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

GALGAEL TEMPORARILY CLOSED

WE'LL BE CLOSED FOR THE NEXT WEE WHILE... Glasgow City Council has declared the derelict building next door unsafe and have suspended access to the workshop. We'll let you know as soon as we get an update but for the time being we need to suspend much of our workshop activity - including Practical Woodwork and Thursday evenings 🥲
At Work in the Ruins: An Evening with Dougald Hine, Alastair McIntosh and friends

An Evening with Dougald Hine, Alastair McIntosh, Caroline Ross & Dougie Strang to mark the publication of Dougald's At Work in the Ruins: Finding Our Place in the Time of Science, Climate Change, Pandemics & All the Other Emergencies
AGM December 2022

Hello out there... the months are rolling on and as the wheel of the seasons turn we find ourselves getting set for another annual general meeting. If you're anything like us, then perhaps the pandemic messed with your sense of the passing of time. Whatever, we're glad to be extending a warm invitation to declare yourself welcome at our Annual General Meeting on Thursday 1 December.
A new state

Govan Free State: living in the early days of a better nation. So COP26 is coming to town, about the same time as GalGael enter our 25th year. And so we thought what more appropriate way to mark all this than to declare a new free state - returning to our roots in Pollok Free State - an anti motorway camp. A playful, creative exploration of power and legitimacy in the face of climate emergency. An act of solidarity with those communities struggling for recognition of their territories.

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.
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, these activities wouldn't happen nor would the many other adventures we have.
Basic Woodwork

Basic woodwork is the mainstay of our work at GalGael. Find out more about our opportunities to learn with us. Craft generates skills, agency, and community.
About our social enterprise

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

Big changes at GalGael
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.
Open Workshop Nights

We have a workshop with tools and benches so every Thursday we open that up to the wider community. Thursdays are open format - they very much depend on who shows up and what they bring. But we can promise workshop space, a basic meal and some banter.
A new state

Govan Free State: living in the early days of a better nation. So COP26 is coming to town, about the same time as GalGael enter our 25th year. And so we thought what more appropriate way to mark all this than to declare a new free state - returning to our roots in Pollok Free State - an anti motorway camp. A playful, creative exploration of power and legitimacy in the face of climate emergency. An act of solidarity with those communities struggling for recognition of their territories.