Shortroods | Paisley Scotland

West College Scotland (WCS) has become the first Scottish college to achieve the Carers Federation Quality Standard in Carer Support (QSCS) accreditation.

WCS is committed to ensuring young adult carers in the west of Scotland have the same opportunities and access to high quality Further Education as those without care responsibilities. Young adult carers make a huge contribution to their families and wider society, but in doing so can miss out on other life chances. The changes West College Scotland has introduced are aimed at ensuring local young adult carers have the chance to achieve their full potential.

Working with the Lottery-funded Driving Change Project, which aims to improve the support available to young adult carers in Further Education across the UK, West College Scotland has actively removed some of the barriers that can prevent young carers from accessing continued education, developed new policies and procedures, improved access to bespoke support and raised awareness – including demonstrating good practice in supporting carers in the wider community.

Iain Forster-Smith, Assistant Principal Student Life and Skills at West College Scotland said:

“We are delighted to have achieved the Carers Federation Quality Standard in Carer Support accreditation. Student Carers must cope with the extra pressure of caring for a loved one and this award acknowledges that we recognise their contribution and have robust Student Carer support services in place and a fantastic team supporting our students.”

He added, “WCS works closely with local services such as Carers Trust Scotland, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire Carers Centre, and Y-Sort It in West Dunbartonshire which provide wraparound support for Student Carers covering finance, networking and physiological needs. This really is a fantastic recognition of the hard work, commitment and innovation which has been going on across the College.’

The Quality Standard in Carer Support (QSCS) assessment report on WCS observed “West College Scotland has implemented effective systems and processes to support early identification of student carers and ensured cross-college uniformity in provision. The Student Services team show a clear commitment to developing support for YACs alongside other vulnerable student groups. There is clear evidence of wide cross-college commitment and understanding of processes and responsibilities, and staff recognise the benefits of new developments for students.”

Naomi Sykes, QSCS Development Worker, Carers Federation Limited said:

“The Carers Federation Quality Standard in Carer Support (QSCS) accreditation demonstrates West College Scotland’s commitment to improving access to education for young and young adult carers.”

The Quality Standard criteria helps schools, colleges and universities develop effective processes to identify student carers and to improve their wellbeing, learning experiences and educational outcomes. Importantly, the process helps participating organisations to provide consistent provision of support and enables them to monitor the collective and individual outcomes for their students with caring roles.

Naomi added, “West College Scotland has developed comprehensive systems to ensure student carers are recognised and supported to achieve their aspirations and goals, raising awareness of young and young adult carers across the college and increasing understanding of the additional challenges they face in education.”

Stephen Evans, Chief Executive, Learning and Work Institute said:

“Many congratulations to West College Scotland for becoming the first college in Scotland to achieve the Driving Change quality standard in carers support. Young adult carers make a huge contribution to their families and society, yet they too often miss out on vital opportunities and support. The changes that the college has put in place will give local young adult carers the chance to pursue their talents and achieve their potential. We look forward to working with many other colleges in Scotland to build on the achievements of West College Scotland so that young adult carers across the country get the opportunities they deserve.”

West College Scotland students can receive confidential support by contacting info@wcs.ac.uk. The Student Carers team assess each carer’s personal situation and identify what support mechanisms are available through the College and includes bespoke induction programmes, support services and financial support.

As a nationally recognised accreditation, it is hoped that both prospective and current students will feel more comfortable disclosing that they are carers and are more aware of what support mechanisms are possible to make sure that the College recognises their unique circumstances. West College Scotland welcomes students from a wide range of experiences and backgrounds and will offer appropriate, discrete support.

23/07/2021/by Brian McGuire

West College Scotland August Clearing Days: 2-7pm – Pre-Register Now!

Greenock (Finnart): 10 August

Clydebank: 11 August

Paisley: 12 August

Whether you are a school leaver or an adult returner looking to upskill or retrain, West College Scotland’s Clearing Days are the perfect opportunity to chat with staff and sign up for an August Start course that’s right for you!

Over the three events they have over 25 curriculum departments attending alongside our Student Services Department, who can guide you through your application.

