Kevin Smith and Allen Lindsay, share their story on how a community enterprise is working to stimulate the development of a shared site. How do you try to develop a derelict building, that you don’t own and don’t have responsibility for, to turn it from a community liability into a community asset?

1. Developing an intergenerational shared
space concept for Knightswood
International
Conference
2022

2. A group of companies and service teams
www.ceis.org.uk
• UK’s largest and most experienced social
enterprise support agency
• Our mission is to tackle inequality,
strengthen communities and improve the
performance and impact of businesses
which contribute to our society
• Core to our success and reputation is our
work with partners across the world to
share and develop new approaches and
systems that support social enterprise
development

3. People are connected in a Knightswood community that is socially
and environmentally sustainable
• Provision of community
facilities
• Programme of affordable and
accessible social, cultural,
recreational, and educational
activities and services
• Role as a Community Anchor
Organisation
• Manages and operates
Knightswood Community
Centre
• Serving Knightswood, Glasgow
North-West, and beyond
• Catering for people of all ages,
background and
circumstances

4. Campus and Pool Building
Community
Centre
Pool
Building
Library
Housing
Office

5. Why an Intergenerational Shared Space?
• KCSCIO funded by Scottish Government as a Community Anchor Organisation
• Options study to develop pool building as a community asset: steering group,
area research, community consultation, building condition survey, options
research and testing , reporting
• Project purpose, goals and options criteria established by the steering group
aligned with the initial research/ consultation
• 5 options for function and infrastructure developed for assessment;
recommended development option is an Intergenerational Centre
• Further funding secured to explore options and stimulate interest in
developing the pool building as an IGSS – Project Sponsor role
• Established steering group of stakeholder organisations and advisers
• Appointed INCH Architecture and Design to broadly RIBA stage 2
• Other advisers: CEIS, CRGP, Generations Working Together

6. Enterprise Concept
Facility providing planned ongoing activities that purposefully bring together different
generations in shared settings to share experiences that are mutually beneficial.
Facility/ Service/ Activity Ideas: mixed care services, creative arts, befriending,
reminiscing, craft café, school twinning, community cooking, digital skills, physical
activities, learning and mentoring, social activities for people and carers, community
events, community celebrations
This would comprise dedicated specialist facilities for co-located traditional services
(e.g. Early Years, daycare for older people) and Intergenerational Shared Space for
children, young people and older people, and services co-ordinated with the
community centre and library’s offering to these target groups and the wider
community. One or more service delivery organisations to take the project lead and
ownership of the building as part of a wider development and delivery partnership
with KCSCIO, GL and other stakeholder organisations.

7. Design Concept: Space Typologies
Organised
Group
Outdoor
Technical
Pop-up
Shop-front

8. Design Concept: Site Movement and Connections
Campus connection Multiple access points
Outdoor integration Site lines

9. Design Concept
Indoor CZ
Outdoor CZ
First Floor

10. Status
Current Position
• Community and stakeholder support for IGSS development
• Significant knowledge and learning from R&D activities to date
• RIBA Stage 2 design concept and costs
• Opportunity to develop a ‘campus’ approach: location, footfall, need/
demand, community-focused ‘neighbours’
Next Steps
• Develop an IGSS Prospectus
• Search for and secure a third sector owner/ operator
• Support them in the next stage of IGSS development

11. (Some) Key Learning
1. Starting with an end-user would be better otherwise someone has to
take the initiative
2. Finding the right people to talk to and involve
3. Beware a ‘gift horse’, so expert help is required
4. Research and development needs dedicated resources and costs
money
5. There’s a gap between policy and resources
6. Expect a long-haul and work to milestones not deadlines
7. Developing a community asset is a shared responsibility so its
important to take a collaborative approach

12. Collaborative Approach

13. Contact
Allen Lindsay, Chairperson
Knightswood Community SCIO
chair@knightswoodcentre.co.uk
Kevin Smith, Business Adviser
CEIS
kevin.smith@ceis.org.uk

14. Knightswood IGSS