Elderslie

People will be able to apply for disability assistance in person across Renfrewshire.

People will be able to apply for the Scottish Government’s new disability benefits in the way that is best for them.

Options will include returning a paper form by post, applying over the phone, filling in an online form or getting help from a member of staff based in their local community.

Social Security Scotland, the agency which will administer these benefits on behalf of the Scottish Government, is continuing work to set up this local service.

There will be in excess of 400 local delivery staff providing face to face support across Scotland. This is a substantial increase on the existing Department for Work and Pensions offer, which has under 100 visiting officers for the whole of Scotland.

So far, Social Security Scotland employs four staff in Renfrewshire and has secured space in one location. This will grow as more benefits are introduced and demand increases.

Locations have been identified based on feedback from experience panels and through working alongside community partners including voluntary sector. This will help to identify venues that are easily accessed and many of our clients already make use of.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said:

“Making sure that people are able to apply for benefits in the way that is right for them is one of the absolute fundamentals to ensuring that everyone gets the money that they are entitled to.

“The world is changing and things like the ongoing pandemic are changing the way people access services, with more and more of us looking to do so online. However, we don’t want a service that only works for the majority, it needs to work for everyone. We need to make sure that no one is left behind.

“This is why we are designing a system that gives people choices and makes sure that we take into consideration different accessibility needs – particularly for those looking to apply for disability assistance.

“People will have a range of ways in which they can apply for the disability benefits we will introduce. This includes applying online and also the option to apply in person with one of our specially trained staff located in communities in every council area.

“In setting up this service, we are taking a truly tailored approach. We want to understand the unique needs of local communities. We will continue to work with others to gain this understanding and to make sure that we have people available in the right places and at the right times across Renfrewshire.”

26/10/2020/by Brian McGuire

CPI has today announced the start of construction at the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre in Renfrewshire, Scotland.

Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre Directors break ground at the new facility site

The new technology and innovation centre is set to become a unique and world-leading facility offering transformative solutions in small molecule and pharmaceutical manufacturing. It will accelerate the development and industrialisation of next-generation medicines manufacturing innovations and maximise technology opportunities within the medicines supply chain. Industry, academia, healthcare providers and regulators will work collaboratively within a GMP environment to address industry challenges and de-risk new technologies, providing a clear pathway for their widespread adoption within the pharmaceutical industry.

The Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre is a collaboration between CPI, the University of Strathclyde and founding industry partners, GSK and AstraZeneca with funding provided by Scottish Enterprise and UK Research and Innovation. The Centre has recently agreed partnerships with four leading technology companies to further strengthen the range of expertise in the collaboration.

The facility will translate, at industrial and commercial scale, novel techniques for producing patient-centric medicines, including real-time release of drugs, and integrated process analytics to drive the transformation of medicines manufacturing. These technologies will enable a reduction in quantities of the materials currently required in process development; accelerate timelines to achieve just-in-time, right-first-time and real-time-release manufacturing principles; and ultimately accelerate access of affordable medicines for healthcare providers and patients.

Companies of all sizes will be able to use the facility to evaluate, test and prototype processes using an array of advanced Industry 4.0 manufacturing technologies, including continuous, digital and autonomous manufacturing. The utilisation of next-generation technology will enable more efficient drug production to protect future generations by bringing new medicines to market safely and quickly.

The facility is due for completion late 2021 and will be operational in early 2022. It is expected to eventually house over 80 staff in both technical and non-technical roles.

Nadhim Zahawi, Life Sciences Minister, said: “Backed with £13 million of government funding, this centre is the first of its kind and will significantly boost our domestic medicines manufacturing capability to ensure we are prepared for any future health crises. Complementing our state of the art Vaccines Manufacturing Innovation Centre in Oxfordshire, it will ensure we are at the forefront of transformational technologies, attracting tens-of-millions-of-pounds of investment to the UK and creating new highly-skilled jobs in the Renfrewshire area – a great example of how we are working to build back better.”

Ivan McKee, Scottish Government Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation, said: “The Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre is a tremendous boost to the Scottish economy, and a great endorsement of Scotland’s strengths in life and chemical sciences. The Scottish Government is committed to attracting inward investment from global partners, whose investment in this project will help to create highly skilled jobs in Scotland in a vitally important sector. As an integral part of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland, the centre will put Scotland at the cutting edge of advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing, developing innovative technologies which will help to strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain.”

