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Throughout 2018, Provost of Renfrewshire, Lorraine Cameron, has been doing her piece for charity, helping to raise funds and awareness for her chosen charity – MND Scotland.

Highland Fling Swing

From hopping aboard trains spreading awareness to all corners of Renfrewshire, to taking a team up to Killiecrankie for a sponsored swing, Provost Cameron has been keeping busy.

MND Scotland was founded as the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association in 1981 by John Macleod, a Strathclyde police officer and his wife Peggy.

Working Challenge at City Gate Construction

With trainee draughtsman Craig Tierney at City Gate Construction

At the time, services were limited, and health professionals had little or no knowledge of the condition.

John had been visiting Charing Cross Hospital in London when he learned about a charity that was already providing support for people with Motor Neurone Disease in England, and became determined to set up a similar organisation here in Scotland.

Today, MND Scotland strive to reduce the impact of MND on the lives of those affected, by offering services such as benefits advice, equipment loans, counselling, advocacy and a grants programme.

There are over 450 people in Scotland currently living with MND and on average almost 200 people are diagnosed each year.

Sadly, around 53% of those diagnosed will die within one year.

Provost Cameron said “I lost my mum to MND in 2011 and the charity is very close to my heart. I really love that as part of my role as Provost I’m able to support the amazing work that charities such as MND Scotland undertake in our communities.

“It’s been a brilliant year from start to finish and I’ve had a ball getting out and about in the community spreading the message far and wide.

“One of the highlights was taking a team of daredevils up to the Garry Bridge in Killiecrankie to take part in the Highland Fling Swing. Our brave fundraisers experienced a 15-metre free fall from the bridge and everyone had a great day.

“I’ve also been honoured to work closely with Scotrail this year, who also support MND Scotland. For MND Awareness Day I travelled around Renfrewshire by train, raising money and awareness for the charity, and I also worked for a day at Johnstone Train Station as part of my Working Challenge.

“There are currently 14 people living in Renfrewshire with MND – but when you consider the number of family, friends, and colleagues the number of people affected by MND locally is actually much higher. All the money raised this year will help MND Scotland offer essential services and go towards research to find treatments and a cure for MND.”

As well as working with Scotrail, Provost Cameron also spent a day working with City Gate Construction and hosted a charity ball to raise essential funds.

Iain McWhirter, Head of Fundraising at MND Scotland said: “MND Scotland was very grateful to be chosen as one of Provost Cameron’s chosen charities and we have enjoyed following her activities throughout the year.

“This summer we announced the launch of the first Motor Neurone Disease clinical drug trial in Scotland, in over 20 years.

“This funding is part of a total commitment of over £1.5 million into clinical drugs trials being made by MND Scotland, and developments like this can only happen thanks, in part, to the support given by Provost Cameron and the people of Renfrewshire.”

Provost Cameron will support local charities, St Vincent’s Hospice and ACORD Hospice, in the next two years and will return to fundraising for MND Scotland in 2021.

28/12/2018/by Brian McGuire

The stars in Renfrewshire’s communities are set to be honoured once again this year and the long-standing sponsors of the awards have shown their support once more.

Glasgow Airport Ltd, ACRE Industiral, UNISON Renfrewshire and the Piazza Shopping Centre have committed yet again to sponsoring one of the awards which aims to recognise the unsung heroes of Renfrewshire.

Nominations for the 2019 awards are now open and will see six individuals or groups celebrated for their hard work and dedication within Renfrewshire.

Anyone who lives or works in Renfrewshire is invited to nominate in any of the following categories:

Community Volunteer (sponsored by Glasgow Airport Ltd)
Community Group (sponsored by the Piazza Shopping Centre)
Sporting Achievement (sponsored by ACRE Industrial)
Employee of the Year (sponsored by UNISON Renfrewshire)
Carers Award (sponsored by former Provost Nancy Allison)
Arts and Culture Award (sponsored by Renfrewshire Council)

Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “We’re delighted to have the continued support of our sponsors who make it possible for me to honour some of the amazing people in our communities.

“It’s a fantastic part of my role being able to reward the inspiring people we see nominated every year and I can’t wait to see who is put forward this year.

“Please don’t miss the chance to give that person or group the recognition they deserve and get your nominations in now.”

The deadline for entries to all categories is Wednesday 12 December.

