# Glasgow Life

Glasgow Life is the principal trading name and brand of Culture and Sport Glasgow, a charity based in Glasgow, Scotland. It is an Arms' Length External body from Glasgow City Council, with operating responsibility for managing the arts, music, sports, events, festivals, libraries and learning programmes for the council. It is the 14th largest charity, by income, in Scotland, and its formation has been described as “one of the highest profile transfers of functions from a council to a charitable Trust in the UK” and that “...the inclusion of libraries was unprecedented“

## History

Culture and Sport Glasgow was formed as a company in December 2006, and a registered charity from February 2007. The organisation's Board agreed to adopt the name and brand "Glasgow Life" in January 2010

### Notable events

| Year | Events |
| 2023 | Glasgow Life becomes the first UK museum to repatriate objects to India |
| 2022 | Burrell collection reopened by King Charles III |
| 2021 | Venue re-opening plans, but possible closures of libraries, museums, sports and community centres Glasgow City Council announce £100m financial guarantee for charity |
| 2020 | Glasgow Life warn of uncertain future due to Coronavirus pandemic |
| 2016 | Burrell Collection closes for refurbishment Glasgow City Marketing Bureau becomes wholly owned subsidiary |
| 2015 | Tramway hosts the 2015 Turner Prize |
| 2014 | City hosts 2014 Commonwealth Games. Glasgow Life key partner for sporting venues and cultural programme |
| 2010 | Adopts 'Glasgow Life' branding Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow City Halls, Glasgow Old Fruitmarket added |
| 2007 | Charitable status granted |
| 2006 | Company formed |

## Responsibilities

Glasgow Life are responsible for six service areas within the city:
* Public Libraries, including 32 community libraries, 29 school libraries and the Mitchell Library.
* Sport venues and facilities, including
** Tollcross International Swimming Centre
** Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome
* 10 Museums
** See Glasgow Museums
* Arts and Music, through management of culture venues and festivals, including
** Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
** Glasgow City Halls
* Local community centres
* Young Glasgow, providing services aimed at children, young people and their parent/carers.

## Structure and Governance

The charity is controlled by Glasgow City Council. It is governed by a Board of directors, consisting of:
* 8 independent directors
* 5 partner directors (drawn from within Glasgow City Council)
* Executive Director
The Chair is Councillor Bailie Christie, and the Chief Executive is Susan Deighan.
There are a number of sub-committees, including:
* Audit
* Nominations
* Health and safety

## Funding

The majority of the income for the organisation is provided as a service fee from Glasgow City Council, with annual reports showing this is approximately 60% of income.

### Audited figures

Glasgow Life is regulated in its charitable activities by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), which publishes headline income and expenditure figures, with full accounts available from Companies House. The 'Service Fee' is the direct contribution from Glasgow City Council.
| Financial Year end | Income | (Of which Service fee) | Expenditure | Difference |
| 31 March 2012 | £117,221,000 | £78,148,000 | £118,274,000 | £(-1,053,000) |
| 31 March 2013 | £118,586,000 | £78,207,000 | £116,486,000 | £2,082,000 |
| 31 March 2014 | £121,482,000 | £78,096,276 | £131,364,000 | £(-9,882,000) |
| 31 March 2015 | £126,032,000 | £77,547,397 | £130,860,000 | £(-4,828,000) |
| 31 March 2016 | £119,535,000 | £75,379,960 | £120,674,000 | £(-1,139,000) |
| 31 March 2017 | £127,268,000 | £72,793,769 | £124,579,000 | £2,689,000 |
| 31 March 2018 | £121,482,000 | £73,549,000 | £131,364,000 | £(-9,882,000) |
| 31 March 2019 | £128,116,000 | £73,375,000 | £142,745,000 | £(-14,629,000) |
| 31 March 2020 | £124,923,000 | £75,545,000 | £135,972,000 | £(-11,049,000) |
| 31 March 2021 | £118,439,000 | £77,988,000 | £116,530,000 | £1,909,000 |
| 31 March 2022 | £123,430,000 | £76,716,000 | £132,855,000 | £(-9,425,000) |

## Footnotes

* ↑ "Culture and Sport Glasgow (SC313851)". Companies House Register. Companies House. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
* ↑ "Arms Length External Organisations (ALEOs)". Glasgow City Council. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
* 1 2 "Glasgow Life 'about us'". Our service areas. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
* ↑ "The 300 highest income charities". Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
* ↑ Managing organisational success in the arts. David Stevenson. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon. 2019. ISBN 978-1-315-18572-9. OCLC 1041239513.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
* 1 2 "Glasgow City Council annual accounts for Culture and Sport Glasgow".
* 1 2 3 4 "Culture and Sport Glasgow Charity details (SC037844)".
* 1 2 "Board Minutes, January 2010 (Agenda item 5)" (PDF). Glasgow Life. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
* ↑ Atkinson, Rebecca (11 January 2023). "Glasgow Life becomes first UK museum to repatriate objects to India". Museums Association. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
* ↑ "King reopens Burrell Collection after £68m refurbishment". Retrieved 2023-01-02.
* ↑ "Covid Scotland: Glasgow gyms, swimming pools, museums among more than 90 venues reopening". The Herald (Glasgow). Retrieved 2021-04-23.
* ↑ "Call for clarity over future of Glasgow leisure venues". BBC. 2021-03-17. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
* ↑ "Glasgow Life gets £100m a year guarantee from Glasgow City Council to open up after lockdown". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
* ↑ "Coronavirus: Glasgow Life warns services face uncertain future". BBC. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
* ↑ "Burrell Collection in Glasgow closing for refurbishment". BBC News, 22 October 2016. BBC. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
* ↑ "2016-17 Annual Report" (PDF). Glasgow Life. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
* ↑ "Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games". Glasgow Life 2014 Commonwealth Games. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
* ↑ "Culture and Sports Governance Structure". Glasgow Life. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
* ↑ "CSG Board and CSG CIC Board". Glasgow Life. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
* ↑ Deighan, Image: Susan (2022-03-11). "New CEO appointed at Glasgow Life". Museums + Heritage Advisor. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
* ↑ "CULTURE AND SPORT GLASGOW filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
* ↑ "2013 Annual return". Group of companies accounts made up to 31 March 2013. Companies House. Retrieved 8 November 2019.