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, said: “As strategic partners in the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, the University of Strathclyde is utilising its research, innovation and internationally-leading experience and expertise in advanced medicines manufacturing to meet the biggest health challenges facing our world. We are delighted to be working in collaboration with our partners across industry, academia, government and healthcare to accelerate and transform the medicines manufacturing process. We are excited to see construction begin on what will be a distinctive and important asset to the Glasgow City region and to Scotland.”

Jon-Paul Sherlock, Technology Strategy Lead at AstraZeneca, said: “Manufacturing innovation is critical to future pharmaceutical supply chains. Molecules are more complex, development times shorter and the expectations of patients and healthcare systems higher than ever before. However, for a highly regulated industry, innovation is risky and potentially expensive. This facility will enable close collaboration between industry, government and academia and will be a game-changer; resulting in faster industrialisation and implementation of exciting new opportunities.”

Andy Jones, Medicines Manufacturing Challenge Director at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), one of the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre’s main funders, said: “The Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre will play a key role in the infrastructure the UK is building, investing in medicines manufacturing innovation to tackle today’s health challenges and those of the future. It will also be ideally placed to help turn great ideas into great business, ensuring that UK innovators can access a global, life sciences market worth some £98 billion.”

Derek Shaw, Commercial Director at Scottish Enterprise, one of the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre’s main funders, said: “This is an important and exciting step in the development of the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, and the opportunities it will unlock for businesses through collaboration between academia, industry and government. Industry leadership and co-investment are central to shaping the facility and Scottish Enterprise is proud to have committed £15 million of funding alongside our partners.”

Dave Tudor, Managing Director of the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, Quality and Biologics, at CPI, said: “We are thrilled to be starting the construction of this new, collaborative centre. The consortium is already working together on several ambitious projects with the aim to de-risk disruptive technology that can lower the cost of drug development. Live projects include a digitally-twinned continuous direct compression platform to increase the productivity of drug product manufacture, and an automated platform to enable just-in-time supply for clinical trials which will drastically cut lead times. We look forward to bringing that technology and cross-sector expertise to these new facilities.”

Frank Millar, CEO at CPI, said: “Ageing populations, the increasing cost of drug development, and resource constraints impeding the adoption of emergent technologies are just some of the challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry today. The increasing financial burden on the healthcare system as a whole has led to a pressing need for more cost-effective medication. By connecting the dots between academia, government, industry and healthcare providers within this state-of-the-art centre, we can address these issues and transform the pharmaceutical supply chain for the future.”

26/10/2020/by Brian McGuire

Intu SGS, the retail company made up of four of the UK’s largest shopping and leisure destinations, announces today that the third of its centres has now been successfully transferred to new management.

As of today, intu Braehead which is located in Renfrewshire on the outskirts of Glasgow, has left the portfolio of intu properties plc after its administration in June and will now operate under the management of Global Mutual and Savills.

intu Braehead welcomes around 16 million visitors each year and its 1.1 million sq ft of retail, catering and leisure space is home to many well-known brands including Apple, Next, River Island and Superdry. Including a major sporting and events arena and sitting adjacent to a substantial leisure complex including the UK’s longest indoor ski slope, intu Braehead is one of Scotland’s most popular day out destinations.

Global Mutual has officially taken on the role of Asset Manager with Savills appointed as Property Manager. Global Mutual is a highly experienced asset manager in the UK, US and Europe, currently managing £5 billion of assets in primary sectors including retail, office and alternatives. International real estate advisor Savills is a leading provider of shopping centre management services across the UK with a strong track record in managing prime, high profile retail destinations.

While intu properties plc and several group companies entered administration on 26 June 2020, administrator KPMG was not appointed over any of the property companies (PropCos) that own the individual shopping centres, all of which have continued to trade as normal with a range of Covid-safe measures in place.

Intu SGS is the largest PropCo comprising four of the UK’s leading shopping centre destinations visited by tens of millions of people every year: intu Watford, intu Lakeside (Essex), intu Victoria Centre (Nottingham) and intu Braehead. Following the successful transfers of intu Watford, intu Victoria Centre and now intu Braehead, intu Lakeside will complete the migration process in early November.

The existing centre name and branding will remain in place for an interim period.

Steve Gray, Head of European Retail Asset Management at Global Mutual, commented: “intu Braehead is one of the most popular retail and leisure destinations in Scotland and indeed the whole of the UK. We are well-funded with strong support from our lender group and consequently have a great deal of optimism about the future of this leading centre.”