They’ll also have representatives from Student Funding, the Student Association, Student Wellbeing, Enabling Services and Digital Device Support, who’ll be able to give further advice and support available to you whilst you study at College.

If you’re a school pupil in the Senior Phase they have some options available to you to enhance your school experience. Go along and chat to their Schools Programme and Foundation Apprenticeship Team!

To minimise queuing on the day and to receive Clearing Day updates direct to your inbox:

PRE- REGISTER HERE

14/07/2021/by Brian McGuire

YOUNGSTERS can enjoy their summer holidays filled with fun and games – and it’s all for free.

A whole range of exciting sports and leisure activities has been organised by Renfrewshire Leisure’s Active Schools team at venues throughout Renfrewshire.

The Get Into Summer activities, which include multi-sports taster sessions, colour runs and disability sports clubs, are being funded by the Scottish government and are taking place from now until Friday, August 13.

The Get Into Summer Multi Sports Clubs for young people from Primary 1 to Sixth Year take place between noon and 2pm every Tuesday, at Johnstone Sports Hub; every Wednesday, at Park Mains Sports Complex, in Erskine and every Thursday at the ON-X, in Linwood.

Sessions feature tasters in various sports including archery, bushcraft, orienteering, dodgeball, rounders, and many more sports and fun activities.

There is fun for all the family with two colour runs being held at the ON-X, in Linwood between noon and 2pm on July 7 and July 21.

The colour run is an obstacle course with a difference, with participants getting sprayed with various colours of powdered paint as they complete the course.

A Get Into Summer Active Families Disability Sport and Activity Club is being held at the ON-X, in Linwood, between 3pm and 4pm every Tuesday until August 3 for primary school age children.

Youngsters will be able to take part in sports and leisure activities led by qualified coaches. These include boccia, archery, football, basketball and frisbee golf. And if Renfrewshire is within Covid restriction Level 1 or 0, youngsters can play on two bouncy castles.

This club is available to any family with a young person aged between five and 12 with a disability and/or sensory impairment. Siblings are welcome to attend.

A Get Into Summer Outdoor Disability Sports Club is being held at Johnstone Community Sports Hub pitch every Thursday. The sessions for Primary school age children are between noon and 1pm and those in secondary school, between 1pm and 2pm.

The club is open to any young person with a disability and/or sensory impairment and they will take part in outdoor activities including football, archery and frisbee golf delivered by qualified coaches.

Covid-19 guidelines will be followed at all activities with temperature checks on arrival, sign in and sign out required, one way system in place inside, and a reminder that children should not attend if they are experiencing Covid symptoms.

A new summer challenge to travel the 13,503 km distance from Renfrewshire to Tokyo where the Olympic Games are being held later this month has been launched.

The Trek to Tokyo idea is for children and grown-ups to run, walk, skip, swim, pedal, or paddle as many kilometres as possible without leaving the country and added together reach the target.

Go to https://www.cognitoforms.com/RenfrewshireLeisure3/RLTrekToTokyoChallenge to register for the challenge and you will be asked to submit the distance that you have covered.

Fiona Watson, Renfrewshire Leisure’s sport and health services manager said: “We’re aiming to make this summer as active and fun-filled for everyone.

“There are plenty of sport and leisure activities to choose from and best of all everything is free, although activities should be booked in advance.”

Find out more at https://www.renfrewshireleisure.com/get-into-summer/ . And to book activities go to https://renfrewshire-leisure.class4kids.co.uk/ .

01/07/2021/by Brian McGuire

This weekend will see Paisley’s annual Sma’ Shot Day celebrations go digital for a second year as a series of online events are planned to mark this important date in the town’s calendar.

The online event will take place this Saturday 3 July – the time when the weavers and their families would traditionally take their holidays.

Last year’s digital Sma’ Shot Day was a huge success and this year looks set to be even better with a diverse programme of online performances and features planned to commemorate the historic victory of local weavers.

The move to take the event online for 2021 is in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure celebrations can still take place in adherence with national guidance.

The traditional Sma’ Shot holiday in Paisley takes its name from a famous dispute between the local shawl weavers and manufacturers in the 19th century. In 1856, following a long dispute, the manufacturers backed down and an agreement was reached to pay for the Sma’ Shot, the invisible stitch which bound the Paisley shawls, with a new table of prices published on 1 July 1856.

