Who we are

GalGael are a working community based in Glasgow, Scotland. We work together on demanding common tasks that demonstrate ways of living with more humanity in our times. In this section you can find out a bit more about our story, what GalGael means and how we came to be building boats as well as how we're organised.

What GalGael means

The name 'GalGael' is our way of re-rooting notions of identity and belonging in ways that are inclusive not exclusive – recognising there is both a bit of the stranger and a bit of the native in us all. Read more

Our story

Our story is crafted by many people. It starts in one of the most deprived areas of Glasgow, where the GalGael grew from an environmental campaign. We created GalGael as a vehicle to take forward what we’d learned and to move from being about what we didn’t want to what we did want. Read more

How we're organised

GalGael consists of the GalGael Trust, a registered charity and GalGael Enterprises a social enterprise - wholly owned by the Trust. Find out more about how we're structured and how we make decisions. Read more

Latest

Coronavirus Update

An update on the ongoing situation with Coronavirus, Covid-19, and it's impact on GalGael, our activities and our community. This is specifically for our volunteers, participants, visitors.

Colin's passion shared in BBC Alba documentary

BBC Alba documentary Birdman of Pollok, Curaidh na Coille tells the story of Colin Macleod our founder - a power story for our times. "An inspiring insight into a quest for justice, equity & sustainability of people and place" Broadcasting on 30 December

GalGael's work featured on BBC

GalGael's work profiled in BBC News feature

Kinship and being a Good Human

GalGael's board has some heavy hitters - that is when it comes to weighing in on the issue of social justice. Here, John Carnochan - who trail blazed radical new approaches to violence and knife crime with the Violence Reduction Unit at Police Scotland - shares his thoughts on what it means to be a human being in the context of kinship.

Timber and firewood

We produce a number of Scottish hardwoods - often by working with partners within Historic Environment Scotland and Glasgow City Council to bring locally produced timber for sale to the public and for use in our products.

Boat building

GalGael works together on demanding common tasks that build community and demonstrate ways of living with more humanity. Working together on boats of all shapes and sizes is one of the ways in which we do just this.

GalGael Next?

Big changes at GalGael

How to participate

There are many ways to get involved in our work. Find out how to become part of what we're doing, visit us or stay connected.

Why we need volunteers

GalGael offers activities that help people reclaim skills, agency and sense of worth. Without our crew of dedicated volunteers we these activities wouldn't happen nor would the many other adventures we have.

About our social enterprise

Our range of products and services - activities that generate meaning and income to help us become self-sustaining.

Open Workshop Night

Join us for our weekly open workshop nights - every Thursday.

Where we are

This is where you'll find us. We work and gather around tables and workbenches, at events, at cultural sites and in the great outdoors.

Very human humans

This is not your typical ‘success story’ with happy endings. Brian arrived at GalGael’s workshop with a cynicism bordering on healthy - "I thought GalGael was just another programme to keep the DWP off my back for a few more months while I got on with the business of drinking myself to death, no big deal".

How to refer

GalGael’s activities offer folk a place of work, some respect and some tools. We work to create a therapeutic environment however what we offer is firmly based in practical skills. So we are reliant on ongoing working relationships with our partner agencies in supporting people with complex needs.