The Provost will be joined by the award sponsors and other local elected members to choose the winners who will be invited, along with their nominator, to the awards ceremony on Friday 15 March 2019 and the Lynnhurst Hotel in Johnstone.

For more information, and to submit your nomination, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/provostawards2019, email provostawards@renfrewshire.gov.uk or call 0141 618 7102.

07/11/2018/by Brian McGuire

Two local hospices were given a fundraising boost thanks to Renfrewshire Leisure staff and customers.

A total of £10,608 was raised after various sponsored events were held throughout the year at the sports and leisure centres throughout the area.

Now the money is being split between St Vincent’s and ACCORD Hospices.

Charlie McDougall, senior facilities manager at the ON-X, who organised the charity fundraising, said:

“Every year we just seem to raise more and more money for these two worthy causes. The generosity of our staff and customers knows no bounds and I’m really proud we have raised so much money this year.

28/09/2018/by Brian McGuire

Please note it has confirmed that all of these employers have vacancies. If you know of anyone who wishes to pursue a career in care, or, even find out more, please let them know.

27/03/2018/by Brian McGuire

Three charities have been given a civic boost after it was announced they will receive the support of Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron.

Renfrew Council Provosts Charities MND, Accord Hospice and St Vincents Hospice16.1.18

Provost Cameron has pledged her support for MND Scotland, St Vincent’s Hospice and ACCORD Hospice as she prepares to undertake a variety of fundraising endeavours for each charity.

Renfrew Council Provosts Charities MND, Accord Hospice and St Vincents Hospice16.1.18

The Provost will focus on a different charity each year during her remaining time in office and will aim to raise as much money as possible by offering her services for the day to local businesses, hosting large events such as a charity ball and setting up fun, smaller events which everyone in Renfrewshire will be encouraged to take part in.

Provost Cameron said: “These charities are very close to my heart and I’m delighted that I will be able to support them throughout my time as Provost.

“The support and care they provide for families throughout Renfrewshire cannot be underestimated and is a vital lifeline for people in their time of need.

“I’ll be working hard to raise as much money as possible to help them continue their work so keep your eye out for upcoming events which you can take part in and play your part in supporting these fantastic charities.”

Provost Cameron will fundraise for MND Scotland in 2018 and 2021 and chose to support the charity after losing her mother to Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2011.

MND is a rapidly progressing terminal illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles and may cause someone to lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink or breathe unaided.

Iain McWhirter, Head of Fundraising at MND Scotland, said: ““MND Scotland is very grateful to have been chosen as one of Provost Cameron’s charities and we look forward to working together to ensure everyone in Renfrewshire who is affected by Motor Neurone Disease receives the best possible practical, emotional and financial support.

“Awareness of MND has never been higher with the tragic diagnosis of Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir, former Rangers captain Fernando Ricksen, and Celtic’s Jimmy Johnstone, and MND Scotland is the only Scottish charity which provides care and support to people affected by the disease, as well as funding research into finding a cure.”

Following in the footsteps of her predecessors, Provost Cameron will also support two local hospices, St Vincent’s and ACCORD, who provide palliative and end of life care to people with life limiting illnesses.

Helen Simpson, Chief Executive of ACCORD Hospice, said: “ACCORD Hospice is honoured and delighted to be chosen as one of the Charities that Provost Lorraine will support during her term in office.

“The fundraising ventures will financially support ACCORD Hospice in our care for individuals and families living with a life limiting illness in Renfrewshire, while also allowing us to reach more people and raise awareness of the palliative and end of life care services that hospices can offer the community.”

St. Vincent’s Hospice Chief Executive, Kate Lennon, said: “We are absolutely delighted and so grateful to be named as one of the dedicated charities by the Provost, just weeks before we mark our 30th anniversary.

“For three decades, we have provided specialist palliative and end of life care for people and families affected by life limiting conditions all across the community. This is only made possible thanks to the generosity and kindness of our supporters, and we cannot thank the Provost enough for this incredible gesture.”

If you wish the Provost to come along and work in your business for the day, or have an idea for a challenge, please contact Donna or Heather atcivicevents@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

For more information, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/provost.

18/01/2018/by Brian McGuire

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Paisley Got Talent Auditions at County Square tomorrow

there will be total of twelve acts performing with an age range of 8-38 years old. There is something for everyone ranging from singers, dancers, guitarists and even a ukulele player.