Martin Wallace, Property Management Director at Savills, commented: “intu Braehead is a vital part of the Renfrewshire community, providing critical support to the local economy as well as offering outstanding retail and leisure facilities. We are looking forward to working with Global Mutual and the excellent in-house team to build on the centre’s achievements to date.”

Peter Beagley, Centre Director for intu Braehead, said: “Today is an important milestone for intu Braehead as we begin a new chapter under different management. We have a great team who have worked tirelessly over the past few months to enable the centre to reopen safely and continue delivering for our visitors and tenants. Now working together with the highly experienced teams at Global Mutual and Savills we have a lot to be excited about.”

Jim Tucker, partner at KPMG and joint administrator of intu properties plc, said: “To date, 11 intu centres have successfully migrated to new management. Due to the hard work and commitment from all stakeholders, transitions have been achieved in an orderly and efficient manner. We wish the intu Braehead team all the best for the future.”

23/10/2020/by Brian McGuire

Indoor fitness classes to remain suspended following updated Scottish Government advice

People across Renfrewshire are being urged to continue taking advantage of outdoor and online fitness classes in light of the Scottish Government’s latest Covid-19 guidance.

Indoor fitness sessions for over-18s remain suspended as part of continued measures to manage the spread of the pandemic.

Renfrewshire Leisure is operating extra outdoor and online fitness sessions, both of which have proven popular and attracted a strong following.

Mark Tokeley, Head of Leisure and Community Services at Renfrewshire Leisure, said: “We have a fantastic programme of socially-distanced outdoor exercise classes which has been tremendously well received and which we would encourage people to attend as an alternative. We have some brilliant fitness class videos online too and are continuing to build this content in response to customer feedback.

“We are also ready to support people to try something new – perhaps using the gym or going swimming. Switching up your usual routines can be a great way to boost fitness. Our team is on-hand to help in any way we can.”

Outdoor contact sports for the over-18s are also currently suspended as part of the same Covid-19 mitigation measures.

Details about the outdoor and online fitness classes – along with all other Renfrewshire Leisure services and the safety measures in place at this time – can be found at www.renfrewshireleisure.com/coronavirus.

21/10/2020/by Danielle McGuire

Residents and businesses in Renfrewshire are being given advice on how to stay safe should winter weather cause flooding in their area.

With colder, wetter weather approaching, homeowners and businesses are being asked to identify whether their area is at risk of flooding and, if so, ensure they are ready in advance.

As part of its #RenReady campaign, the council are encouraging residents to take proactive steps to avoid flooding damage, including:

Creating a list of useful numbers such as the council, emergency services, electricity and insurance companies;
Checking gutters and drains around their property are clear and reporting public drains in need of attention;
Being ready to switch off gas and electricity supplies should this be required;
Ensuring everyone living or working in the property knows what to do should flooding occur by creating a Flood Plan;
Following up to date weather reports so that they’re not caught out by adverse weather.

In the event of severe flooding, residents can check for localised updates via the council website and social media, or via the Floodline Service on 0345 988 1188.

Councillor Cathy McEwan, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “Unfortunately as winter approaches, this brings darker nights and harsher weather.

“So, it’s important that we are all prepared to deal with the effects of heavy rainfall and know what to do if it arrives, especially if you live in an area prone to flooding.

“As a council, we’re working hard to ensure that areas we know are at risk are prepared in advance by clearing drains and trying to divert the natural flow of water – but we can also provide you with support in an emergency.

“You should create a flood plan so you’re not caught out and do all you can to protect your property from the risk of flooding.

“As always, we’re available to support you and offer advice so please get in touch if you need assistance.”

Renfrewshire Council is working with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to prepare local people in Renfrewshire, and the SEPA website has information on how best to stay safe, including a postcode map outlining the flood risk in each area.

Vincent Fitzsimons, SEPA’s Head of Hydrology and Flooding Services, said: “It’s really important that people are prepared ahead of the winter, when we often see more flooding.

“While you can sign up for Floodline at any time it’s important you have time to understand what those messages mean – and what you can do in advance of rainfall. We want to encourage people to make the time to visit sepa.org.uk/signup and get registered. If you’re not online you can also call Floodline on 0345 988 1188.

“There’s a wealth of information available at floodlinescotland.org.uk to help you prepare, including what to do before, during or after a flood. There’s advice for your homes, your business and you travel, with links to key sources of information. Don’t wait until flooding’s at your door, sign up to Floodline now and make sure you’re ready before you need to be.”