The Burning of the Cork – the centrepiece of Sma’ Shot Day celebrations is back for 2021. People can tune in to watch the premiere spectacle of the burning effigy and enjoy an exciting an expressive telling of the ‘cork’ and ‘weavers’ story captured on film featuring captivating performances led by aerial performance company, All or Nothing, in partnership with PACE, Right2Dance and Jennifer Scott Dancers.

Other programme highlights include The Charleston Drum Rally film, funded by Renfrewshire Council’s TH.CARS2 programme. The Charleston Drum: Past & Present explores the story of Paisley’s Charleston Drum – it’s historical significance and its meaning to locals today as a symbol of the town.

Loud n Proud will be showcasing a short film version of their production, ‘Sma’ Shot, the Musical’ in the evening on the Bungalow Facebook page. This mini musical compilation will give people a flavour of the full feature musical movie to be released later in the year telling the story of the Paisley weavers fight against the power of the establishment.

The Makers Market is also back and online for 2021. Delivered in partnership with Incube – people will be able to browse and buy a range of quality handmade items by local makers including Josef McFadden, Art with Heart and The Canny Squirrel.

For those who want to participate in the day they can follow a demonstration from local maker Rosie Little of Knitting on Cloud Nine on how to create a Woolly Weave Wall Hanging. Suitable for complete beginners the weaving tutorial guides participants step-by-step through some basic weaving techniques.

Also launching on the day is the Paisley Radicals: Catalysts for Change walking tour app, acknowledging Paisley’s role in the Scottish Radical War. Part audio play, part mindfulness app and part walking tour the app, produced by Civil Disobedience with app development support from Inner Ear, will address the events leading up to and including the Radical War of 1820. Funded by Future Paisley and the Paisley TH.CARS2 programme, which is jointly funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and Renfrewshire Council, the ‘Paisley Radicals’ project is a joint production between Renfrewshire Council, with support from the 1820 Society and Paisley & District University of the Third Age (U3A); and the Museums team.

Renfrewshire’s Provost, Lorraine Cameron, said: “Sma’ Shot Day is such a popular date in the town’s calendar and it’s excellent that we can celebrate it this year through a fantastic programme of online activities. The return of the signature Burning of the Cork will surely prove to be the true spectacle of the festival and I can’t wait to tune in and see the film in all its glory.

“The digital programme will offer people plenty of opportunities to have fun and learn more about this important part in the town’s history.”

For all the latest information on this event please visit: www.paisley.is/featured_event/sma-shot-day/.

30/06/2021/by Brian McGuire

Our BRICKLIVE Animal Paradise adventure is now underway in Paisley town centre!

Running every day of the school holidays, this stunning trail features hand-built brick endangered animal models.

What will your intrepid voyagers find first – the Bengal Tiger, the African Lion, the Penguin, Dolphin or the giant Panda?

Find all 15 models for your chance to enter our free prize draw!

And for those feeling extra adventurous, why not search for our hidden animal, Ginger the Giraffe, who will be touring the town centre throughout the trail – check our social media and website – www.paisleyfirst.com – for clues as to where Ginger may be hiding!

Plus don’t forget to send us your selfies from the two selfie zones and you could make our Wall of Fame!

Trail leaflets will be available from the leaflet racks in both of the Piazza Shopping Centre and also the Paisley Centre as well as town centre businesses.

Once you’ve had fun with our trail, we have a wide range of great shops and an abundance of fantastic food and drink venues, catering to every taste and budget, where you can have a well-earned rest!

Plus, Paisley is Paw Friendly so no need to leave your four-legged friend at home!

Looking for a fun free day out for all the family this summer, Paisley town centre is the place to be!

28/06/2021/by Brian McGuire

A new walking tour app is being launched to highlight the story of the Scottish Radical War of 1820 and Paisley’s role in the conflict.

Paisley Radicals: Catalysts for Change is part audio play, part walking tour where history will be brought to life as participants immerse themselves in the stories and places in the town that led an inspiring movement for change.

