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Shoppers urged to vote in the 2018 intu Braehead retailer awards

SHOPPERS are being given the chance to vote for their favourite store, restaurant and entertainment venue in the 2018 intu Braehead retailer awards.

Thousands of people are expected to pick their favourites in an online poll just launched.

There are awards for the store categories – menswear, footwear and accessories, food and drink, kids, specialist retailer, ladieswear, jewellery, health and beauty along with retailer of the year, entertainment venue and world class customer service.

All you have to do to vote is log on to www.intu.co.uk/braehead and those who pick their favourites in the poll will get the chance to win a £250 intu Gift Card. The closing date for voting is Thursday, September 6.

Marketing manager for intu Braehead, David Lyon said: “We’ve got some fantastic stores, cafes, restaurants and fun entertainment venues and this gives people the chance to vote for their favourites.

“And the awards are a great way of recognising the businesses that give shoppers such a great service.”

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Renfrewshire councillors undergo Dementia Friends awareness sessions in local government first

Renfrewshire councillors have become the first in Scotland to collectively undergo Dementia Friends Information sessions.

They have joined tens of thousands of people to learn more about dementia and the small things we can all do to help people with the condition, which can leave them feeling vulnerable and isolated.

Councillors from across the parties, including Council Leader Iain Nicolson and Provost Lorraine Cameron, turned out for the first session run by  trained Dementia Advisor Iain Houston, from charity Alzheimer Scotland.

It’s understood to be the first time an entire Council chamber has signed up to become registered Dementia Friends.

Councillor Nicolson said: “Sadly so many of us have a loved one or know a family affected by dementia.

“It has been extremely rewarding to take part in the Dementia Friends sessions to find out how we can all educate ourselves to help support people with dementia and help them go about their everyday lives.

“It’s clear that small things like being patient in a queue can make a big difference and we are all keen to play our part in helping families and communities cope with the challenges.”

Provost Cameron said: “It’s been great to get an added insight and understanding of what dementia is and how it affects people.

“We are all now keen to take the learning from the sessions and apply this to work together to break down the stigma of the condition.”

Dementia isn’t an inevitable part of ageing but is caused by diseases of the brain. There are around 90,000 people living with the condition in Scotland, with more than 3,000 under the age of 65, while in Renfrewshire around 2,750 people have dementia and related conditions.

There is a multi-agency group being led by the Health and Social Care Partnership which is looking at improving services within Renfrewshire for people with dementia and their carers.

More than half of Scots with dementia have Alzheimer’s disease but other forms include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia.

The village of Lochwinnoch has become the first in Renfrewshire to become a dementia friendly community.

Anne McWhinnie, Dementia Friends Programme Manager at Alzheimer Scotland said: “We’re delighted that Renfrewshire Council have taken positive steps to become Dementia Friends and have committed to making the small but vital changes that will help people with dementia to feel understood and valued in our communities. This is a crucial step towards building a Dementia Friendly Scotland, where nobody should face dementia alone.

“Dementia Friends information sessions demonstrate the small changes that can often make a big difference to people living with dementia such as adapting how you speak, giving clear information, removing some of the challenges that can cause confusion and changing behaviour – such as simply being patient in a queue.”

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Nominate Renfrewshire’s employability stars

Nominations are now open for the 2018 Renfrewshire Employability Awards celebrating the successes of people supported through Renfrewshire’s Local Employability Partnership programmes.

RDC Invest awards 6.9.17 Celebrating Success
Renfrewshire Employability Awards
6.9.17
Paisley Town Hall

It is the fifth year of the popular awards organised on behalf of the partnership by Renfrewshire Council’s economic development service Invest in Renfrewshire.

Invest work closely with more than 1000 local businesses to support Renfrewshire residents from its base at Paisley’s Russell Institute building.

Together, the programme provides direct access to vacancies, work experience, training, personal support and finance.

There are nine awards across a range of categories including Most Promising New Entrepreneur and Apprentice of the Year. The awards also recognise school pupils and people building their CV through volunteering as they prepare for the world of work.

Last year’s glittering celebrations recognised top intern Debbie Campbell, whose work with award-winning community charity I Am Me Scotland raised awareness of disability hate crime.

