Ellie Harrison

Following the launch of the new freely-available audiobook of Cathy McCormack’s The Wee Yellow Butterfly, we are delighted to be organising another listening and discussion event about the inspiring life and work of the late Glaswegian community activist and anti-poverty campaigner, as part of Govanhill International Festival & Carnival 2025.

Cultivating Community Activism: Learning from Cathy McCormack’s ‘The Wee Yellow Butterfly’
Wednesday 6 August 2025, 7-8:30pm
Queen’s Park Govanhill Parish Church, 170 Queen’s Drive, G42 8QZ

Register to Attend

In March 2024 we launched our Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund, in honour of the late Glaswegian community activist and anti-poverty campaigner. This Saturday 21 June 2025, 2-4pm at Glasgow Women’s Library, we are delighted to be helping to launch a new freely-available audiobook of Cathy McCormack’s 2009 book The Wee Yellow Butterfly.

The book tells the story of Cathy’s life and community activism in Easterhouse, particularly campaigning against damp housing conditions in Council-owned schemes in the ’80s and ’90s. Making the connections between these local social injustices and the global climate crisis led Cathy to help develop a pioneering solar heating project on the Easthall housing scheme, the first of its kind in the world.

Download the Audiobook

The launch of a free audio edition of Cathy McCormack’s classic, The Wee Yellow Butterfly, is a momentous occasion.
This book, whose radical implications cannot be exaggerated, documents Cathy’s achievements as a activist, campaigner, catalyst and popular educator, who persuaded countless people around the world: that neoliberalism is toxic to people and planet; that its ‘experts’ are often part of the problem; and that a war-without-bullets is being waged against innocent communities around the world.
The inspiring story of a woman who left school at 15 but shook the foundations of the status quo and demonstrated how, in the teeth of Establishment opposition, reduction of climate damaging carbon dioxide emissions, poverty and ill health could be simultaneously affordably achieved, is now a mere click away.
— David Fryer

I am delighted that Cathy’s Wee Yellow Butterfly has been made into an audiobook. It brings to life an amazing journey of hope and inspiration for all. When we started out, all those years ago, as members of Easthall Residents Association Dampness Group, none of us could have imagined where that journey, metaphorically and/or globally, would take us. Cathy’s story lives in the hearts and minds of those folk, like us, who never give up despite the labels and backlash, because we believe that another world is possible.
— Helen Martin

Join us for the launch of a new freely-available Audiobook of the late Cathy McCormack’s ‘The Wee Yellow Butterfly’.

Saturday 21 June 2025, 2-4pm
Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, G40 1BP

Register to Attend

‘The Wee Yellow Butterfly’ – written with Marian Pallister and originally published in 2009 – tells the story of Cathy’s life and community activism in Easterhouse, particularly campaigning against damp housing conditions in Council-owned schemes in the ’80s and ’90s. Making the connections between these local social injustices and the global climate crisis led Cathy to help develop a pioneering solar heating project on the Easthall housing scheme, the first of its kind in the world.

We will listen to sections of the new Audiobook and discuss Cathy’s life and legacy with some of her friends, family and collaborators, including Marian Pallister and Cathy’s sons.

Glasgow Women’s Library now holds the archive of Cathy McCormack’s papers, following her death in 2022. As part of the Open Archive series, this event aims to raise awareness for the archive and the wealth of materials it holds for other community activists and researchers.

The new Audiobook is being produced by Cathy’s friends and fellow activists (Dan Glass, Carmen Robb and Ellie Harrison) with support from Glasgow Community Energy – Glasgow’s first community-owned renewable energy co-operative, which in 2024 launched the ‘Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund’, using proceeds from selling renewable energy.

Do you want to find out more about our community-owned renewable energy co-op?

Then please come to our public meeting and AGM on Wednesday 12 March 2025, 6-8pm.

We’re hosting the meeting at The Pavillion – one of the organisations we’ve been supporting through our Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund – and will be providing a buffet meal from 6pm. Please make sure you register to attend if you’re planning to come along:

Register to Attend

Glasgow Community Energy
Public meeting and AGM
Wednesday 12 March 2025, 6-8pm
The Pavillion
47 Aberdalgie Road
Glasgow
G34 9HX

Press Release: Thursday 28 March 2024

New solar-powered grant scheme launched in honour of local activist, Cathy McCormack

Glasgow’s new ‘Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund’ launched this Wednesday 27 March, using proceeds from selling renewable energy.