The Radical War was a week of protests and riots across Scotland in April 1820. The government at the time feared civil unrest due to the rising cost of living and levels of unemployment. A particular connection for Paisley is the gathering at Miekleriggs Muir in Sept 1819 – it was at this time that rioting occurred in the streets of Paisley and the Riot Act was read several times within one week and is the origins of the then Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli’s comment ‘keep your eye on Paisley’.

Participants begin the tour, which takes approximately 90mins, at Woodside Crematorium and the Martyr’s Chapel and journey from there down the High St passed a number of Paisley’s key landmarks including the statue of May Donoghue, Coats Memorial Church, the statue of John Witherspoon, Willie Gallagher Cairn, Methodist Church – illustrated in the app by local Paisley artist Josef McFadden – then along the River Cart at Forbes Place to Dunn Square finishing at Paisley Cross.

The walking tour app is being launched to coincide with an online programme of events to mark Sma’ Shot Day on Saturday 3 July and has been produced by Civil Disobedience with app development support from Inner Ear, funded by Future Paisley and the Paisley TH.CARS2 programme, which is jointly funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and Renfrewshire Council.

Louisa Mahon, Head of Marketing and Communications at Renfrewshire Council, said: “The launch of the Paisley Radicals: Catalysts for Change walking tour will allow locals and visitors the opportunity to discover more about a fascinating part of Paisley’s history in an immersive and engaging way. By launching the app on Sma’ Shot Day – where we commemorate the historic victory of local weavers – we are acknowledging the town’s long-standing links with the radical movement which remains such an important part of the fabric of the town today.”

Local actors Martin Quinn and Linda Lyon lend their voices to the project to help bring the historical tales to life.

Talking of her interest in the project Linda said: “I wanted to take part in the Paisley Radicals experience as soon as I heard about it. I admire Civil Disobedience’s work and love anything celebrating strength in adversity. As an old Paisley Buddy, I was surprised how little I knew and the format is a fun way to pass on this information.”

Martin said: “After a year of lockdown walks, trying to find different routes to shake things up, I can’t wait to try this app out and add some history to my newfound local knowledge. The more I learn about the Paisley Radicals the prouder I am to be a Paisley Buddy and I can’t wait for other folk to give it a go as well! They’re going to love it!”

To help inform the project a series of creative workshops were carried out by Civil Disobedience with participants from local community group STAR Project working with John Kielty, inspired by the radical history and contemporary relevance; and performance and media students from University of the West of Scotland (UWS).

The group delivered more than 100 hours of contact time with community groups and students from UWS prior to and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Quickly moving engagement from in person meetings to online sessions when restrictions kicked in, continuing to provide a source of creativity and community while staying at home. These sessions resulted in a batch of creative writing, music, theatrical monologues and visual/digital art designs – highlights of these feature in the tour.

The Paisley Radicals: Catalysts for Change app is designed to be an activity people can do on their own or as part of a group. Anyone with an Apple or Android device can install the free GuidiGO app from their app store and download the Paisley Radicals: Catalysts for Change tour from Saturday 3 July.

Part of the Future Paisley programme, the ‘Paisley Radicals’ project was commissioned in 2020 as part of the 200-year anniversary of the Scottish Radical War. It is a joint production between Renfrewshire Council TH.CARS2 & Events team with support from the 1820 Society and Paisley & District University of the Third Age (U3A); and the Museums team.

24/06/2021/by Brian McGuire

Dozens more urban locations to get Full Fibre, on top of 160 new rural places announced last month

Around 400,000 more Scottish homes and businesses are set to benefit from a broadband boost in the region of £160m^[1] thanks to Openreach – the UK’s largest broadband network provider.

People living and working in another 48 urban areas – including Dunfermline, Falkirk, Ibrox, Govan, Bridge of Weir, Paisley and Livingston – are set to benefit from the company’s national upgrade plan, with the majority of premises in each area gaining access to the latest ultrafast, ultra-reliable Full Fibre broadband.

More than 250,000 households and businesses in the Glasgow City Region are included – an investment of over £100m in the area – with 31 areas to benefit; while Openreach plans to expand its ultrafast network in cities like Edinburgh and Aberdeen and start work in Culloden, Inverness.

