WOODLANDS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
Woodlands Community Development Trust is a registered charity concerned with the long term regeneration of Woodlands area of Glasgow – its economy, its environment, its facilities and the ‘spirit’ of Woodlands. We are community based and accountable – in our work, our style and the composition of our board of management. We support local people in shaping the future of Woodlands in ways that are sustainable, environmentally friendly and innovative. Our key aims include supporting community-based education activities, promoting the health and well-being of our community, encouraging participation in community arts and the advancement of environment protection.

WOODLANDS COMMUNITY GARDEN
Woodlands Community Garden is our main project. Since 2010 we have transformed a derelict urban gap site into a thriving community garden and “outdoor community centre”. The garden has over 50 raised beds where local people can grow their own food, with beds allocated on an annual basis. For people who don't have a raised bed, there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved, including via our twice weekly volunteer sessions. The garden is a wonderfully therapeutic space that helps people to recover from the stresses and strains of every day life.

POP UP COMMUNITY CAFE
Our free vegetarian community café takes place on Monday evenings, feeding an average of 60-70 people per week, with meals cooked using fresh ingredients including those grown at our community garden. We also run regular cookery workshops both at the cafe and in partnership with other local organisations. You can join us every Monday from 5.30 - 7.30pm at our Fred Paton Centre. The strength of our community cafe lies in that there is no distinction between those providing the aid and those receiving it, all are actively encouraged to volunteer in our work. The food we serve is high quality, freshly prepared and of the same quality you would expect in an expensive restaurant. The café has a very welcoming atmosphere, with music workshops and performances adding to its ambience. It is very much a positive place to come. By encouraging a healthy vegetarian diet, we are making permanent changes in people’s perception towards food. Our Café not only provides access to good, fresh and healthy food, it also enables communities from all backgrounds to socialise in a safe welcoming environment. Volunteers who we train and support are gaining skills, confidence and self-esteem and our work has had a transformative effect on people attending.