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Five Linwood teenagers had some colourful fun recently when they rolled up their sleeves for a Commonwealth Games-themed graffiti art project in their town. The young people spent five days working with the council’s youth services team during the spring break to brighten up an underpass next to Linwood’s Phoenix Retail Park. Jack Rankin, 15, and Connor Ahmed, 16, came up with the project idea and worked with John Kennedy, Community Learning Officer, to plan it and to secure £2,127 from the Scottish Government's Cashback to Communities Fund. They were joined by Adam Burnett, 15, Lewis Marchetti, 15, and David Carson, 16, to develop ideas and together the five youngsters produced a design broadly based on the Commonwealth Games: The picture has abstract police sirens with people riding away on bikes but then evolves into people cycling in the velodrome towards a gold medal with the slogan ‘what’s you’re game’. John Kennedy, Renfrewshire Council Community Learning Officer said: “We spent the first day of the project working in Linwood Baptist Church hall to plan everything out. The youngsters really took the lead with ideas and producing the design. We then moved onto the underpass to paint on the design and had Amy Whiten and Ali Wylie from Recoat Design working with us. “The project let the young people to do something positive in their town and work on their own initiative. They were a pleasure to work with and they delivered something creative in their community that they can be very proud of.” Jack Rankin said: ...

An event to celebrate the affiliation of Dunbartonshire Chamber to Renfrewshire Chamber took place at the Erskine Bridge Hotel on the 1st May. Around 40 members from across the two counties came together to hear about the benefits of affiliation and network. The official paperwork was signed by both Presidents; Tom Johnston from Renfrewshire Chamber and Gary Groves from Dunbartonshire Chamber. Affiliation with Renfrewshire allows Dunbartonshire Chamber members to access the products & services of a fully accredited Chamber including HR & Legal, Health, Merchant Services as well as the association with Scottish and British Chambers. Members from either chamber are encouraged to support local events and network – providing potential business opportunities for the members. Commenting on the affiliation, Chief Exec’ Bob Davidson said “…we are delighted that Dunbartonshire have decided to affiliate with Renfrewshire. We look forward to sharing our learnings and experience and helping them grow & develop. We aim to do more joint events such as today and give members the opportunity to network and expand their contacts”. For more info on the Chambers visit www.renfrewshirechamber.com and www.dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk

Renfrewshire Junior Gaelic Choral Association is being established by Renfrewshire Council in partnership with Mòd Phàislig 2013. The choir will develop the children's musicianship skills as well as providing them with the opportunity to sing in Gaelic and compete in local and national Mòds. The musical director will be Donald Feist, well known musician and conductor who works with NYCoS and is also the conductor of Govan Gaelic Choir. The age range of the choir is 7 - 12 years although there may be exceptions made to the age range at the discretion of the Musical Director. The rehearsals will take place at Paisley Grammar School from 5.45 pm - 7.15 pm on a Friday evening. The first session on 11 May will be a taster session. Please make all your children in the 7 - 12 age range aware of the choir and encourage them to come along and be part of something a little bit different and very exciting! If you have any queries please contact Liz MacDonald, Chief Executive's Service on 014 840 3227.

Renfrewshire Council would like to thank drivers for their patience in dealing with the congestion caused on the area’s roads by the recent lane closures on the M8. Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government’s transport agency, has now finished its work on the motorway at the White Cart Viaduct, one week ahead of schedule, with all restrictions on the road lifted as of yesterday(Monday 30 April). The essential bridge-strengthening work had been ongoing since March, and resulted in drivers spreading out from the M8 on to surrounding roads, particularly those in Renfrew and Paisley town centres, causing peak-time congestion. While the Scottish Government is responsible for motorways and trunk roads, such as the M8 and A737, the council looks after all other local routes in the area. A council spokesperson said: “We understand the past few weeks have been frustrating for Renfrewshire road-users, but want people to be aware we have been working very hard to minimise the disruption as best we could. “Staff worked extra hours to monitor traffic flow and adjust town-centre traffic lights, many of which are connected to a computer-controlled system. We have also had workers out at other junctions to manually change traffic signals. “But the truth is the sheer volume of traffic spilling on to the area’s roads from the M8 at peak times was very difficult for the road system to handle. “Thousands of vehicles were being displaced from the M8 each day, and this placed severe limits on what we could do to contain the congestion. “We are pleased our colleagues ...

