Shortroods Archives - Paisley Scotland

Industry leaders have praised Paisley: The Secret Collection after it just missed out on the Cultural Project of the Year Award at the 2018 Architects’ Journal Architecture Awards

Paisley Secret Collection MFG

The project was ‘Highly Commended’ by the judges for the inventive nature of its aim to revitalise the high street by bringing the area’s historic collections to life.

Scooping the top prize was the third phase of works to remodel Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre which saw the refurbishment of its basement into an open performance studio capable of hosting a range of events from comedy to jazz.

stella-shabti

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Convener of Renfrewshire Leisure, said: “The Secret Collection has been a fantastic addition to Paisley as we aim to transform our High Street and bring people into the area.

“The collection includes some of Paisley’s world-famous textiles, plus a mix of ceramics, world cultures, social history, art and sculpture, natural history and local archives – with many of those items unseen by the general public in decades or longer.

“It’s fantastic that everyone involved with this wonderful project has received industry recognition as it really is one of Renfrewshire’s hidden gems and I would encourage everyone to take the time to visit and see the outstanding exhibits.”

Paisley Secret Collection MFG

Paisley: The Secret Collection is the first publicly accessible museum store on a UK High Street and contains thousands of objects which reflect Renfrewshire’s amazing heritage and culture.

The state-of-the-art storage facility is a space where everyone can explore, learn, research and discover hidden treasures in the collection.

Brought to life by Collective Architecture, the project was a key highlight of the work they have carried out transforming buildings using modest budgets to achieve maximum impact.

Ewan Imrie, Project Architect, said: “We are absolutely delighted that this project has gained national recognition through the Architects’ Journal Awards.

“The judges recognised the vision and bravery of the client in placing this precious facility within a very difficult central site, so that it is both accessible and a catalyst for regeneration.

“They were also very impressed by the creative and collaborative working relationship that developed between ourselves and Renfrewshire Council which allowed a bleak former shop unit to be converted into a hidden jewel on the High Street.”

The Secret Collection was one of several successful projects which saw Collective take home the coveted prize of Architect of the Year at the Awards ceremony.

Councillor Hughes added: “Collective brought imagination and an inspired sense of style to what could have been a purely functional space.

“They also had an enormous commitment to getting every detail right in a complex state of the art facility and we’re delighted that their work on the project has been recognised in this way.”

The Secret Collection is open to the public and free guided tours should be booked in advance.

For more information on The Secret Collection, visit www.renfrewshireleisure.com/thesecretcollection

10/12/2018/by Brian McGuire

St Mirren legend Tony Fitzpatrick has revealed he used a bogus scouting report to get players fired up for one of the most important matches in the club’s history.

Tony was Saints manager when the team needed to win away from home against Stirling Albion to avoid relegation. It was the penultimate game of the 1998 season and if Saints dropped into the Second Division, it would have meant a financial meltdown for the club.

In his newly-released autobiography, Fitzy – The Story of My Life, Tony says the future of St Mirren was at stake and describes how he used a cunning plan to trick his players into putting in the performance of their lives to win 1-0.

In his book Tony reveals: “I came up with a ploy to get the players wound up for the game. When we arrived at Forthbank and while the players were out on the park before getting changed, I sneaked into the away dressing room and left sheets of paper lying on a table before I headed back out to join them.

“It was a spoof scouting report for the Stirling Albion manager, Kevin Drinkell, whose name was on the top of the first page. It was an assessment of each St Mirren player and how they performed in our last game.

“But it didn’t come from any of the Stirling Albion coaching or scouting staff accidentally leaving it in the dressing room – I had written it and deliberately left it there. Since I wanted to get our boys fired up, I slaughtered every player in this ‘performance report’.

“I told our coach, Matt Kerr where in the dressing room I had put the sheets of paper and he was to make a big deal in front of the players when he ‘found’ the report.

“The players are getting changed when suddenly Matt shouts: ‘Gaffer! You need to see this.’

“He hands me the sheets of paper and I act like I’m intently studying what’s written on them. After a minute or so, I turn to the face the players, hold the sheets of paper above my head and say: ‘Bastards! I can’t believe this. It’s a report on how you guys have been playing and you should see what they’re saying about you. You’re getting slagged off something rotten.’

“I go through the fake report reading it out to them. ‘Murray – you’re too slow, you run like Bambi and you’ve only got one star out of five. McGarry – says here you’re a clever player, but if you get hit hard that’s you lost interest and you won’t want to know from then on. You only get one star as well.’