Across Scotland over 32,000 people have already signed up for Floodline, while Flood Alerts and Warnings are also posted live to SEPA’s website at sepa.org.uk/floodupdates

For more information on winter preparedness, visit: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/readyforwinter.

16/10/2020/by Brian McGuire

Exercise classes in the great outdoors

Renfrewshire Leisure expands outdoor and online programme while indoor classes suspended

An expanded outdoor exercise programme has launched to help Renfrewshire residents stay fit and healthy amid the latest Covid-19 restrictions.

One of Renfrewshire Leisure’s socially-distanced outdoor exercise classes at ON-X, Linwood

Renfrewshire Leisure has suspended all of its indoor exercise classes for over-18s until October 26 to comply with Scottish Government guidelines to slow the spread of the pandemic.

As part of efforts to continue supporting members and customers’ wellbeing during this time, the independent charity is temporarily stepping up its outdoor fitness session programme.

Nineteen extra outdoor events will be staged this week and next, with people able to exercise safely and socially distanced in line with all public health guidelines.

They will be held on track and artificial sports surface areas at the ON-X in Linwood.

An enhanced programme of fitness content for people to join in with is also being made available at www.renfrewshireleisure.com and via the RENTV channel.

Alan Cunningham, Indoor Leisure Services Manager at Renfrewshire Leisure, said: “Exercise is good for everyone’s physical and mental wellbeing, which is why we feel it’s so important we do all that we can to help people through these strange times.

“We have an established programme of outdoor exercise classes. Given their strong track record, we believe that temporarily expanding them is a positive way in which we can safely support people with their health and fitness. The safety of our customers and staff is our top priority.”

Bootcamp, HITT, attack, combat, metafit and circuit classes are included in the programme.

All sessions will comply with track and trace guidelines. Places are limited and must be booked in advance at www.renfrewshireleisure.com, where more details about the classes and safety measures that must be followed are available.

Meanwhile, filming is underway for a programme of exercise classes to be streamed online by Renfrewshire Leisure. These will range from relaxation to high intensity with sessions to suit ages and abilities. A broadcast schedule will be shared via social media once filming is complete.

Outdoor contact sports for the over-18s were suspended from 6pm on Friday as part of the Covid-19 protection measures governing Greater Glasgow.

12/10/2020/by Brian McGuire

BRITAIN’S Got Talent singing star Edward Reid might have found himself a new theme song with Climb Every Mountain – because yesterday he was at intu Braehead doing just that!

Edward joined shopping centre staff in a sponsored stair-climbing challenge to raise vital funds for leading mental health charity SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) as they took part in their own version of SAMH’s Virtual Stomp.

The team at intu Braehead took part in their self-organised fundraising challenge on the eve of World Mental Health Day (Saturday, October 10) and the staff raised more than £200 for the charity by climbing 16,380 stairs.

The shopping centre is also running a series of short videos of Edward giving mental health and well-being advice and tips on their social media channels in the run-up to World Mental Health Day and will continue to do so throughout the rest of the month.

Edward said: “There definitely ain’t no mountain high enough for the big-hearted folks at intu Braehead.

“They put in a fantastic effort to climb all these steps and raise money for a very worthy cause.

And he quipped: “By the time I got to the top of the flight of steps for the umpteenth time, I thought I was on the stairway to heaven!”

Lydia Brown, intu Braehead’s community development manager said: “It’s important everyone looks after their mental health in the same way we look after our physical health.

“SAMH do a fantastic job in supporting people with mental health problems and raising awareness across Scotland. Our team wanted to do everything we could to help support the charity with their fundraising and raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing.”

Harriet Key, Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser said “We’re living in difficult times so it’s never been more important to support Scotland’s mental health. These funds will help SAMH raise awareness, promote good mental health and support those who need it most.”

SAMH has put together a dedicated coronavirus mental health information hub for anyone looking for help or support during the pandemic, which can be found on its website – https://www.samh.org.uk/.

09/10/2020/by Brian McGuire

People who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss are encouraged to check if they are eligible for financial support as part of Baby Loss Awareness week.

Bereaved parents who get certain benefits or tax credits could be eligible for payments to help ease some of the financial pressure when a baby is stillborn or dies after birth.

Eligible people could still receive a Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment of up to £600. They may also qualify for the Funeral Support Payment to help towards the costs of a funeral.

