Govanhill is an area on Glasgow’s Southside facing stark inequalities across a range of social, economic, health and environmental markers. In this, the final evaluation report from the Govanhill Equally Well test site, Chris Harkins outlines the key achievements and milestones over the test site’s lifetime. The report also discusses and presents the key learning from the test site and describes progressive localised partnership approaches such as the Govanhill Hub and the Participatory Budgeting pilot. Also detailed is the influence Govanhill partners have had on housing legislation; it is hoped the revised housing Bills will not only allow partners in Govanhill to respond more effectively to the local issues described in the report but may also benefit Scotland at a societal level.

The report describes the unique contributions community anchor organisations can make to the implementation of Equally Well and in the nation’s wider response to the Christie Commission. The report also discusses public sector organisational structures and cultures and the challenges faced in progressing new and innovative service delivery within this context. The report concludes that the current economic downturn may actually represent an opportunity for the implementation of Equally Well; public sector organisations are looking to become more flexible and adaptive as a matter of fiscal necessity. This is involving a very real drive for service delivery with, alongside and through community anchor organisations, community assets and communities themselves.