Elderslie

Renfrew was the latest area to benefit from a Big Spring Clean as volunteers headed out over the weekend on community clean-ups.

More than thirty volunteers turned out to two litter picks in Renfrew as inspired teams tackled the banks of the Clyde from Wright Street as well as the Blythswood Woods.

Crisp packs, bottles, a shoe and even some skateboard wheels were collected as the volunteers filled their bags and made the local area a little brighter.

The Big Spring Clean is one of the flagship events of the Team Up to Clean Up campaign which aims to make Renfrewshire a cleaner, more attractive place to live, work and visit and is running throughout April, with more than 50 litter picks arranged so far.

Neil Paterson, Renfrew to Paisley People and Nature Corridor, said: “Clean up activities are key towards re-naturing the old railway and path and making it more pleasant for people and wildlife.

“Doing this through organised events is a great way to enable community involvement and for like-minded folk to meet and enjoy each other’s company.

“The Big Spring Clean is a good way for the council to promote and encourage people to get involved in improving the environment throughout Renfrewshire.”

Councillor Cathy McEwan, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, hosted the clean-up in Blythswood and was delighted with the support of the local community.

Councillor McEwan said: “It’s brilliant to see everyone coming together to make a difference to their own local area and I was delighted to join my neighbours on a litter pick at the weekend, where we even had volunteers from Elderslie make the trip across to join us.

“If we all take the time to make our neighbourhoods cleaner then the whole of Renfrewshire will benefit and that’s what Team Up to Clean Up is all about.

“We’ve made a significant investment as a council to ensure we can increase the level of work we do ‘behind the scenes’ as we recognise that we need to work with the local community to ensure the campaign is a success.

“We’ve seen amazing things happen so far with the support for the Big Spring Clean surpassing all our expectations.”

The Team Up to Clean Up campaign has benefited from a £2.5million investment in Renfrewshire’s local environment which has seen an increased programme of road sweeping, drain clearing, litter picking and an enhanced Rapid Response Team.

The investment has also facilitated local communities to undertake litter picks by providing them with gloves, litter pickers, bags and hoops, as well as the support of the council’s Wardens Service and StreetScene team who remove all rubbish following the completion of the litter pick.

For more information visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/BigSpringClean2019 or call 0300 300 1375.

16/04/2019/by Brian McGuire

SCORES of secondary pupils have shown they are real good sports after graduating from the Renfrewshire School of Sport Education.

Paisley Abbey was packed with families and friends for the graduation ceremony and the presentation of certificates to 70 students by Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron.

The School of Sport Education Initiative run by Renfrewshire Leisure and gives students over the age of 16 training for leisure and sports coaching awards and qualifications that could help them find work when they leave school, college or university.

Each pupil taking part has completed 20 weekly after-school sessions, child protection training and a placement to gain volunteering experience by coaching and delivering 60 hours of sports activities to younger children.

Chairperson of Renfrewshire Leisure, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes said: “We’re very proud of what the young people in this year’s intake have achieved.

“It’s not just how they have developed their own skills and expertise, but what they have done for younger pupils by inspiring them and showing them the benefits of sport in maintaining an active lifestyle.

“The students have become role models and heroes to the children they have coached.

“What the students have learned and experience by taking part in the initiative will stand them in good stead as they make their way into adult life.”

Students from Renfrewshire’s Young Ambassadors programme helped organise the awards event. There were 22 students from local secondary schools who planned and hosted the graduation awards at Paisley Abbey on the night.

The Young Ambassadors – chosen from all 11 secondary schools in Renfrewshire – promote sport in their schools and are involved in various events throughout the year.

16/04/2019/by Brian McGuire

NEW ICU ROYAL ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL, PAISLEY.

Seriously ill patients in Paisley will now be cared for in a new state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The £5 million unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital was officially opened today (Friday 12^th) by John Brown, Chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and was commemorated with a special dedicated plaque.

The new unit has nine bed spaces and meets the very highest levels of specification in line with the Scottish Intensive Care Society guidance and clinical standards for intensive care units.

The first patient passed through the doors in February and the unit will provide the highest standards of care for the most critically unwell patients following illness or surgery and who need various types of life and organ support.

John Brown said: “I was delighted to have been asked to officially open this new Intensive Care Unit.

“I am confident that these new facilities will significantly enhance the quality of care and available for patients, families and staff, both in the immediate future and in the years come.

“The unit looks spectacular in design and the air of space, light and calm will be of great comfort to pateitns and families at such an anxious time.”

The old Intensive Care Unit (ICU) opened initially as a High Dependency Unit in 1986 and ten years later evolved into an ICU.

The initial space and design posed limitations to service development over the years and despite the challenges the care and services provided in the old unit were known for excellence in patient and family focused care.

In 2016 the Board supported a £5 million investment to replace the old ICU and work got underway in 2017. The first patient passed through the doors on the 19^th February this year.

