was an inspiration to many in SPYF as a local person who stood up against political forces to ensure that there was justice for all. We strongly believe in the power of local people coming together to make a difference.”

“This grant will enable people suffering from depression and other mental health issues to tackle both food poverty and the climate emergency through growing together in our new community farm. We’ll tackle the challenges of our time by building strength and resilience.”

“We will use the grant towards a social area in the farm, somewhere people can sit and socialise but also a decorative area for quiet reflection and some pollinator friendly plants tying in with Cathy’s yellow butterfly. We’re delighted to be able to support so many of Cathy’s passions with this funding.”

Fatima Uygun, a volunteer with The Pollokshields Trust said: “We are honoured to be a recipient of the ‘Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund’. The grant will be used in Cathy’s spirit to improve greenspaces for our community to ensure they are accessible and inclusive for all. Glasgow Community Energy is an incredible project that has brought huge benefits to communities across Glasgow and we are delighted to be involved.”

Notes to Editors:

• The Glasgow Community Energy co-operative has been established by local people on a largely voluntary basis over the last few years. As a result of a successful community share offer in 2021, it now has 182 members (154 individuals and 28 community organisations) across Glasgow and beyond.
• The launch of the first phase of the ‘Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund’ takes place at ‘A People Powered Future for Glasgow’, Glasgow Community Energy’s public event and AGM on Wednesday 27 March 2024, 6-8pm at the Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JP. See further details here: peoplepowered.eventbrite.com
• The event will also see the launch of Glasgow Community Energy’s business plan for expansion to new sites across the city over the next few years in collaboration with local communities. They are currently seeking feedback on the proposals.

For Further Details:

Contact: Ellie Harrison: treasurer [at] glasgowenergy.coop

We have drafted a Business Plan that lays out our strategy for Glasgow Community Energy to become the vehicle through which communities across the city can deliver community-owned renewable energy projects, generate income for community projects and build a network that supports a just transition for the people of Glasgow.

We want our work to reflect the priorities of local people, so we are asking for feedback on the business plan before we start putting it into action. We would really appreciate it if you could read the Business Plan Summary and fill out our Engagement Questionnaire.

Complete Questionnaire

How do we make sure that Glasgow’s transition to net-zero is rooted in social and climate justice?

Is decarbonisation on its own good enough?

Can we leave the Government and the private sector to do it for us?

These are a few of the questions that Glasgow Community Energy is trying to address. We have drafted a Business Plan that lays out our strategy for becoming the vehicle through which communities across the city can deliver community-owned renewable energy projects, generate income for community projects and build a network that supports a just transition for the people of Glasgow.

This event for Members and the general public is an opportunity to hear about our plans and to let us know what you think. We want as many people as possible to contribute to our strategy, so if you are involved in or care about climate justice, community action and decarbonisation, please come along.

We’ll also be joined by our partners CEMVO Scotland to talk about climate action by ethnic minority organisations, and by Glasgow City Council to present work they are doing to support the community energy sector.

This event will be followed by GCE’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2024.

Register to Attend

Wednesday 27 March 2024, 6:30-9pm
The Renfield Training and Conference Centre
260 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JP

Glasgow Community Energy features as one of Local Energy Scotland’s successful case studies in this new video.