Our Vision & Purpose

OUR VISION

The 'great dream' we're wrestling in to reality.

A just Scotland
freed from scarcity,
violence and loneliness.

A welcoming Scotland
where our ties to one another,
our waterways and land
are revealed and revered.

OUR PURPOSE

WHAT IS OURS TO DO?

To work together on demanding common tasks that demonstrate ways of living with more humanity in our times.

"We're cast into a crazy world

Wi' many a sore disgrace

Where greed o'er turns compassion

And respect is laid to waste.

Nae wonder then I linger here

Wi' brethren mair distinguished

Who's grasp on human kindness

Will never be relinquished"

- from the GalGael Grace J. Jeffries

Latest

Referring Someone

More information for referral agencies supporting someone to access what GalGael offers.
Making Just Futures

Making Just Futures is a big new piece of work for GalGael. Over two years, Making Just Futures will empower communities to imagine, determine and ultimately make just futures that meet their needs for living well and sustainably in an increasingly uncertain world.
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 🥲
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.

Our impact

We work for positive growth beyond ourselves – within our communities and wider society also. Words from past participants, volunteers and apprentices get straight to the point in describing something of the difference GalGael makes.
Our working principles

Our working principles guide how we work together. They are our commitment to one another.
Values

Our values guide our decision making and how we work together. They shape what we do and how we demonstrate greater humanity.
Our Theory of Change

We see health as shaped by our environment, social context and inner lives. We experience health as much more than the absence of disease. This and other ways we understand the world our work responds to form our theory of change - how we understand what's needed.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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

OUR VISION

A just Scotland freed from scarcity, violence and loneliness.

A welcoming Scotland where our ties to one another, our waterways and land are revealed and revered.

OUR PURPOSE

To work together on demanding common tasks that demonstrate ways of living with more humanity in our times.

A just Scotland
freed from scarcity,
violence and loneliness.

A welcoming Scotland
where our ties to one another,
our waterways and land
are revealed and revered.