The £10,000 pot has been generated over the last three years by the Glasgow Community Energy co-operative, which has solar panels installed on the roofs of two schools in Greater Easterhouse and Pollokshields, supplying green electricity to the Council.

The new grant scheme aims to ensure that Cathy McCormack’s legacy lives on in Glasgow. The legendary community activist and anti-poverty campaigner from Easterhouse, who died in 2022, supported the early stages of the Glasgow Community Energy project in 2018.

She was known for her campaigning against damp housing conditions in Council-owned schemes and for making the connections between these local social injustices and the global climate crisis. In the early 1990s she helped to secure funding for a pioneering solar heating project on the Easthall housing scheme, the first of its kind in the world.

In the first five years, the ‘Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund’ grants will be awarded to community organisations close to the two schools, including: The Pollokshields Trust, St. Paul’s Youth Forum, Connect Community Trust, East End Flat Pack Meals and Fuse Youth Café. These organisations will be encouraged to use funds for projects or activities inspired by Cathy’s radical spirit, aimed at addressing the root causes of poverty, not just the symptoms.

From 2027 onwards, the aim is to open up the grant scheme across Glasgow to give others the opportunity to apply. With Glasgow Community Energy’s plans to expand, developing new renewable energy sites across the city over the next few years, the hope is to create a much bigger funding pot – generated in an ethical way – which has the possibility of delivering more radical change across the city.

Gary McCormack, Cathy’s son, welcomed the launch of the new Fund, saying “we’re absolutely chuffed and honoured – as mum would be too. In the final years of her life, she got so much joy from seeing the next generation of community activists take up her fight for social, economic and environmental justice in Glasgow and across the world. We hope this new fund will inspire and support more local people to get involved.”

Neil Young at St. Paul’s Youth Forum said: “We are honoured to be one of the recipients of the first ‘Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund’ grants. Cathy was an inspiration to many in SPYF as a local person who stood up against political forces to ensure that there was justice for all. We strongly believe in the power of local people coming together to make a difference.”

“This grant will enable people suffering from depression and other mental health issues to tackle both food poverty and the climate emergency through growing together in our new community farm. We’ll tackle the challenges of our time by building strength and resilience.”

“We will use the grant towards a social area in the farm, somewhere people can sit and socialise but also a decorative area for quiet reflection and some pollinator friendly plants tying in with Cathy’s yellow butterfly. We’re delighted to be able to support so many of Cathy’s passions with this funding.”

Fatima Uygun, a volunteer with The Pollokshields Trust said: “We are honoured to be a recipient of the ‘Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund’. The grant will be used in Cathy’s spirit to improve greenspaces for our community to ensure they are accessible and inclusive for all. Glasgow Community Energy is an incredible project that has brought huge benefits to communities across Glasgow and we are delighted to be involved.”

Notes to Editors:

• The Glasgow Community Energy co-operative has been established by local people on a largely voluntary basis over the last few years. As a result of a successful community share offer in 2021, it now has 182 members (154 individuals and 28 community organisations) across Glasgow and beyond.
• The launch of the first phase of the ‘Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund’ takes place at ‘A People Powered Future for Glasgow’, Glasgow Community Energy’s public event and AGM on Wednesday 27 March 2024, 6-8pm at the Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JP. See further details here: peoplepowered.eventbrite.com
• The event will also see the launch of Glasgow Community Energy’s business plan for expansion to new sites across the city over the next few years in collaboration with local communities. They are currently seeking feedback on the proposals.

For Further Details:

Contact: Ellie Harrison: treasurer [at] glasgowenergy.coop

We have drafted a Business Plan that lays out our strategy for Glasgow Community Energy to become the vehicle through which communities across the city can deliver community-owned renewable energy projects, generate income for community projects and build a network that supports a just transition for the people of Glasgow.

We want our work to reflect the priorities of local people, so we are asking for feedback on the business plan before we start putting it into action. We would really appreciate it if you could read the Business Plan Summary and fill out our Engagement Questionnaire.

Complete Questionnaire