Our Story

The Well was founded on 23 March 1994 by the Church of Scotland, following a ‘Needs Survey’ to better understand how to serve the increasingly diverse and multi-cultural community in Govanhill.

The main message to emerge from the survey was a need for an advice centre, as many ethnic minority residents faced challenges navigating complex systems in the UK. In response, The Well Asian Advice Centre was established to offer support and guidance to those in the Govanhill community.

 

The name ‘The Well’ is inspired by the biblical story in the book of John chapter 4, where Jesus crosses cultural, gender, and social barriers to connect with a Samaritan woman at a well. His focus was on helping her, regardless of differences, showing care and compassion. This story became the foundation for our work—connecting with and supporting people from all walks of life.

As the years have passed, The Well has evolved in response to the needs of the local community. We’ve expanded our services, and we continue to listen to and adapt based on what our community requires.

In 2011, The Well became an independent charity and officially changed its name to ویسے ملٹی کلچرل ریسورس سینٹر. This name better reflects the growing ethnic diversity of the area and the wide range of services we now offer.

A Milestone: 25 Years of Service

From March 2019 to March 2020, The Well celebrated its 25th Anniversary of supporting people in the South East Glasgow. During this special year, The Well hosted a series of events to celebrate our work and the community we serve:

• ‘Chai and Chat’ – A gathering of over 120 local women came together for an international lunch, sharing food, stories, and building connections.
• ‘Black History Month’ Exhibition – Featuring a powerful collection of photographs taken by local residents, including several of our clients, highlighting the rich cultural diversity of Govanhill.
• A large anniversary celebration event that brought together the community to mark this significant milestone.

A New Chapter in our Journey

As demand for The Well’s services continues to grow, we are excited to announce that in April 2023, we moved to a larger, more welcoming space on Niddrie Road. This marks our third location, allowing us to better meet the needs of the diverse community we serve.

In March 2024, we quietly celebrated 30 years of supporting the multi-cultural community of Greater Govanhill—three decades of offering help, hope, and connection.

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