Work will take place between now and 2026, and more details of the full list of locations and timescales are published on Openreach’s website. A full list of the locations is below.

The news comes after a similar announcement last month, when 300,000 premises – in 160 mainly rural and harder to serve areas across Scotland – were also included in the build plan.

Both announcements build on Openreach’s existing work across Scotland, where more than 400,000 homes and businesses can already order ultrafast, ultra-reliable full fibre broadband.

Following a competitive tender process, a number of partners – including Morrison Telecom Services (MTS), Kier and KN Circet – were chosen by Openreach to support the Scottish upgrades and will play a crucial role in building the new network to thousands of premises in these locations.

Robert Thorburn, strategic infrastructure director for Openreach Scotland, said: “Nobody in Scotland is building full fibre faster, further or better than Openreach. We’re reaching more communities than ever and our team of highly-skilled engineers, alongside our build partners, are working hard to deliver some of the fastest and most reliable broadband available anywhere in the world.

“Just last month we announced 160 rural and hard to reach locations across Scotland were to benefit, so it’s great that we’re able to reveal another huge broadband boost with these additional urban locations. Our investment and commitment to Scotland – whether it’s urban or rural – will help to underpin economic recovery, stability and a stronger, more equal society.”

Barry McNicholas, group managing director of Kier Utilities, said: “The need for reliable and fast broadband speeds has never been greater and we are proud to be working with Openreach to support their ambitious plans of bringing full fibre broadband to homes and businesses across the UK.

“We look forward to building new digital infrastructure in places like Dunfermline, where we will be working with our local teams and supply chain partners to carry out these works.”

Pat Carolan, managing director of Morrison Telecom Services, added: “The last eighteen months have highlighted the importance of keeping people connected and we recognise that we have a pivotal role to play in helping Openreach to deliver full fibre broadband to Scotland. We look forward to supporting Openreach’s commitment to delivering ultrafast connectivity to homes and businesses in the local community and the many employment, social, economic and environmental benefits that this will bring. Our role is to ensure that the new network is built efficiently, safely and without any compromise on quality.”

The company’s updated build plan follows an extended investment commitment by its parent, BT Group – which means Openreach will now build Full Fibre technology to a total of 25 million UK premises, including more than six million in the hardest-to-serve parts of the UK by the end of 2026. The latest details and timescales will be available online as the build planning progresses.

Recent research by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) highlighted the clear economic benefits of connecting everyone in Scotland to full fibre. It estimated this would create a £2 billion boost to the economy by enabling thousands to join the workforce and increase hours.

Openreach employs 3,200 people in Scotland, with another 700+ employed by its build partners.

This short video explains what Full Fibre technology is and you can find out more about our Fibre First programme, latest availability and local plans here. Across the UK, the company has made Full Fibre available to more than five million homes and business so far.

24/06/2021/by Brian McGuire

A new fly-through video has been released giving the first look at how Paisley’s A-listed Town Hall will look after a £22m transformation into a landmark entertainment venue..

The striking Victorian-era town hall is undergoing a major redevelopment to keep it at the heart of local life for generations to come.

The project is part of a wider investment by Renfrewshire Council in Paisley’s cultural venues aimed at driving new footfall to the town, including the work to turn Paisley Museum into a world-class visitor destination.

And the people of Renfrewshire are today getting their first detailed glimpse of how the much-loved town hall will look once reopen.

The stunning CGI animation, produced by Glasgow-based studio Visual Lane and the project’s architects Holmes Miller, shows a busy day and night in the life of the building, including how it would look hosting a wedding ceremony and reception, conference, screening, and finally a packed music gig.

Building contractors Morrison Construction are currently on site, with work due to finish in late 2022 and the building reopen in early 2023.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, chair of Renfrewshire Leisure Ltd, which will operate the reopened building, said: “We are delighted to reveal this animation, which will give the people of Paisley and beyond their first real look at what their town hall will look like once back in use.

“Everyone in Paisley will have their own special memories of the town hall – and the work we are doing now will preserve that history and make sure future generations can have the same.

