A LANGUAGE project to help people learn English in one of Glasgow’s most multi-cultural districts has been praised by MSPs.

Around 90 people from 15 different nationalities took part in the 10 week programme in Govanhill organised by housing and community leaders.

The ESOL Café (English for Speakers of Other Languages) held at Queen's Park Govanhill Parish Church to improve reading and writing was described as an important project.

Hanzala Malik, Labour MSP for Glasgow lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating the project organisers, which has been supported by another 10 MSPs across parties.

The programme was organised by Govanhill Housing Association and Govanhill Community Development Trust.

Mr Malik said: “"This is a very important project and worthy of support.

"We are very quick to criticise but we are never happy to give people a small pat on the back to say 'well done and what you are doing is appreciated and we thank you for it'.

"People seem to undervalue the work churches and religious organisations do.

"This project is a breath of fresh air and means vulnerable people have a place that they can call home."

Other partners included Glasgow Life, Glasgow Clyde College, Community Renewal and Daisy Chain Early Years Project, a Govanhill based project run by the Church of Scotland's social care arm CrossReach.

Rev Elijah Smith of Queen's Park Govanhill Parish Church, said: "As the parish minister, I have been blessed with the opportunity to explore and partner with the good work going on in Govanhill, including Queen's Park Govanhill's role in the planning and implementation of the ESOL Café.

"Our Daisy Street property has proven an invaluable asset to both the work of the local Kirk, as well as other church denominations and community organisations.

"It is important that local and national bodies realise both the challenge and the promise of a large and diverse place like Govanhill as I am convinced that similar challenges and promises will become more common throughout Scotland in future."

Govanhill has been the focus of attention with a large influx of people in recent years of many nationalities both through immigration from Asia and eastern Europe and asylum seekers and their families.

Govanhill Community Development Trust chairwoman Lyn Ewing said: "The café and evening events have been hugely successful in bringing together different nationalities and celebrating different cultures.

"As well as helping to form real friendships, the café has taught local residents valuable English and literacy skills, which will help them in their everyday lives and hopefully open up employment opportunities."