Get on down to County Square tomorrow where the fun will kick off from 11am when Tickles the Clown (Insert photo) will be there to entertain the younger buddies before the main attraction of the day – the second heat of Paisley’s Got Talent where Big Al will be on stage to introduce the next twelve entrants to our competition.

Come along and show your support for our very own talented Paisley Buddies, all vying for the Paisley’s Got Talent trophy and Grand Final Prize of £1000 – still time to get your entries in for the final heat on 12^th August!!

Buddie (Insert photo), the Paisley First Mascot will also be making appearances throughout the day to entertain the audience and provide photo opportunities. Kirsty will also be present between 12-3pm for face-painting and balloon modeling for all our younger little Buddies. The day will end with an acoustic set on stage until 4.30 pm.

Come on down to our Summer Spree, have some fun, and all for FREE!!!!

28/07/2017/by Brian McGuire

Groups connected to Paisley’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2021 are in line to share a six-figure boost from a fund designed to boost the area’s creative scene.

Councillors will this week be asked to approve a £111,299 spend from Renfrewshire’s Culture, Heritage and Events Fund, to allow 12 different cultural and charity groups to run a variety of arts-related projects.

The CHE Fund was set up to help unlock Renfrewshire’s creative potential in the run-up to and during the Paisley 2021 bid.

This will be the third round of funding since the CHE Fund was set up – and saw 44 applications and a total ask of more than £700,000 for the judges to sift through.

The 12 projects recommended for approval include:
– £25,000 to Reaching Older Adults in Renfrewshire (ROAR) to use virtual reality and other digital technology to help older people have new cultural experiences;
– £15,000 for the Paisley First Business Improvement District to fund a project to produce six murals in partnership with local artists and community groups;
– £14,364 to the Historical Adventures group to help bring Renfrewshire’s deaf community together and involve them in arts projects.

Other shortlisted projects include an international tango festival for Paisley, a bi-annual poetry journal, a series of plays on the history of Renfrewshire, and money to help set up a local Scottish-Polish club.

A number of additional projects have been shortlisted but judges did not have all the information they needed to make a final decision on them – so councilors are being asked to give officers the power to approve up to another £45,000 of grants before the board meets again.

Members of the council’s leadership board will be asked to approve that request, as well as approve the other grant awards, when they meet on Wednesday 15 February.

The council set aside £500,000 for the CHE Fund back in 2015, and should the latest 12 applications be approved, £345,401 will have been spent to date.

That would also mean 46 projects will have been supported from a total of 152 applications – and a total funding ask of almost £2m.

Projects funded to date include teenage Kilbarchan animator Morgan Spence’s incredible Paisley 2021 Lego movie, released earlier month and now been seen by millions of people around the world.

Renfrewshire Council Leader and chair of the Paisley 2021 Partnership Board Mark Macmillan said: “Paisley’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2021 will bring massive economic and social benefits to the whole area.

“But if it is to succeed we need to show a thriving local creative scene and a proven ability to stage cultural projects.

“The CHE Fund is key to that – we know there is a huge depth of creativity and talent here in Renfrewshire and the fund is intended to help people show that off.

“The response from the public has been phenomenal and the level of ask has far outstripped the funding available.

“That has given the judges a tough task, as they have had to pick between a really high quality of application in each of the three rounds to date.

“We are pleased the latest shortlist includes a range of projects to help some of the less-heard voices locally – such as older adults, the deaf community and women who have experienced mental health difficulties.

“One of the key aims of Paisley’s bid is to harness the power of culture to make people’s lives better and this latest round of funding will help do that.”

Paisley’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2021 is due to be lodged in April, with organisers at the UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport to announce the shortlist over the summer.

13/02/2017/by Danielle McGuire

On Friday 21st October, 2016 the Pride of Paisley lions will be auctioned with proceeds raised going to the Accord and St. Vincent’s hospices.

Autumn Lion
Courtesy of David Muir

Painted predominantly by local artists, these twenty-five colourful lions have adorned Paisley streets since July as part of the biggest public art project in the town’s history.

Sun Lion
Courtesy of David Muir

This Paisley First initiative has raised awareness of the town’s cultural and heritage assets, and attracted new visitors and tourists as part of the town’s culture-led, regeneration strategy. Paisley’s BID manager, Andrew Mitchell said: “The auction will be a fantastic night and will give us the final opportunity to say goodbye to lions whilst raising money for two valuable causes. Thousands of people took part in the art trail, taking them to parts of Paisley they had never seen before. These people also used local shops and businesses they had never used before. We still have some tickets available, so if you’ve nothing planned for Friday, then come and take part in the auction.”