“At the same time, the town hall is a key project within the council’s wider investment in the town aimed at using Paisley’s internationally-significant cultural and heritage offer to change its future.

“Once reopen the town hall will build on the work already done to make Paisley one of Scotland’s key destinations for heritage, culture and events – driving new footfall and visitors to the town centre, day and night, and helping the local economy build back from the effects of the pandemic.”

The town hall redevelopment will deliver:

– preservation of its unique 19^th-century architectural features while adding 21^st-century performance facilities, guaranteeing the building’s long-term future;

– the capacity of the main hall expanded to 1,200, allowing the venue to host bigger and better events and help make the town a stop-off on musical tour schedules;

– entirely new rooms created within currently-unused spaces, including a café-bar, dance studio, and screening room, widening the building’s range of uses;

– new performance facilities, a much-improved audience experience, and a complete replacement of the venue’s electrical and mechanical systems;

To be kept up to date on the use of the building when it reopens, register your interest with Renfrewshire Leisure via https://mailchi.mp/renfrewshireleisure/paisleytownhall

The town hall redevelopment is part of a wider investment by the council in Paisley’s venues and outdoor spaces. Projects due to complete over the next couple of years also include:

– the £42m project to transform Paisley Museum, expected to help drive 128,000 visitors a year, to see the town’s internationally-significant collections;

– a new modern home for library services within the Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub, currently being built in a vacant former retail unit on the town’s High Street;

– a redesign of Abbey Close to create an expanded outdoor events space set against Paisley’s town hall and 12^th-centuery Abbey, plus work to turn County Square into an attractive arrival point and public transport hub for the town;

More information is at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/PaisleyTownHall

24/06/2021/by Brian McGuire

A FILM about the legendary Paisley punk scene is being premiered on Renfrewshire Leisure’s online TV channel.

The late 1970s and early 80s saw an explosion of the punk culture and music scene in the town after Glasgow banned punk bands from playing in the city.

This meant some of the best-known punk bands in the country along with emerging groups from the Paisley area played regular gigs at both The Bungalow Bar and the Silver Thread Hotel.

Now this amazing period when punk exploded on to the psyche of young people has been captured on film by Paisley’s Brick Lane Media.

The documentary film – Paisley Punks: The Story of the Paisley Punk Scene Late 1970s to Early 1980s – was made with the support of Renfrewshire Leisure and Creative Scotland.

It will be first seen on the Ren TV Channel at 7pm, on Friday, June 25 and then at latest incarnation of The Bungalow Bar, now in Shuttle Street, Paisley, which will also be screening the movie.

Punk began in London 45 years ago and quickly caught the imagination of youth looking for an outlet to protest against the Establishment and Paisley became the centre of punk culture in Scotland.

For the first time a documentary film charts this phenomenon and interviews many of the people involved in the punk scene in the town during this period.

Alan McEwan of Brick Lane Media says “This story is an amazing part of Paisley’s music heritage and has led, in many ways, to the vibrant music scene we see in the town today.

“Many well-known artists such as The Fall, Q Tips and Altered Images played in Paisley.”

“With the ban on punk gigs by Glasgow City Council, big name artists struggled to find suitable venues to play.

“However, only 11 miles down the road, Scotland’s largest town offered an alternative in venues such as The Bungalow and the Silver Thread Hotel.

“Paisley soon became the centre of the universe for punk in Scotland.

“The punk movement put Paisley on the touring map for some of the biggest names in the music industry and it also provided opportunities for grassroots acts to support these bands and learn their trade.”

Janis Marshall Reilly, Renfrewshire Leisure’s Performance Programmer said: “Paisley played a crucial role in the development of punk music and culture in Scotland.

“It was a revolutionary time in the music industry and arguably in society and like many times before in its history, the town showed its radical side.

“The Paisley Punks film is a fantastic insight into an important part of the town’s social history and well worth viewing.”