Johnstone High School pupil Morgan Spence won the Youth CV builder award, the Kilbarchan teenager’s stop-motion film-making skills being viewed more than a million times online.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “The Renfrewshire Employability Awards are always an excellent event, recognising new employees making a real difference to local businesses and celebrating the successes of those who transform their lives and future careers through involvement in Renfrewshire’s employability programmes. I would encourage people to submit their nominations as soon as possible.

“Invest in Renfrewshire organises these awards on behalf of the Local Employability Partnership in recognition of Renfrewshire’s success in this area and the hard work and effort put in by our local people.

“The Invest team themselves have built strong partnerships with the local business community and together are creating work and training opportunities for more than 1400 people each year. This is hugely important, reducing unemployment and enabling our local economy to grow.”

Deadline for nominations is Friday 14 September 2018 with the awards ceremony taking place at Paisley Town Hall in November.

The ever-popular event is also an opportunity to thank local businesses for their contributions which has helped the Renfrewshire economy grow significantly in recent years.

“In June we set out a five-year commitment to help the people most in need into work,” added Councillor Nicolson. “We will help communities facing deprivation and those unemployed and underemployed, changing people’s opportunities and making the most of the major areas of growth coming to Renfrewshire in areas such as childcare, tourism and manufacturing.

“These annual awards are a great way to celebrate the successes and acknowledge the many partners playing their part in creating a thriving Renfrewshire, open for business.”

For full details of the awards and to make a nomination, visit: www.investinrenfrewshire.com/awards-2018/

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National Whisky Festival comes to Paisley’s Spree Festival 2018

Get ready to raise a glass as Scotland’s biggest full-day whisky event comes to Paisley as part of The Spree Festival 2018.

The National Whisky Festival (NWF) will take place at Paisley Town Hall on Saturday 13 October and will see two sessions of drams, masterclasses, food, whisky related arts, crafts and a fantastic programme of live music.

The Spree festival is one of the highlights of Paisley’s annual cultural calendar and takes place in various venues around the town from 12 to 20 October.

The National Whisky Festival sessions will start at Paisley Town Hall from 12pm – 3.30pm and 4.15pm – 7.45pm and by purchasing a ticket whisky lovers will be able to enjoy:

  • entrance to one of the 3.5-hour sessions
  • access to over 50 whiskies on the tasting floor
  • two £5 discount vouchers for use on purchases at the on-site bottle shop
  • a complimentary line-up of fantastic live music
  • your own NWF branded Glencairn crystal nosing glass to use on the day and take home
  • access to masterclasses (ticketed separately)
  • official festival programme

Colin Campbell, National Whisky Festival organiser, said: “The National Whisky Festival is a combined celebration of the best of Scottish culture and our national drink.

“The event at Paisley Town Hall will see a whole host of exhibitors and distilleries in attendance, each carefully considered to provide the most enjoyable experience of whisky tasting and entertainment on the day.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring the festival to Paisley as part of The Spree Festival 2018 for a brilliant day of drams, delicious food and thrilling live music.”

Louisa Mahon, Head of Marketing, Communications and Events at Renfrewshire Council, said: “We are delighted to welcome the National Whisky Festival to Paisley as part of this year’s Spree Festival.

“The Spree Festival is one of the highlights of Paisley’s annual cultural events calendar and has continued to go from strength to strength as it enters its seventh year.

“Hosting an event such as the National Whisky Festival shows Paisley’s ability to host large-scale events and we can’t wait to welcome visitors from all over to Paisley Town Hall to enjoy a celebration of whisky and the best of Scottish culture.”

Visitors to the festival will also be able to enjoy delicious food from local restaurants and street food vendors, a craft beer bar and an on-site bottle shop provided by the Good Spirits Company.

The inaugural National Whisky Festival took place at Glasgow’s SWG3 in January 2017 as part of the city’s Celtic Connections festival.

The Spree Festival is run by Renfrewshire Council and programmed by Synergy Concerts and Renfrewshire Leisure.

Martha Reeves and the Vandellas will perform at a special Closing Gala show at Paisley Town Hall on Saturday 20 October alongside the London African Gospel Choir who will perform Paul Simon’s Graceland.

Black Sabbath guitarist and rock music legend Tony Iommi will also appear at Paisley Town Hall on Friday 12 October for a special show giving music fans the inside story of his career – called ‘Tony Iommi in conversation with Phil Alexander: A Life in Music’.