“I go through all the players and every comment is criticising them. I could feel the players bristling with indignation. I go in for the kill: ‘You going to let them away with that? They think you lot are hopeless and are there for the taking.’

“By this time the boys are raging and we’re having to hold them back as they’re desperate to get out on to the park and start a war.”

Tony says that after his team talk with the bogus scouting report the players made sure Saints were never in any danger of losing the game and a Hugh Murray goal in the second half sealed the win.

Fitzy – The Story of My Life is published by Macdonald Media Publishing and is available to buy fromwww.fitzybook.co.uk for only £11.99.

10/12/2018/by Brian McGuire

A new project in Paisley will support start-up businesses looking to make the leap into their first commercial premises.

Chloe Wright

The town’s George Street will become Start-Up Street as vacant Renfrewshire Council-owned units are adapted into a range of low-cost, high-quality digitally-connected workspaces for up to 20 businesses.

It follows a survey of new and early-stage Renfrewshire businesses, with more than 80% looking for subsidised space to grow, but many citing high costs and a lack of know-how preventing them taking this significant step.

George Street is next to the University of the West of Scotland business school and close to the council’s existing economic development hubs.

Businesses based here will benefit from an on-site business advisor, training space and a shared reception.

George Street

Each company can rent the space for up to two years, with lease costs incrementally increased until they are ready to move to an alternative commercial space in Renfrewshire.

The Council’s Leadership Board rubber-stamped the proposals yesterday (Wednesday 5 December 2018) and now its economic development team will further develop the plans, working jointly with London Youth Support Trust, a charity which specialises in supporting young entrepreneurs from deprived backgrounds.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “We have a responsibility to nurture new businesses and Start-Up Street is being developed in response to what local businesses are telling us they need.

“It will provide a whole package of support to enable businesses to overcome any barriers and grow sustainably, offering an environment which helps them achieve long-term sustainability, moving into commercial premises in our town centres.

Laura Provan

“We’re excited to be working in partnership with the London Youth Support Trust, who have an excellent track record in helping young people progress, adding to our own economic development team’s fantastic achievements in helping local businesses to grow and local people to find jobs.”

The project comes as Renfrewshire’s regeneration continues to make excellent progress, according to the latest economic indicators.

Renfrewshire’s Economic Profile published this week highlights an employment rate outstripping its neighbouring local authorities and well above the national average.

There are more than 4500 private companies based in Renfrewshire, with a lower average closure rate recorded than across the rest of the country.

And over a two-year period, visitors to Renfrewshire attractions have risen by more than 400,000, while ambitious housebuilding targets remain firmly on target, with 630 new homes completed in the first nine months of 2017.

Councillor Nicolson added: “The latest economic figures give us many reasons to be positive and Start-Up Street is the latest investment in Renfrewshire’s future, building on the five-year funding we have put in place to deliver support to the people and places who need it most.

“We boast the best performing employability programmes in Scotland and our local economy is growing, bolstered by an incredible rise in visitor numbers to the area.

“Against a tough financial outlook for all councils, we remain committed to creating the conditions which attract more companies and bring more jobs to Renfrewshire, ensuring inclusive growth across the region.”

Interested businesses can contact InCube Start-Up on 0300 300 1180 or email incube@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Loopy Lally Designs

Textile designer Chloe Wright is excited by the opportunity Start-Up Street will offer for creative businesses. The former Paisley Grammar School pupil founded Loopy Lally Designs in 2017, producing colourful, abstract interior products including cushions, framed prints and lampshades.

Having outgrown her Paisley house, Chloe is now looking to establish her own premises. She said: “I work from home in the wee spare room, but I’m fast running out of space and from a professional perspective, I don’t want to be inviting people into my house.

“My business is growing and moving into new premises is the natural next step for me, it’s really exciting. You can be waiting for years for studio space so Start-Up Street is coming at the perfect time.

“It sounds great, especially having business advice available whenever you need it. Sometimes you can be too close to your business and so it helps to pick people’s brains and get helpful feedback. It’s really exciting what’s happening in Paisley and for school kids to know that there is an opportunity to do creative arts and set up your own business in the town is great.”

www.loopylally.com

Paisley Pins

For Laura Provan, the buddie behind Paisley Pins, the opportunity Start-Up Street will provide is a “no-brainer” for businesses.

Laura took on her own workspace in her hometown this summer and has not looked back as her popular product continues to build a local, and international customer base.

“It’s amazing the amount of people with connections to Paisley that I meet, I even get orders from Paisley in Oregon in the USA. The acrylic pins continue to fly off the shelves and now there’s a much more diverse product range on offer, with ear-rings and necklaces, tie pins and cuff links.