From the Bungalow Bar

A film about the legendary Paisley punk scene is being premiered on Renfrewshire Leisures online TV channel. Or if you are in the venue we will broadcast the film live this Friday eve! It will be first seen on the Ren TV Channel at 7pm, on Friday, June 25 Go to www.renfrewshireleisure.com to watch the film on the Ren TV online channel or watch it on the big screens at the latest incarnation of The Bungalow Bar, now in Shuttle Street, Paisley. CLICK THE LINK TO WATCH https://youtu.be/8dag_2PcZX0

Go to www.renfrewshireleisure.com to watch the film on the Ren TV online channel.

23/06/2021/by Brian McGuire

A new school holiday campaign being launched today is urging everyone in Renfrewshire to be alert for any signs of child abuse or neglect over the summer the months.

As Renfrewshire schools prepare to ring the end of term bell on Friday 25 June, the For Kids’ Sake… campaign urges everyone in Renfrewshire to enjoy plenty of summertime fun time with extended family and friends after months of pandemic restrictions.

But Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee’s Chair John Paterson wants people to remember some children will have had a very difficult time in recent months.

He said: “Most children and young people in Renfrewshire are really looking forward to having sleepovers, day trips, staycations and time with grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and family friends in the school break.

“Sadly, some of those children will have been through a rough time during the pandemic. It’s only now we are beginning to spend significant time with children we’ve seen very little of during lockdown months, and it’s only now that we might notice or sense that something is wrong.”

In the For Kids’ Sake… campaign, RCPC stresses everyone can play a part to keep children safe. Paying attention and noticing signs a child has been abused or neglected is critical, as is taking action to get some support for that child or children.

And John stresses it’s essential to do something if you’re concerned about a child’s wellbeing over the school holidays.

He said: “We’re simply asking people in Renfrewshire to be alert for clues that harm has happened. Children can take a long time to say anything if they’ve experienced abuse or neglect, but you can listen carefully, look out for signs or pay attention to signals that there’s a problem.

“If your gut tells you something is wrong, it’s important not to ignore it. By raising your concerns you might help something worse from happening to a child you know.”

“It’s always better to say something than do nothing. You shouldn’t ignore signs that something is wrong. Get help and support by contacting Renfrewshire Council’s social work department. Or, if you think a child is in immediate danger, call the police right away.”

22/06/2021/by Brian McGuire

Paisley’s annual Sma’ Shot Day celebrations will once again be marked with a programme of online events to commemorate the historic victory of local weavers.

This year’s online event will take place on Saturday 3 July – the time when the weavers and their families would traditionally take their holidays.

Last year’s digital Sma’ Shot Day was a huge success and this year looks set to be even better with a dynamic and varied programme of online performances planned to mark this special day in the town’s calendar.

The move to take the event online for 2021 is in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure celebrations can still take place in adherence with national guidance.

The traditional Sma’ Shot holiday in Paisley takes its name from a famous dispute between the local shawl weavers and manufacturers in the 19th century. In 1856, following a long dispute, the manufacturers backed down and an agreement was reached to pay for the Sma’ Shot, the invisible stitch which bound the Paisley shawls, with a new table of prices published on 1 July 1856.

The Burning of the Cork – the centrepiece of Sma’ Shot Day celebrations is back for 2021. People can log on to watch the spectacle that is the burning effigy and enjoy a vibrant, colourful and dynamic telling of the ‘cork’ and ‘weavers’ story captured on film featuring captivating performances lead by aerial performance company, All or Nothing, in partnership with PACE, Right2Dance and Jennifer Scott Dancers.

Other programme highlights include The Charleston Drum Rally film, funded by Renfrewshire Council’s TH.CARS2 programme, which will shine a light on another historic element of the day’s celebrations. Loud n Proud will be showcasing a short film version of their production, ‘Sma’ Shot, the Musical’, reimagining this famous point in Paisley’s history, in advance of the extended live musical show which will follow later this year.

The Makers Market is also back and online for 2021. Delivered in partnership with Incube – people will be able to browse and buy a variety of unique gifts and items handmade by local makers including Camper Plants, Pottle Jewellery and Karen Hanvidge Ceramics.

