A local charity engaged in
S T E A M
empowered
creative
regeneration
Our vision is for Inverclyde to be a creative powerhouse
Creative Regeneration’s purpose is the advancement of the Arts, Culture, Heritage & Science. We believe in the transformative effect of community led learning, leading to renewal and regeneration. Over the past decade, there has been growing recognition of the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in empowering young people.
More recently, however, there has been more talk about how the ARTS (or creativity) can be incorporated into STEM subjects to yield even greater results. The “A” in S T E A M stands for the arts, which include visual arts and design in addition to music and the humanities. When the sciences and the arts successfully come together, new connections yield exciting discoveries and ideas.
For us this encapsulates what Inverclyde has historically been brilliant at, combining creativity, innovation with a ‘can do’ attitude and practical skills. Whether shipbuilding, engineering, manufacturing, electronics or traditional craft - INVERCLYDE CAN!
S T E A M Empowered
One of the core differences between S T E M and S T E A M is that while S T E M focuses primarily on scientific concepts, STEAM takes a more wide ranging problem-solving approach. Instead of purely looking at the concepts, S T E A M encourages the creative process so that these concepts can be used to identify and solve real-world problems. When creativity is injected into STEM, innovation becomes possible.
Creative Regeneration have been working to bring community led S T E A M learning to Inverclyde, developing projects that can deliver. We have been carrying out feasibility work on The Glebe with plans to raise funds to acquire the building and to carry out significant capital works, making the building accessible, zero carbon and flexible for community use. We plan to organise events, activities and exhibitions within the refurbished building as well as manage the facility. Our goal for this iconic building is for it become a S T E A M empowered creative powerhouse for Inverclyde hosting digitally augmented heritage skills training, performance spaces with digital production facilities, a S T E A M maker space and community spaces.
We will pilot a S T E A M community classroom at The Old Library in Gourock this summer, including AI Coding, Digital Fabrication Skills, Lego Engineering Club and many more activities.
We believe that our projects will have a role to play in supporting our communities by delivering social, economic and cultural regeneration. We aim to provide spaces which support, nurture and develop communities to realise and share their talent and skills, sustaining a creative future for Inverclyde. We acknowledge the value of unleashing creativity, the community empowerment it can bring and the better future it can deliver for all of us.
Access to flexible, cost effective space builds the community resilience by enabling people to connect through shared interests, learn new skills, undertake training that may lead to lifetime employment opportunities or just come together for events and exhibitions.
Our aims
The advancement of the arts, heritage, culture and science
Creating, developing, and maintaining community facilities
Empowerment through S T E A M learning.
Widening learning opportunities for people to undertake creative, purposeful, and recreational activities
To develop the capacity of young and old to share skills and knowledge.
To encourage concepts of citizenship, community & environmental awareness
The Young STEM Leader Programme
Creative regeneration is an approved delivery centre for the YSLP programme, which is led by S(SERC) Scottish Schools Education Research Centre.
The Young STEM Leader Programme enables young people in Scotland to inspire, lead and mentor their peers through the delivery of STEM activities, events or interactions within their learning communities.
As well as developing important leadership, communication and employability skills, completing a Young STEM Leader award will motivate young people to progress their STEM studies leading towards positive destinations in STEM.
Above all, the Programme aims to promote curiosity in STEM, allowing Young STEM Leaders to learn about the world around them in a fun, engaging and accessible way
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
— Albert Einstein
Our board
We meet regularly to make strategic & operational decisions, discuss partnerships, apply for funding and act in the best interests of our members and the wider Inverclyde public. We are always interested in people who can bring something to our organisation and help steer the ship, if you are interested and have something to offer, get in touch about serving on our advisory boards or as a trustee on our board.
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Trustee/Chair
Alec Galloway is a Scottish stained glass artist and painter based in Inverclyde on the west coast of Scotland. After studying at the Edinburgh College of Art, he spent some time working in the UAE, before returning to Scotland in 2000. In conjunction with taking up a teaching post at the ECA (2000-12), where he took over from his teacher Douglas Hogg, he also developed a commercial business, which in recent years has also included many public art projects.
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Trustee/Treasurer
Finlay is an experienced local Teacher with a passion for outdoor education and experiential learning. He’s a respected member of the Inverclyde community whose involvement with numerous sporting, cultural and educational institutions bring him great pleasure.
Finlay sees the creation of positive relationships as fundamental to any successful experience. Motivated by his two young boys, Finlay tries to cultivate a can-do attitude, a pride in their community and shows them how supporting others to succeed can be an empowering and positive life experience for all.
Finlay would describe himself as a ‘recalibrator of hope’.
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Trustee/Secretary
Bruce is a practising architect with over 20 years experience. He was a co-founder of MAKLAB, Scotland’s first Open Access Digital Manufacturing Centre and formerly the Technical Director of the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre.
Bruce is a founding Trustee of the Inverclyde Shed SCIO and Creative Regeneration SCIO.
He currently manages the Shed’s Shore Street Community Gardens & Muirshiel Lane Market Garden and co-ordinated their East Blackhall Street Shed Renovation Project, Inverclyde’s first successful Community Asset Transfer.
Photograph © Garth Ivan
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Derek graduated from Glasgow School of Art specialising in fine art and is a practising graphic designer currently exploring the interface with AI generated work, recently showcasing examples at the Wyllieum.
He is also a well-known face at the town's Lyle Gateway, where he is community development leader,
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
Creative Regeneration is a member of The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. SCVO are the national membership organisation for the voluntary sector with a mission to champion the role of voluntary organisations in building a flourishing society and support them to do work that has a positive impact. Along with SCVO’s community of 4,105 members and supporters, we believe that a thriving voluntary sector should be at the heart of a successful, fair and inclusive Scotland.
Safeguarding + Child Protection
Our safeguarding + child protection policies have been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in Scotland.
A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available HERE.
Volunteering Scotland
As the only national centre for volunteering, Volunteering Scotland exist to help you make a difference through volunteering. Creative Regeneration support their aims of ensuring that volunteering is accessible to all, and that when people do volunteer, they have the very best experience. Volunteer Scotland Disclosure Services (VSDS) is funded by Disclosure Scotland. Specifically, they provide annual funding, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, to VSDS to support the voluntary sector with their disclosure checks.
Scottish Living Wage Accreditation
At Creative Regeneration, we are committed to creating a fair and inclusive workplace where all employees are valued and respected. We adhere to the principles of Fair Work First Scotland, ensuring that our practices align with ethical business standards. We believe in providing equal opportunities, fair pay, and a healthy work environment. Our commitment to fair work extends to our interactions with partners and collaborators, ensuring that our practices are socially responsible and sustainable.
Creative Regeneration’s principles, values and strategy are aligned to the Fair Work Principles.