15/04/2019/by Brian McGuire

8-year-old- Malcolm Tarbert has raised more than £400 for St. Vincent’s Hospice in a very unique way – by wearing shorts every single day since September 2018.

Malcolm, a pupil from Ralston Primary School, decided to support the local charity after they took care of his Grandpa and always made him feel welcome when he came to visit. After seeing a similar idea on television, he took up the challenge and lasted an incredible 181 days through the Scottish winter wearing shorts every day to raise sponsor money.

Malcolm’s Mum, Abigail Tarbert, said: “We are so proud of Malcolm. Honestly, it has been all him! When he first said he was going to wear shorts every day, we just assumed he would lose interest, so we just left it to see if it fizzled out. It didn’t – all through winter and right into spring, he was adamant he was wearing shorts for the Hospice.

“St. Vincent’s looked after his Grandpa towards the end of his life, and we all remember how welcome and comfortable we were made to feel any time we came in to visit him. The place holds a special place in all of our hearts, we already have a tree and a brick on the Woodland Walk in his memory. Malcolm decided he wanted to do something on his own and he’s already trying to think of what else he can do for his next ‘challenge’…I heard something about breaking a world record, but we’ll take it one at a time.”

St. Vincent’s Hospice is a specialist provider of palliative and Hospice care for people and families across Renfrewshire who are affected by life-limiting conditions. This includes bereavement support for relatives, as well as children and young people who have suffered the loss of a loved one.

Fundraiser for St. Vincent’s Hospice, Laura McDade, said: “We are all so impressed by Malcolm and his dedication to raising money for our Hospice. For someone who is just eight to already understand how important the work we do is, and feel connected enough to our services to get sponsors and stick to a challenge for so long is amazing!

“Every year, it costs nearly £2.5 million every year to run our Hospice, and donations like this go directly towards offering real care and support for local people who are going through some very difficult times. On behalf of all of us, thank you Malcolm!”

For more information on how you can support St. Vincent’s Hospice, visit: www.SVH.co.uk.

15/04/2019/by Brian McGuire

Inspiring supporters of the Team Up to Clean Up campaign have been recognised at the Provost’s Community Awards for their work in the community.

The awards set out to reward the unsung heroes within Renfrewshire who go above and beyond for their community and taking home the Community Group and Community Volunteer awards were Pals of the Privies and Heather Clisset respectively.

Pals of the Privies are a volunteer group who set out with the mission of reclaiming Glencoats Park for the community and making it a welcoming area for young and old alike.

Pals of the Privies (1)

They transformed the park from a seldom used green space into a thriving family park, achieving this by embracing the Team Up to Clean Up campaign through improving the appearance of the park and keeping it litter free.

Community events have been held in the park, primary school classes can now take place there and it is a haven for older people and dog walkers, with new benches installed for elderly residents.

Karen Campbell, Pals of the Privies, said: “Pals of the Privies all began with a simple litter pick, never did we think it would have grown to what it is now.

“Team Up to Clean up was a major part of our work from providing equipment to uplifts of large amounts of vegetation and Nicola and all the team have been a godsend, going out of their way to answer our queries or concerns.

“Winning the Provost’s Community Group Award has been a real boost to our group, giving us all some recognition and a sense of appreciation for what we are doing.”

Heather Clissett

Heather Clisset has been carrying out litter picks for more than nine years to keep her area clean and is a big supporter of the Team Up to Clean Up campaign.

She created the Erskine Community Garden which hosts community events and gives a safe place to rest and play, and the garden received the second highest ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ award from national environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful.

She has worked closely with Keep Scotland Beautiful to carry out pilot projects, including providing dog fouling bags on walking routes to measure the difference in dog mess left behind and has recently become one of the anchor groups for the ‘Upstream Battle’ campaign.

Heather said: “It was truly humbling to be chosen as the Provost’s Community Volunteer Award winner.

“The work the Erskine Community Garden is a full community effort regardless of what we do, whether in the garden or litter picks, we work as a team to make our community better for everyone.

“When Team Up to Clean Up started, this was something we very much wanted to be part of as the idea of joining with like-minded individuals in Renfrewshire meant we could support, encourage and lend practical help to each other.

“The friendships and links we’ve made with other groups are invaluable.”

The Team Up to Clean Up campaign has benefited from a £2.5million investment in Renfrewshire’s local environment which has seen an increased programme of road sweeping, drain clearing, litter picking and an enhanced Rapid Response Team.

The investment has also facilitated local communities to undertake litter picks by providing them with gloves, litter pickers, bags and hoops, as well as the support of the council’s Wardens Service and StreetScene team who remove all rubbish following the completion of the litter pick.

Councillor Cathy McEwan, Depute Provost and Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “I’m delighted that both Heather and the Pals of the Privies were recognised at the Community Awards this year and they are both fully deserving of the recognition for the fantastic work they have done.

“They are prime examples of what the Team Up to Clean Up campaign is all about as they take pride in the local community and want to make it a brighter place for everyone to live and work in.