A new immersive walking tour app, Paisley Radicals Catalysts for Change, is also being launched to coincide with Sma’ Shot Day, acknowledging Paisley’s role in Scotland’s Radical Wars. Part radio play, part mindfulness app and part walking tour the app, produced by Civil Disobedience and Inner Ear, will address the events leading up to and including the Radical War of 1820. Part of the ‘Future Paisley’ programme, the ‘Paisley Radicals’ project is a joint production between Renfrewshire Council, with support from the 1820 Society and Paisley & District University of the Third Age (U3A); and the Museums team.

Renfrewshire’s Provost, Lorraine Cameron, said: “Sma’ Shot Day is always one of the highlights of the annual events calendar, representing an important part of Paisley’s heritage. Last year’s online event was a massive success and this year’s looks to be even better with the welcome return of the signature Burning of the Cork.

“The online programme will give everyone plenty of opportunities to participate and learn more about this important part of the town’s history. I for one will be looking forward to logging on and getting involved in the fun on the day.”

More information on the full programme will be released in the coming weeks.

09/06/2021/by Brian McGuire

THE diverse cultures of different ethnic groups in Renfrewshire are being celebrated with a series of online events and creative workshops.

The activities – organised by Renfrewshire’s Ethnic Communities Cultural Steering Group – are being staged as part of the national Refugee Week, between June 14 and June 20.

This year’s programme features music, film, food workshops, a photography competition, storytelling and a pen pal project that encourages children from The African School of Cultures to make a connection with Refugee communities.

The Steering Group is made up of leading cultural organisations, community members, Third Sector organisations and academic partners from across Renfrewshire.

The group developed from the work carried out last year to produce a programme of events for Black History Month, called Our Culture, Our Future.

They include Engage Renfrewshire, Jambo! Radio, Pachedu, University of the West of Scotland, Action for Culture and Ethics, The School of African Cultures, Inspiring Families and Renfrewshire Leisure’s Cultural Services.

Regine Bews, from the School of African Cultures said: “It’s important for everyone in Renfrewshire to celebrate Refugee Week

“It is a time to remember that many ethnic communities across the world at one point or another have sought refuge in other countries.

“This is also the right time to acknowledge and value the presence and contributions of ethnic communities and enable community cohesion, celebrate and showcase diversity across Renfrewshire.

“The cultures of ethnic communities in Renfrewshire could sometimes be claimed by others to be intimidating because have brighter colours, spicier flavours, different accents, louder songs and dances.

“Somehow, we will be surprised to find out that our cultures have similarities, our battles are similar and we share the same humanity.

“The ethnic Communities in Renfrewshire will benefit from this event highlighting their cultural activities as it is a great way to show their contributions, presence and integration in Renfrewshire.”

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Chair of Renfrewshire Leisure said: “When people from the many diverse backgrounds in Renfrewshire come together, it connects communities and creates a rich tapestry of creativity and artistry. We are delighted to be working with the organisations on the Ethnic Communities Cultural Steering Group to deliver such an exciting program.

“Renfrewshire’s culture is enhanced by the traditions and skills refugees and migrant communities bring and we are looking forward to celebrating their contribution during Refugee Week.’

Events planned for Refugee Week include a film being shown on Ren TV – Renfrewshire Leisure’s online TV channel – at 7pm on June 17 called Musicians in Exile – Always On The Move. The film explores how refugees created new music during lockdown and how much that meant to them.

The Sharing Food Experiences Workshop is an event on Zoom between 2pm and 3pm on June 19. It brings together food and poetry and will be led by poet Sean Wai Keung.

On June 16, at 7pm, Ren TV features a storytelling session by Tawona Sithole, who is a playwright and poet who uses creativity-based learning to make connections with other people. This is part of Pachedu’s Cultural Café.

The photography competition being organised by the University of the West of Scotland is based around the theme of ‘We Cannot Walk Alone’. It’s open to people of all ages and entries to the UWS

Musicians from refugee communities in Renfrewshire and beyond will perform at Jambo! Radio’s social distancing studio on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram on June 18 and 19 between 5pm and 8pm.

And during Refugee Week the School of African Studies is launching their Pen Pal Project, which connects children involved in the group with children from migrant communities throughout Scotland.

Go to www.renfrewshireleisure.com/refugee-week for more details about online events taking place, in Renfrewshire during Refugee Week.

01/06/2021/by Brian McGuire

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