Pearce Institute

Description:

The Institute was gifted to the people of Govan by Lady Pearce in memory of her husband, Sir William Pearce, former owner of the Fairfield Shipyards and Govan's first MP.  Over 40 third sector organisations are based within the building, all sharing the common aim of meeting the needs of the people of Govan.

The Pearce Institue offers a wide range of space including the Mary Barbour Conference Suite, Lithgow Theatre and Macleod Hall for meetings, conferences, cultural events and social occasions.

A programme of phased restoration work is being carried out with £2.3 million in place to completely restore the roof and carry out repairs to stonework, as part of the Central Govan Action Plan and Govan Cross Townscape Heritage Initiative framework. The current work also includes internal repairs and restoration work. Funders include Glasgow City Council, Heritage Lottery, Historic Scotland, Govan and Craigton Community Planning Partnership and Scottish Government's Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

Reorganisation of the Pearce Institute's governance structure was completed in December 2009, with ownership of the building being transferred to a newly formed company limited by guarantee recognised as a charity by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).  The new structure was established under a partnership model, with directors being appointed from Govan Workspace, Govan Housing Association, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow South West Regeneration Agency, Central Govan Community Council and Govan and Linthouse Church. Elections will take place in February 2010 to recruit directors from PI user groups, tenants and individual members.