Craigend Resource Centre (CRC) is a registered charity providing social, recreational, educational and health services and facilities for the residents of Greenock East.

In 1995 local residents created a group tasked with the building of a much needed resource centre in the area. Urban Aid provided initial funding and since then a variety of funding have sustained the centre, its staff and volunteers.

The centre has evolved over years but remains at the heart of the East End community. It is pivotal in providing opportunities for local people tailored to the needs they themselves have identified. Services include a laundrette and cafe which remain accessable and affordable for all.

Craigend is run and managed by a a Board of local people, taking a community development approach. The centre staff ensures that regular formal surveys are undertaken looking at what is being offered and whether any new developments would be benificial. They say -

“More important than surveys we listen to what people tell us, we keep our ears to the ground… We are available for people to speak to at any time. That’s how we know what’s going on, that’s how we know what people need. Then we do our best to provide it.”

The centre underwent redevelopment in the past couple of years, expanding according to demand. The new resource centre has been delivered to replace CRC’s previous facilities and provide enlarged and enhanced space for the organisation to offer increased services to the local community. The centre provision includes a café, multi-purpose hall, laundry, IT suite, play & sensory space and commercial kitchen. All spaces provide both a functional and essential social purpose in the community, working to improve health outcomes by enabling access to low cost & freshly prepared food, training opportunities, pathways to employment and local contacts.

People come from all over to take advantage of the facilities and everyone who walks through the door receives a friendly welcome.