“I’d been looking for premises for a while as I just didn’t have the space I needed to keep working from home and it was a lonely experience being there, with no opportunities to meet people or collaborate and lots of distractions like tidying up after my kids.

“Having a dedicated workspace has been fantastic, having somewhere where people can find me has definitely improved my business-to-business relationships. Upstairs there’s workspaces for other jewellers to rent out and downstairs we’ve space to run workshops.

“The emotional connection people have with jewellery is very important and people want to know the provenance of a product so it was so important to me that my Paisley product is made here in Paisley.

“Start-Up Street is a fantastic idea and it’s the one thing myself and other creative businesses have always said was sorely missing. It is definitely something people should go for if they’re looking for space, advice and being able to move their business forward – it’s a no-brainer and can only be a positive move.”

www.paisleypins.com

06/12/2018/by Brian McGuire

Six schools from Renfrewshire and one from East Renfrewshire took part in the annual Intergenerational Quiz last week, organised by Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

Winners Fordbank Flames

The event, held at the Lagoon Leisure Centre in Paisley, sees a team from each school matched up with a group of older people to go head to head in a quiz featuring everything from sport and history to general knowledge and music.

The teams for 2018 were:

Fordbank Flames – Fordbank Primary School and Johnstone Seniors Forum/Altpatrick Sheltered Housing
Ralston Rebels – Ralston Primary School and Ralston Day Centre
Newmains Renfrew Rainbows – Newmains Primary School and Renfrew Day Centre
Mossy Monkeys – Mossvale Primary School and Springbank Sheltered Housing
Todholm Turtles – Todholm Primary School and Springbank Sheltered Housing
SJO Sharks – St.John Ogilvie Primary School and Glentanar Court Sheltered Housing
Neilston Brainboxes – Neilston Primary and Kirkton Services

The teams meet regularly in advance of the quiz to learn from each other, as well as learning new things that will help them on the day. The project aims to break down the barriers and stigmas between the generations and help build relationships which continue after the event has taken place.

This year’s quiz came down to a tough tie-break between the Todholm Turtles and the Fordbank Flames, with Fordbank pulling ahead to be crowned the overall winner.

Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron was on hand to give out the trophies. She said “The Intergenerational Quiz is one of my favourite events. The atmosphere is always fantastic with both old and young alike getting involved in the fun.

“I especially love the dancing round, where we were entertained this year by some fabulous routines to the ‘Macarena’ and ‘Baby Shark’.

”It’s inspiring to see the relationships that form between the generations and I can’t wait to hear what else the participants get up to.”

06/12/2018/by Brian McGuire

Renfrewshire Councillors have approved £30,000 funding to Renfrewshire Food Bank to reduce the impact of Universal Credit.

universal credit

The proposals to give the food bank the money over a three year period were agreed at a meeting of the Council’s Leadership Board today (December 5).

The funding follows the introduction of Universal Credit in Renfrewshire in September 2018.

Administered by the Department of Work and Pensions, Universal Credit replaces Housing Benefit, Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, Income Related Employment and Support Allowance, Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits with a single monthly payment.

However, research by Trussell Trust has shown that there has been a 52% increase in demand at food banks in areas where the new system has been in place for 12 months.

Renfrewshire Council’s Convener for Finance, Resources and Customer Services, Councillor John Shaw, said: “The introduction of Universal Credit by the UK Government in other areas has put a lot of additional pressure on food banks with more demand from those most in need. This funding will help Renfrewshire Food Bank cope with any increased demand that may come, allowing it to continue supporting anyone in Renfrewshire that needs its help.”

Renfrewshire Council has provided the food bank with funding in recent years, working flexibly with them to provide extra money when needed from its Tackling Poverty Fund.

The Tackling Poverty Programme has been at the centre of many projects to help struggling families and households in Renfrewshire since launching in 2015.

The Healthier, Wealthier Children Service, which is funded by the programme, helped 219 families in Renfrewshire boost their household incomes by a total of £300,000 between April and September 2018. The service gives financial, debt and welfare rights advice to new and expectant parents and helps families check what benefits they are entitled to before and after the arrival of their baby.

The Tackling Poverty Initiative’s energy advice service, which provides support to people who need to reduce their energy bills, has also helped 177 households in Renfrewshire save a total of £49,220 since July 2018.

In March 2018 Renfrewshire Council announced £5million funding for the Tackling Poverty Programme over five years to deliver key projects and activities that will support people and families on low incomes.

