Application of AI in Pollok in Glasgow : A local councillor's perspective

Alex Glass was the local councillor in Pollok during the period when the Greater Pollok Development Company under its Chief Executive John Watson became aware of appreciative inquiry and started learning about it and applying it in various ways. Bliss Browne and I worked with GPDC in a number of different ways. Here is what I asked him earlier this year- some 4 years after the first applications of the appreciative approach: 'I recall a story about you being impressed with the process we used and how it impacted on the way the work in Pollok was written up and presented - a positive story and approach. it would be good to hear your recollections and your thoughts re the impact.' His response follows and I am very grateful to Alex for his response. In my experience it can be very hard to get people to respond and also be preapred for their response to be quoted. The fact that Alex took the time to do this says a lot in itself before you read the content. 'There has been a fantastic transformation within Greater Pollok over the last four years. We now have an area on the move after a long number of years of stagnation. Whilst much of what has taken place had been planned prior to Bliss' involvement the change in public perception has made a big difference and this is down to people being more willing to highlight the positive and not dwell on the negative.

John Watson's report on the building bricks of regeneration being in place was the first time that anyone had looked at the potential on offer within Greater Pollok and being willing to promote it as an area that was on the road to positive regeneration.

For too long everyone was willing to play up the negatives in order to attract project funding when in fact time could have been more productively spent trying to secure inward investment that would lead to more people in work and less need for social programmes that tend to keep people involved in the dependency culture.

We are now seeing the benefit of decisions that were taken less that 20 years ago. But more importantly we have residents who are now able to see the better opportunities that are available through work.

We still have a lot to do. There are some people who need to be convinced that Greater Pollok has changed for the better. We also need to redress the balance of those in greater need of support and ensure that the appropriate services are available.

Further job opportunities are on the way and it is vital that community leaders continue to talk the area up and not continue to reflect on past failures.

If it has been sometime since you last saw Greater Pollok I am sure you will witness an area that has made a dramatic change for the better. We still have small pockets where much work needs to be done but we are now in a better position to attract the necessary investment to complete the transformation.

Greater Pollok is now a place to Work, Stay and we are working on the Play.

It was nice to hear from you. All the best

Alex

What is the highlight of this story for you readers out there? Looking ahead what would you like to see happening in the future in communities like Pollok? The questions you ask determine what you find and positive conversations and images lead to positive action.