Other big-name acts coming to Paisley for this year’s Spree include The Orb, ex-Kraftwerk member Wolfgang Flür, Gang of Four, Aidan Moffat and RM Hubbert, Big Minds (made up of members of Big Country and Simple Minds), Vieux Farka Touré, The Wandering Hearts and more.

The Wee Spree will also be back as part of the festival with plenty of fun activities to keep the kids entertained during the October holidays.

Tickets for all shows (including the National Whisky Festival) are on sale now via The Spree Festival website. Visit www.thespree.co.uk

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MIRREN BUSINESS CENTRES – Offices To Let

Mirren Court One, 119 Renfrew Road, Paisley

A bright ground floor office to let at Mirren Court One in the size of 422 sqft. The suite is ideal as an office for 3/4 people with 1 car parking space (with others available to let). The rent is inclusive of fair use of heat/light and service charge costs. Meeting room hire is also available.

The specification of the office includes:

·         Car Spaces Included
·         Low Service Charge
·         24 Hour Access
·         On Site Management
·         Prominent Location in Period Buildings combined with modern space
·         Flexible Lease Terms

 

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Paisley 10k organisers hoping for a record entry

ORGANISERS of this year’s Paisley 10k Road Race and Fun Run are making last-minute preparations for the popular event on Sunday. (August 19)

And with the deadline of noon on Friday (August 17) looming for entries, people are being urged to sign up before they miss their chance to take part .

The Paisley 10k organising team from Renfrewshire Leisure are expecting to match last year’s record-breaking entry of 3600 runners and if there is a last-minute surge in entries to the race and fun run, that figure could even be overtaken on the final straight.

Macmillan Cancer Support is the Paisley 10k Race and shorter Fun Run official charity partner for the fourth year and the event is sponsored by sports and outdoor retailers Decathlon.

Chief executive of Renfrewshire Leisure, Joyce McKellar said: “The route for the 10k and Fun Run is through the centre of Paisley and is relatively flat. It’s ideal for both experienced and novice runners.

“It’s a great route to run as people will pass the town’s famous landmarks and hundreds are expected to line the route giving encouragement to the runners.

“There’s a fantastic atmosphere throughout the day with lots of families, clubs and groups coming along to take part in the fun run as well as the more serious athletes who will be giving their all to be first to cross the line in the big race.”

The activities start in Paisley’s County Square at 9.40am on Sunday with Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron welcoming the runners and their supporters. The Paisley 10k Race warm-up is at 9.45am and the race starts at 10am. Winners will be presented with their medals around 11.30am.

The Fun Run warm-up starts at noon with the starting gun fired at 12.15pm and the presentation if prizes expected around 1pm.

There will also be hoops of fun in County Square during the day as BasketballPaisley will have a basketball stand set up for youngsters to try their hand at the sport.

Joyce added: “This is always a great day for Paisley with a carnival atmosphere showing of the town at its best.”

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It’s all in the name – teachers Reid and Wright to teach kids literacy skills

Primary One pupils at a Renfrewshire school are learning how to read and write from aptly named teachers – Mrs Reid and Mrs Wright.

Ms Reid and Wright at Brediland Primary School Renfrewshire 15.8.18

As Brediland Primary School in Paisley welcomes its latest intake, the teachers admit that their pairing has raised a chuckle among colleagues.

Maureen Reid, 48, who’s taught at the school for 14 years, said: “Neither of us actually realised at first, it was a colleague who made the connection and he certainly found it very funny.

“I don’t think the younger children will make the connection but I’m sure the older children and parents will.

“We will work very closely together with lots of interaction between the two classes so I’m sure there will be lots of comments.”

Her fellow teacher, Audrey Wright, 40, said: “I’ve been at the school for eight years and this is my first year teaching primary one. I’m really looking forward to it. I think our names will raise a smile from the parents.”

Depute Head Teacher Lisa Robertson said: “The new Primary One children that we welcome to Brediland this session have had a head start.  What better way to begin to learn at school than with a teacher called Mrs Reid and a teacher called Mrs Wright?

“Surely only good things can come from this.”

Schools across Renfrewshire are recording improvements in pupil’s reading, writing and numeracy skills thanks to the innovative projects introduced as part of the Scottish Government’s Attainment Challenge.

One pioneering project between Renfrewshire Council and the University of Strathclyde has led to an improvement in children’s literacy attainment regardless of their background.

