New at the Càrn Ùstaidh hub – Friday Crafternoon!
Start this Friday, 20th June!
Come along to the Càrn Ùstaidh hub and join our new craft group on Friday afternoons from 2pm to 5pm. It’s a warm, spacious and well-lit venue, ideal for almost all crafting pursuits.
Everyone’s welcome whether you enjoy knitting, crochet, embroidery, weaving, card-making, cross stitch or any other crafts.
This is a brand new group and will be shaped by its members – in future we may undertake group projects, have themed session at times like Christmas, support charities by creating to donate, organise short courses, and learn new skills and techniques from each other.
It’s free of charge to attend and no need to book, so come along, work on your craft project, and have a cuppa and a blether.
Starts Friday 20th June, at 2pm – 5pm.
Tuesday 24th June, doors open 6.30pm, event starts 7pm sharp.
Scotland’s “Housing Emergency”: How Did We Get Here – and Can We Fix It?
In May 2024, the Scottish Government declared a housing emergency, citing a sharp rise in homelessness, a shortage of affordable homes, and growing pressure on temporary accommodation.
Yet Scotland builds more social homes per capita than anywhere else in the UK. Average rents are lower, and population growth is relatively modest—especially compared to regions like the South East of England. So, do we really have a crisis, or is this political mischief-making?
In this talk, Ahsan Khan explores how successive Westminster governments broke the UK’s housing system, what Scotland has done with devolved powers to repair it, and what more could be achieved with the full powers of independence.
Topics Ahsan will explore include:
- What is social housing, who provides it, and who decides where it should be built?
- Do we really need more homes?
- Why are so many people homeless?
- Are the new homes we build fit for purpose?
This will be an informal and accessible session – no jargon, no lectures – with plenty of time for questions and discussion.
Speaker Bio – Ahsan Khan
Ahsan Khan has over 30 years of experience in housing associations and local government, having managed and delivered thousands of homes across Scotland. As Chief Executive of a housing association, he doubled the organisation’s housing stock and led it to national recognition as one of the UK’s top employers. He later joined a local authority as a senior officer, overseeing four departments – including Housing and the Direct Labour Organisation – achieving some of Scotland’s highest tenant satisfaction rates and resettling more Syrian refugees per capita than any other council in the UK.
Ahsan now serves as a Judicial Member of the Scottish Tribunals Service, lectures in housing law, finance, and strategy, and runs a consultancy providing strategic and governance support to housing organisations. A committed public servant and long-standing SNP activist, Ahsan brings strategic insight, practical experience, and a deep commitment to social justice to everything he does.
The event is free but space is limited so please book via Eventbrite Scotland’s “Housing Emergency”: How Did We Get Here – and Can We Fix It? or by emailing hello@yescarnoustie.scot
Tea, coffee, cake available for donation.
Carnoustie Gala Day Saturday 5th July
We want Yes Carnoustie and the Càrn Ùstaidh hub to be part of the biggest event in the Carnoustie calendar. So we’re planning to open the hub all day on Gala Day, the 5th July!
We’re going to have face-painting for the bairns (and grown-ups, if they want it, because we’re not age-ist); we’re going to give out free wee paper Saltires; and we hope to have a bake / book / plant / craft sale, to raise funds for the hub and for campaigning.
Can you help? Are you a baker, gardener, crafter who’s willing to contribute?
Please let us know here or pop into the hub, open Monday 11am – 1pm. We need YOUR support to make this work.