Projects within the programme are designed to provide support for families that need it most, remove barriers to participation for children and young people, and support health and wellbeing for young people.

Councillor Shaw said: “The work that the Tackling Poverty Programme is doing is making a real difference to the lives of families in Renfrewshire who are struggling to make ends meet.

“This additional funding will ensure that these crucial services can help families in need in Renfrewshire for years to come.”

05/12/2018/by Brian McGuire

Venture Scotland awarded lump sum to ensure more than 60 pupils from 8 local secondary schools take part in life-changing outdoor personal development programme –

Sixty four pupils from eight secondary schools will take part in an outdoor personal development programme thanks to a lump sum award of £23, 398 from the FlightPath Fund.

The pupils, drawn from schools across Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East and Dunbartonshire, will take part in Venture Scotland’s Etive Awards outdoor-based personal development programme next year.

The programme will take place throughout 2019 and includes an activity days at either Pollok Country Park or West Kilbride beach, rock climbing at Neilston Quarry, a three-day residential stay at a bothy based in the Borders and one-to-one sessions to help alleviate any challenges and issues faced by those pupils taking part.

Schools with pupils from the most deprived neighbourhoods will be offered the opportunity to take part in the programme, ensuring those most in need will benefit.

George McConnachie, Glasgow Programme Manager for Venture Scotland, said: “This funding allows us to specifically target pupils from the most vulnerable backgrounds and have an impact which is potentially life-changing for those involved. Our programme is aimed at those dealing with a range of complex issues who struggle in a classroom setting or are at risk of disengaging completely from formal education.

“Thanks to Glasgow Airport’s FlightPath Fund, those young people now have the chance to gain an accredited qualification whilst developing their skills and self-confidence.”

FlightPath Fund Chair Archie Hunter said: “Venture Scotland has built a strong reputation for delivering powerful and effective personal development programmes for some of the most socially and economically-disadvantaged young people in the country.

“The charity’s skilled staff and volunteers have helped thousands of young people to escape poverty, overcome the challenges they face to turn their lives around and to maximise their opportunities.

“We were very impressed with the charity’s application, particularly as it will offer this unique outdoor programme to 64 pupils at 8 schools based in the four local authority areas the FlightPath Fund serves.

“This award to Venture Scotland tops off what has been an absolutely tremendous year for the FlightPath Fund and the many local charities and community groups it has supported in 2018.”

In September this year the Glasgow Airport FlightPath Fund announced plans to award the £25,000 lump sum to one charity or organisation from Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East and West Dunbartonshire.

With the inclusion of the award made to Venture Scotland, the airport’s FlightPath Fund has awarded an impressive £165,000 in support to more than 80 local groups and charities across Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East and West Dunbartonshire.

The dates for next year’s FlightPath Fund meetings are now available on the Glasgow Airport website. To find out more about applying for funding support, visit: www.glasgowairport.com/community

03/12/2018/by Brian McGuire

Renfrewshire now has its own Poet Laureate who will write poems to mark important events in the local area.

Poet, playwright and creative writing lecturer, Brian Whittingham has been appointed the Tannahill Makar for Renfrewshire.

The move came after Renfrewshire Council agreed to a proposal by Councillors Eileen McCartin and Andy Doig at a council meeting last year to appoint a Makar.

The Makar – who has been appointed for the next three years – will also visit schools, libraries and local groups to give readings and talks aimed at encouraging an interest in poetry.

Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “The Makar will reflect the life of Renfrewshire through formal readings of poetry and will write at least five poems every year to mark moments of cultural importance or local life.”

Brian Whittingham, 68, lived in Renfrew for many years and was a plater and then draughtsman on the Clyde shipyards and it was during this period he became interested in writing poetry while attending the Paisley Writers’ Group. He has had nine collections of poetry published and spent the last 16 years lecturing in creative writing at the City of Glasgow College.

He said: “I would like to leave some kind of legacy by developing a love of poetry in the local community. I hope to get people to be more aware of poetry and appreciate that particular art form.”

03/12/2018/by Brian McGuire

A new fund designed to support Renfrewshire’s cultural sector launched this week as one of the legacies of Paisley’s UK City of Culture bidding process.

Skyline Paisley

The Cultural Organisations Development Fund is open to cultural and creative organisations from across Paisley and Renfrewshire, it will provide support to build the resilience and sustainability of organisations, helping them realise their cultural ambitions and fulfil their potential.

The fund will run for the next three years (to 2022) and could support organisations to cover core costs such as staffing, improve their governance and management, and build new audiences and partnerships across Scotland, the UK and internationally.

It is open to Renfrewshire based organisations or groups that have a cultural or creative purpose.