The Renfrewshire Literacy Approach, funded by the local authority and the Scottish Government, is a teacher and leadership training programme designed to enhance knowledge and skills in the teaching of reading.

There have been improvements made in pupils’ reading age scores across primary three to seven, while further analysis also indicates that the teaching programme may have had the greatest positive impact on children living in the most deprived areas.

It also shows a positive increase in pupil attainment at all stages, particularly for those children who have previously struggled with aspects of learning to read.

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FLYBE BOOSTS 2018-19 WINTER FLYING FROM GLASGOW

  • Airline adds extra daily flight to Southampton
  • Up to five flights a day to cruise capital of UK
  • Total of seven winter routes with choice of up to 137 flights a week

14th August 2018: Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, has boosted the frequency to its 2018-19 Winter schedule on one of its most popular routes from Glasgow with the addition of a second daily flight to Southampton, recognised as the UK’s cruise capital. Seats are on sale for booking from today (Tuesday 14th August 2018) at www.flybe.com,  effective for travel from 28thOctober 2018 through to 30th March 2019.

In addition, Flybe has increased flights to both Southampton and Exeter over the busy October and February half terms and peak festive season.

Roy Kinnear, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer comments: “We are pleased to add some additional flights to offer our Glasgow customers this winter. The added frequency will better serve those wishing to make convenient day returns as well as for those wishing to take advantage of quick and easy travel to board the many cruises that depart from Southampton in the winter.”

 

Paul White, Head of Aviation at Glasgow Airport, said: “Southampton is an extremely busy route for the airport so the introduction of an additional rotation is fantastic news. An additional flight on this daily service provides even more choice for our business and leisure passengers’

In total, Flybe’s 2019 Winter schedule from Glasgow features seven routes with a choice of up to 137 flights a week.

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Parking Charges in Johnstone and Renfrew not to be pursued.

Renfrewshire SNP Councillors have decided that they will not support changes to the existing parking arrangements in Johnstone and Renfrew after consideration of the outcome of the consultation process.


The proposals included parking controls and charges in Johnstone and Renfrew town centres and they will be presented at Renfrewshire Council’s next Infrastructure, Land and Environment policy board on August 29th. Following a lengthy consultation process and a final presentation from council officers highlighting the recommended outcomes, the SNP administration group have confirmed that they will not pursue any of the proposed changes. 

Renfrew Town Hall taken by Natalie Murie
Cllr Cathy McEwan, Convener of the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Board said:

“When these proposals were first put forward for consultation, we stated that any proposals would clearly need to demonstrate the benefit to the local communities. We have listened and based on the information we have and the feedback received locally, there is no clear consensus for the introduction of parking charges in Johnstone and Renfrew. I am pleased that the SNP group have arrived at this decision collectively and decisively. It is the right decision for the communities of Renfrew and Johnstone.”

Cllr Emma Rodden who represents Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch further stated:

 

“We said at the outset that we needed the consultation process to be thorough and complete. Residents of Johnstone and Renfrew can be confident that we were listening to all the opinions expressed. We sought out your views and we fully considered all the issues in coming to our decision. We are thankful to everyone who engaged with us during the consultation.”

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Crowds feel the heat in Johnstone as Fire Engine Rally returns to the town

Thousands of people turned out in Johnstone on Saturday to see fire engines, past and present, showcased in the town centre.

The day kicked off with emergency vehicles from across the years parading from Johnstone Fire Station into Houston Square, where they remained for the afternoon, giving everyone the chance to climb on board and learn how firefighting has advanced through the years.

Johnstone Fire Engine Rally 11.8.18
Johnstone Fire Engine Rally 11.8.18
Johnstone Fire Engine Rally 11.8.18
Johnstone Fire Engine Rally 11.8.18
Johnstone Fire Engine Rally 11.8.18

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service undertook several demonstrations throughout the day, showing people what the impact can be when a chip pan bursts in to flames.

The event was hosted by Renfrewshire Council in partnership with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Heritage Trust.

Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “The Fire Engine Rally is always a highlight of our events calendar and a firm favourite for the people of Johnstone.

“Events like this really benefit the local communities as they bring visitors in to the town and increase footfall to local traders.

Renfrewshire’s packed events schedule continues for the rest of the year, so make sure you check out what’s coming up next!”

For upcoming events in Renfrewshire visit www.paisley.is or www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/events.

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