The Scottish Government involved parents who have experienced baby loss in the design of these services to make sure that it met their needs and was sensitive to these specific circumstances.

Their input has influenced website content, including simplifying wording around eligibility to make it easier to understand.

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

“The loss of a baby is one of the hardest things any parent can go through. It is awful to think that at a time of such grief and loss, some parents will also be faced with the pressure of finding money to get them through this period and will have already spent money on baby goods. We want to make sure that people in this position know that there is support available.

“We know that bereaved parents can often feel overwhelmed and may wish to talk things through with someone – that’s why Social Security Scotland has specially trained Client Advisers available to guide people through what they may be eligible for and the application process.

“And whilst this is Baby Loss Week, we want people to know that this help is here all year round. That is why we are working closely with organisations that provide vital support to parents who experience this to promote these payments.”

Chief Executive of SiMBA, Sara Fitzsimmons, MBE, RM said:

“It is important that we support bereaved parents in any way that we can, so it was an honour to be able to support the focus group for the Best Start Grant.

“We brought together parents who had themselves been bereaved, so they could help review and give feedback on literature and words with an empathetic understanding and help support bereaved families who may benefit from some financial help after the loss of their baby.”

Background

People can apply for the Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment for a baby that was stillborn or died after they were born – they can apply from the 24th week of pregnancy to six months after the baby’s birth date

Parents of a baby who was born alive prematurely and who died before the 24th week of pregnancy are eligible to apply for the Pregnancy and Baby Payment – it is a £600 payment for a first child and £300 for other children.

Funeral Support Payment can help towards burial or cremation costs. It can also cover some travel, document, and medical costs – the average total payment is around £1,500

A client leaflet explaining what support is available at:
https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/what-we-do/stakeholder-resources/best-start-grant-pregnancy-and-baby-payment
People can find out more and apply at mygov.scot/benefits or by calling Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222
Information on support networks can be found at parentclub.scot/articles/supporting-you-after-stillbirth

Baby Loss Awareness Week UK runs 9-15 October. Further information can be found at https://babyloss-awareness.org/

SiMBA support those affected by the loss off a baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth, full details can be found at www.simbacharity.org.uk

09/10/2020/by Brian McGuire

Renfrewshire Leisure will suspend all of its indoor fitness classes for 16 days from 6pm on Friday (October 9) following the Scottish Government’s latest steps to tackle the spread of Covid-19.

The independent leisure and culture charity is also suspending all outdoor contact sports for over-18s to comply with measures outlined by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Gyms and swimming pools will remain open, operating with safety as the priority and within all Government guidelines.

Staff will also offer as much content as possible digitally, at www.renfrewshireleisure.com via the RENTV channel and across the organisation’s social media platforms.

Victoria Hollows, Chief Executive of Renfrewshire Leisure, said: “The safety of our staff and customers is our key focus. As an organisation, we are committed to doing everything possible to support our communities through this pandemic.

“We want to continue helping people with their health and wellbeing while they are unable to attend classes, which is why we will look to do all that we can online. We would also encourage anyone who normally enjoys our classes to try a session at our gyms or swimming pools, where we will be happy to welcome them in the safe environment we have created.”

Details of sessions available digitally will be shared via Renfrewshire Leisure’s social media channels and website, where information about all of the charity’s services and booking arrangements can also be found.

08/10/2020/by Brian McGuire

St. Vincent’s Hospice is offering you the chance to have an informal discussion with a friendly, trusted solicitor to help you plan for the future, particularly for Wills and Powers of Attorney.

Appointments are confidential, free of charge and are provided without obligation or commitment. However, donations are welcomed to support the work of the Hospice.

Telephone appointments of up to 30 minutes are available on Tuesday 20 August between 10am and 4pm. Appointments are available to any adult living in Renfrewshire.

Many local people have already used this popular service and recommend it highly. One person said: “I’ve been meaning to sort out my Will for ages, but didn’t know where to start. It was great to talk with such a friendly solicitor – they put me at ease right away – and everything was settled really easily. What a wonderful service!”

Booking is essential. If you would like to make an appointment, please contact June Burgess, Legacy Officer at St. Vincent’s Hospice on 01505 705 635 or by emailing June.Burgess@svh.co.uk. Please do not visit the Hospice at this time

07/10/2020/by Brian McGuire

Renfrewshire Leisure to suspend indoor fitness classes after new Covid-19 measures announced

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