Who we are
Blantyre is a key regeneration area in South Lanarkshire. The Blantyre Miners Welfare Charitable Society is at the forefront of current community regeneration partnership activity, working to improve life for the people who live there.
Miners welfare institutes were established in most coalfield areas of Britain to meet the needs of the miners, their dependants and the wider community and were funded, in part, from miners' wages.
The society was originally established in 1928 as the Blantyre Miners Welfare and provided a focal point for social and community activity, such as reading rooms, a playground, bowling greens and a range of sporting events and Gala Days. It also provided assistance for miners and their dependants in times of hardship and disaster. The Welfare has been a landmark in Blantyre, situated on the corner of Calder Street, Craig Street and Victoria Street. The Welfare has evolved over the years, helping to support people, in a range of ways, through the pit closures and the consequent regeneration of the local area. In 1991, the Welfare changed its name to the Blantyre Miners Welfare Charitable Society and it continues to provide a range of services, facilities and opportunities for local people.
What we do
The society's main achievement is the new Blantyre Miners Community Resource Centre, which opened in August 2008. The centre was established through partnership working between the society, the Community Regeneration Fund, South Lanarkshire Council, and funding from the European Regional Development Fund, The Big Lottery Fund, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, The Robertson Trust and the Lloyds/TSB Foundation.
In responding to the needs of the local community, the centre provides a range of services and activities for local people including education and learning resources, conference and sports facilities. Local service providers work closely with the society to ensure that the centre continues to provide these important resources and to ensure that it fully meets the needs of the local community. The Blantyre Miners Welfare Society consults with organisations and the community on an on-going basis.
The centre has self-contained business units which are currently occupied by Constance Care Limited. The main part of the building is the Community Resource Centre which includes training and meeting rooms, halls and a fitness room.
The Blantyre Miners Welfare Charitable Society is currently involved in a range of activities including access to training and jobs, education and training, and providing Health related facilities and initiatives
The society works closely with JobCentre Plus, Routes to Work South, In2Work and Working for Families to provide a one stop shop for information and advice. Skills Development Scotland also provide a fortnightly service for young people, at the centre.
Working with Motherwell College and South Lanarkshire Council Community Education Department, the society provides access to a range of courses.
The society is also in discussion with NHS Lanarkshire and Blantyre Leisure to extend the range of health and fitness classes and support groups for all ages.
What next?
It is essential that the resource centre continues to meet the needs of local people and the society is looking at ways to maintain the success and sustainability of the centre. They are now looking to expand their income stream and hope to establish the resource centre as a venue for conferences, events and weddings.
In January 2010, the community cinema will be launched in the resource centre.
The Society are also keen to maintain links to their heritage and recently received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to refurbish the Blantyre Community Resource Centre Heritage Project, to restore and display local historical artefacts and deliver education on Blantyre's heritage.
Contact information
If you would like to know more about the work of the Blantyre Miners Charitable Society and the resource centre, please contact:
Gerry Baldwin, Centre Manager
By telephone: 01698 711100
By email: manager@blantyremw.org.uk
Or by post:
Blantyre Community Resource Centre
3 Calder Street
Blantyre
South Lanarkshire G72 0AU
Website: www.blantyremw.org.uk/main.html