The fund will complement the existing Culture, Heritage and Events Fund which was set up during the Paisley 2021 bid and has supported more than 100 one-off events and projects since 2016.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “This new fund is key to continuing our ambitions to support Renfrewshire’s cultural sector to fulfil it’s potential.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson

“The Culture, Heritage and Events Fund has already succeeded in increasing the number of people getting involved in creative activity in Renfrewshire and the Cultural Organisational Development Fund will support organisations to develop their capacity and progress with longer term planning.

“The fund will support organisations within Renfrewshire to build and strengthen partnerships both locally and further afield and develop national and international profile.

“The ongoing work to expand our creative capacity goes hand in hand with our £100m investment to transform our cultural spaces, allowing Paisley to attract a wider range of cultural activity and events, and cement our place as a cultural town and as one of Scotland’s key destinations.”

Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the Renfrewshire Leisure Cultural Services team, who administer the fund on behalf of Renfrewshire Council, before applying.

The first application deadline is 1 March 2019 with funding decisions due to be made in May 2019. Further funding rounds will take place in October 2019 and February 2020.

Advice surgeries will be held in January 2019 to allow organisations who are considering making applications to attend and seek further information and guidance.

To find out more and to view the application guidance, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/CODF or email codf-enquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk

30/11/2018/by Brian McGuire

Renfrewshire’s new bin collection service is set to begin next week after every household was provided with a new green recycling bin.

renfrewshire bin lorry

Renfrewshire’s new bin collection service is set to begin next week after every household was provided with a new green recycling bin.

From Monday 3 December, residents will now separate their recycling as part of a drive to improve the quality of material collected and reduce the costs associated with disposing of general waste.

The new green bin provided is for plastics, cans and glass and the blue bin will now be for paper, card and cardboard only.

Those on a sack collection will be provided with a new green sack to separate their waste, with glass continuing to go directly to the nearest recycling centre.

renfrewshire bin

To reduce any potential space issues, some flats and tenements may have been provided with shared bins for communal use with residents sharing responsibility for presenting this for collection.

Councillor Cathy McEwan, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “We’ve been working hard to ensure we provide residents with all the information they need to adapt to the new service and we would encourage all residents to read their information pack closely as it outlines what the changes mean for them.

“It’s extremely important that we all consider if our waste could be recycled before throwing it into the grey bin and the new recycling bin should provide extra capacity to help people recycle.

“We’re here to support residents with the new service so if you have any questions then please get in touch with us at the council.”

Due to the overlap of the new service from the current provision, some residents will receive an additional collection to ensure they do not wait longer than they should for a grey bin collection. Letters will be delivered to the affected households outlining the exact date.

Information packs specific to each household in Renfrewshire have been delivered to ensure residents are fully informed of what the new service means for them and include a service guide, a full collection calendar for the next year and details on any change in collection day.

If residents haven’t yet received their information pack then they should report this via www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/missinginfopack.

For more information and a full list of FAQs, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/mybins or email mybins@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

29/11/2018/by Brian McGuire

SINGING star Paolo Nutini bumped into his old football coach, Tony Fitzpatrick and asked him where he could buy a copy of the former footballer’s recently-released autobiography.

The pair met up in Paisley’s Bianco E Nero coffee shop and Paolo revealed his dad, Alfredo had told him about Tony’s book, Fitzy – The Story of My Life being published.

When Paolo told Tony he was looking forward to reading his autobiography, Tony fetched a copy of the book from his car, signed it and handed a complimentary copy over to the singer.

Tony revealed that while he was an SFA community coach in Paisley during the mid-1990s, Paolo would come to his Saturday morning football sessions in the St Mirren FC leisure complex at the club’s former ground at Love Street.

The pair have kept in touch over the years and Tony has looked on with pride, as Paolo became a massive worldwide music star.

Tony says: “It was great bumping into Paolo like that and having a chat with him. I’ve known him since he was a young boy when he was about eight or nine years old.

“I remember him coming along to my coaching sessions all those years ago and like many young boys, he wanted to be a professional footballer when he grew up. As things turned out football’s loss was the music world’s gain and I’m sure his millions of fans would agree with that.

“He was a normal wee boy, very enthusiastic and loved playing football.

“I hope Paolo enjoys reading my life story and maybe one day he’ll get round to writing his autobiography and I’ll get him to sign a copy of his book for me!”

Fitzy – The Story of My Life is published by Macdonald Media Publishing and is available from www.fitzybook.co.uk for only £11.99.

29/11/2018/by Brian McGuire