Friday’s auction will take place at The Normandy Hotel and tickets are priced £36, which includes a three-course meal, live entertainment and of course, the chance to bid on one of your favourite lions. Scottish legend, Andy Cameron, will host the event and there will be live music from Clanadonia, Paisley’s own Cat Caldwell, Iain Forbes and newcomers, Clyde. For those who can’t make the auction but still want to bid on a lion, you can also visit paisleyfirst.com to download an advanced auction bid form. On the evening, the auctioneer will start with the highest minimum bid received. The Pride of Paisley auction starts at 7pm and is going to be streamed live on the Pride of Paisley Facebook page.

Tickets available here.

18/10/2016/by Danielle McGuire

Renfrewshire’s Provost Anne Hall has shown her charitable side once again- working at a local funeral directors to raise money for her charity fundraising scheme.

Provost Hall spent the day at Co-operative Funeralcare in Paisley- undertaking a number of daily duties to learn what it takes to be a part of their specialised team.

Beginning work at 8:30am, Provost Hall attended the staff briefing to find out what was in store for her and her colleagues for the day.

And they proved hard taskmasters, putting the Provost through her paces by helping to wash their extensive fleet of limousines and hearses- some of which can reach 19 feet long.

Provost Hall also attended a funeral on the day to see how the Co-op cares for families and ensures the occasion is handled with dignity and professionalism.

Other tasks included the furnishing of coffins, seeing how the funeral arrangers work closely with families to arrange a service and taking a full tour of the facilities.

Provost Hall said: “I was delighted to be asked to spend a day working with the Co-operative Funeralcare and I am grateful for their donation to my fundraising scheme.

“I learned the lengths they go to in order to ensure families receive a sensitive, professional and efficient service at such a difficult time.

“I am determined to raise as much as I possibly can during my time as Provost to ensure the maximum benefit to my four chosen charities- and I’m always on the lookout for new challenges.”

Gordon Powrie, Principal Funeral Director, said: “We, at Co-op Funeralcare Paisley, were delighted to welcome Provost Anne Hall to assist and take part in our daily general duties which are carried out by our Funeral Directors for the community.

“Paula Mitchell, Hub Manager, and the team in Paisley are fully committed to Provost Hall’s charity endeavours throughout the year and have sponsored Anne for this work experience day with the funds to go directly to a charity nominated by Anne herself.”

Provost Hall carries out a number of fundraising activities each year to raise funds for her chosen charities- and her latest challenge is a zip slide across Paisley’s East End Park.

She is seeking as many fellow thrill-seekers as possible to join her on Saturday 3 September to fly through the air and add to the £25,000 she has managed to raise so far.

The money raised will be shared equally among the four charities – Renfrewshire Carers’ Centre, RAMH (Recovery Across Mental Health) and two hospices- Accord and St Vincent’s- chosen by Provost Hall to feature in the special charity giving scheme during her term as Provost.

For more information visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/provost or call 0141 618 6794.

11/06/2016/by Danielle McGuire

Renfrewshire’s Provost Anne Hall is seeking fellow daredevil fundraisers to fly through the air with her in her latest charity exploit.

Provost Hall is heading for the clouds again as she undertakes a special zip slide across East End Park to raise vital funds for her chosen charities.

And she’s looking for as many people as possible to conquer the heights with her in order to add to the £25,000 she has already raised during her time as Provost.

The event will coincide with Renfrewshire’s Doors Open Day celebrations and fundraisers will fly across Paisley’s East End Park on Saturday 3 September.

Provost Hall said: “I can’t wait to get my feet off the ground once again to raise money for my charities.

“After undertaking a wing-walk, a skydive and an abseil during my time as Provost, a zip slide seemed the natural next step.

“I’m determined to raise as much as possible for my four charities and I hope as many people as possible can join me to take part.”

The money raised will be shared equally among the four charities – Renfrewshire Carers’ Centre, RAMH (Recovery Across Mental Health) and two hospices– Accord and St Vincent’s– chosen by Provost Hall to feature in a special charity giving scheme during her term as Provost.

There is a registration fee of £20 and participants- who must be 16 or over- will be expected to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship.

To sign up contact: Donna Gallagher on 0141 618 6794.

07/06/2016/by Danielle McGuire