Quentin Blake is one of Britain’s best-loved and most successful illustrators and is known by young and old alike, his name having been synonymous with his illustrations for Roald Dahl’s books. Recently he has been commissioned by hospitals in the UK and Europe to produce works which have a therapeutic effect on their patients. An exhibition of these works is touring the UK and Paisley Museum is the only Scottish venue to have been chosen to showcase these pieces and allow visitors to experience the effects for themselves. The exhibition opened on 27 April and runs until 24 June. Many of the pieces from the collection entitled Welcome to Planet Zog have been created to brighten and stimulate childrens’ wards in hospitals, and Paisley Museum have therefore been very keen to involve Yorkhill Children’s Foundation in order to arrange to display a range of these pieces around the Royal Hospital for Sick Children Yorkhill to add some colour and child friendly drawings by a renowned children’s illustrator to the various public waiting areas within the hospital. Yorkhill Children’s Foundation funds innovative medical equipment, improvements in child and family facilities, paediatric research and training, patient and family support, entertainment and fun activities for children and other projects and service enhancements invaluable to the treatment, care, physical and mental wellbeing of sick children and babies, and their families, from throughout Scotland and beyond. Since 2001 the charity has funded an incredible £9 million towards this work, ensuring that children and babies treated at Yorkhill Hospital ...

Renfrewshire’s Provost Celia Lawson has congratulated the local residents who’ll carry the Olympic Flame in Scotland, with London 2012 recently marking ‘100 days to go’ until the sporting extravaganza. Eleven Renfrewshire residents have been chosen by LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) to carry the iconic flame through a range of locations throughout Scotland. Natalie Still, 18, from Johstone, will carry the flame in Lochwinnoch on 8 June, and 10 other local people will carry the torch elsewhere: * Andrew MacIntyre, 24, from Bridge of Weir: Kilmaurs on 8 June. * Victoria Fraser-Mitchell, 30, from Paisley: Giffnock on 8 June. * Elaine Green, 59, from Paisley: Glasgow on 8 June * Karen Woodrow, 44, from Renfrew: Glasgow on 8 June. * Dennis Cooper, 48, from Houston: Glencoe on 9 June. * Kath Roxburgh, 35, from Renfrew: Glencoe on 9 June. * Jim Gardner, 46, Johnstone: Fort Augustus on 9 June. * Derek Montgomery, 44, from Renfrew: Clydebank on 9 June. * Helenanne Lundie, 45, from Paisley: Banchory on 11 June. * Lesley Finn, 36, from Houston: Alloa on 13 June. As well as the eleven Renfrewshire residents, Paisley Grammar pupil Erinn Foley, 12, from Penilee will carry the torch in Tyndrum on 9 June. Provost Lawson said: “The countdown to the Olympics is well underway since the ‘100 days to go’ mark, excitement is definitely building. “It’s an honour that the Olympic Flame will pass through Renfrewshire as part of its journey across the UK and we’re delighted to have local girl, Natalie Still, carry the torch through Lochwinnoch. “It’s also fantastic ...

Paisley Art Institute will hold their 124th annual exhibition from Saturday 5th of May toSunday 3rd June 2012, at Paisley Museum The exhibition will feature the work of guest painter James Morrison RSA, RSW and guest sculptor Keith Rand RSA, ARBS. For more information see www.paisleyartinstitute.org.uk

Two African farmers who arrived in Scotland to spread the Fairtrade message will be heading home clutching a little bit of Renfrewshire. Howard Chikoma Msukwa and Henry Rosturd Kalomba visited the area as part of a tour of Scotland to talk about the positive impact Fairtrade has had on their home country of Malawi. They popped into Renfrewshire Council’s headquarters in Paisley to meet members of the area’s Fairtrade Steering Group – and were presented with copies of the Fairtrade Guide to Renfrewshire. The guide highlights the work carried out to promote Fairtrade in Renfrewshire and contains a full list of all local outlets which stock Fairtrade products. It was produced by the steering group, which is made of representatives from the council, businesses, schools and community groups. Howard and Henry have been touring Scotland throughout April in partnership with the Scottish Fairtrade Forum and Just Trading Scotland, a Fairtrade wholesale company based at Wallneuk in Paisley. A council spokesperson said: “We were delighted to welcome Howard and Henry to Renfrewshire. Meeting them and hearing at first hand about the challenges they face really brings home why the Fairtrade campaign matters. “They talked about issues affecting them in their work as rice producers in their homeland, and in turn, heard about some of the efforts to raise awareness of Fairtrade in Renfrewshire.” Throughout 2012, the Renfrewshire Fairtrade Steering Group is backing the ‘Take a Step for Fairtrade’ campaign, which asks people to look at the small everyday steps they can take to make a difference around the world. To ...

Youngsters from Renfrewshire’s award-winning Street Stuff youth diversion project will go for gold when they take part in a special Olympic-themed event next month. The young people will take to the field at St Mirren Park to compete in a multi-sports event modelled on the upcoming summer extravaganza in London. The event, on Sunday 6 May, is free to enter and is open to anyone aged between 10 and 18. Registration for the event will take place at the stadium on the day. Those attending will be able to take part in football, hockey, rugby, short tennis, archery, foam javelin, long jump, triple jump, shot put, 60m sprint and a ‘marathon’. A similar – football-only – event was held last year, but organisers hope the multi-sport offering will give the young people a chance to get involved in something different, while making them feel part of the Olympics when they arrive. Street Stuff is a programme of diversionary activities for young people, which has helped reduce youth disorder across Renfrewshire. It is a partnership between Renfrewshire Council, St Mirren, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, Engage Renfrewshire, McGill’s, and Reid Kerr College. St Mirren manager Danny Lennon said: “The Street Stuff project carries out some great work in communities across Renfrewshire, and we at the club are delighted to help support it. “I’m sure the young people will be thrilled to get the chance to step out on to the hallowed turf of St Mirren Park and show off their skills in football and other sports.” Alan McNiven, chief ...

NLP Theatre presents Passing Places at Paisley Arts Centre on Sunday 13 May, 7.30pm The award winning theatre company that brought you the phenomenon that is ‘Singing, I’m No a Billy, He’s a Tim’ - Scottish Theatre`s biggest success story of recent times return to Paisley Arts Centre with their brand new production, Passing Places. Sit back, belt up, and get ready for a dramatic roller coaster ride around Scotland. Alex and Brian are two local lads, desperate to leave their mundane lives and dead end jobs in Motherwell. They decide to get out the only way they know how - doing a runner with a prized surfboard owned by Alex`s psychopathic boss. The only transport available is a “borrowed” worn-out Lada, but they hit the road and head north for Thurso, where the surf is up all year round.... On the way they meet beautiful girls, strange characters and hippy travellers leading to some late night whisky fuelled, philosophical discussions and romantic encounters. Between the hilarious, laugh a minute one liners, pin sharp wit and banter, there’s a serious undertone which turns a light hearted farce into a moving, thought-provoking wee drama. Passing Places stars Scott Kyle; NLP’s Artistic Director and The Stage 2010 Best Actor Award Winner for his performance in, ‘I’m No a Billy, He’s a Tim’. NLP Theatre are committed to developing audiences, by bringing new faces to the theatre. Over 75% of the people who came to see the Billy & Tim show had never been to theatre before. Passing Places is suitable for ages ...