“The difference made to Glencoats Park is extraordinary and Heather has had the same impact within Erskine, and it’s great to see the local community reaping the benefits.

“We’re working hard through the campaign to make Renfrewshire a cleaner, nicer place to live, work and visit and thanks to inspiring people like these, we are making a real difference.”

The awards were chosen by a judging panel made up of the Provost, the award sponsors and various elected members from across all political parties.

For more information on the campaign, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/teamuptocleanup or join the dedicated Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/teamuptocleanup.

12/04/2019/by Brian McGuire

Erskine Veterans will enjoy many day trips this summer in a new seven seater VW Caddy vehicle generously donated to the charity by Paisley company Excel Environmental.
Excel’s Iain Wright and George Mcgregor visited The Erskine Home in Bishopton this week to hand over the vehicle’s keys to the charity’s Chief Executive Ian Cumming and residents Peter Knowles and Lillias Holmes.

The availability of resident transport has a significant impact upon the quality of life of Erskine Veterans, supporting independence and reducing isolation by facilitating social contact with fellow residents, family, friends, volunteers and staff. Robert Swan, Support Services and Transport Manager at Erskine said: “There won’t be a day goes by when we don’t use this Caddy. It will make an enormous difference to the service we provide to our Veterans. From helping to grant smaller groups of Veterans their Wishes, such as going to the Falkirk Wheel or a day trip to Largs, to more routine trips like hospital and dental appointments. It will also be a great help for transporting Veterans who live at home, to and from our Activity Centre.”

Chief Executive Ian Cumming MBE said: “We are immensely grateful to Iain and his colleagues at Excel Environmental for their extremely generous donation of this wonderful vehicle. Having this new mode of transport will ensure our Veterans continue to maximise and enjoy an active quality of life within the local community.” Excel Environmental is one of Scotland’s leading independent pest management and hygiene companies established in 2000. They service both domestic and
commercial customers. Speaking about the donation Iain Wright said: “All the staff here at Excel are immensely proud to be involved with this donation to Erskine”.

11/04/2019/by Brian McGuire

815 sqft office to let at Mirren Court Three, Renfrew Road, Paisley with car parking!
Ideal as an office for 6/7 people.
The office consists of two rooms which benefit from central heating, double glazing and shared tea prep area.

Call 0141 843 4211 to arrange a viewing or visit our website atwww.dpgroup.org.uk to get more details.

10/04/2019/by Brian McGuire

Aesthetic suites have teamed up with one of the biggest finance companies to be able to offer easy payment plans with Payl8r.

We have noticed an increase in treatments plans instead of individual treatments which can be costly and damaging to the bank account…especially with wedding parties.

In the coming few days there will be a link to our partner showing different payment plans available to you to help spread the cost and get that desired look we all aspire to have.

10/04/2019/by Brian McGuire

Volunteers from local community group Erskine Community Garden were joined by Police Scotland’s Youth Volunteers as they tackled discarded litter in one of Renfrewshire’s top beauty spots.

In the shadow of the Erskine Bridge, more than thirty volunteers joined forces to clear the sand and surrounding areas of litter as they showed their support for Renfrewshire’s Big Spring Clean events.

Organiser Heather Clisset, Erskine Community Garden, said: “This was the fourth litter pick organised by Erskine Community Garden this year already and we had around thirty people aged six to sixty, and even some dogs, taking part, as well as the wonderful Police Scotland Youth Volunteers.

“The Big Spring Clean is a great way of getting involved in helping make a difference not just to the local community, but the wider community of Renfrewshire as even though we are working as teams in different towns, we’re part of a bigger picture working to make Renfrewshire cleaner and more attractive to live and work.”

More than 50 community clean ups have been arranged throughout April as part of the Big Spring Clean by community groups, schools, businesses and even lone volunteers.

Part of the wider Team Up to Clean Up campaign, it aims to encourage local people to take pride in their area and change the behaviour of those who think it is acceptable to drop litter.

Councillor Cathy McEwan, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “We’re working hard as a council to match the fantastic work that our communities are undertaking with our increased programme of road sweeping, gully cleaning and litter picking.

“We want to improve the cleanliness of Renfrewshire which is why we’ve made such a significant investment in this campaign over the next five years and it outlines our commitment to making a difference.

“The work carried out by the team in Erskine is brilliant and there are groups and volunteers across Renfrewshire who are doing inspiring things to make their communities better.

“We’ll continue to strive to make Renfrewshire a brighter, more attractive place to live, work and visit and we’re delighted to have the support of our communities to achieve this.”

The Team Up to Clean Up campaign has benefitted from a £2.5million investment in Renfrewshire’s local environment which has seen an increased programme of road sweeping, drain clearing, litter picking and an enhanced Rapid Response Team.

The investment has also facilitated local communities to undertake litter picks by providing them with gloves, litter pickers, bags and hoops, as well as the support of the council’s Wardens Service and StreetScene team who remove the collected rubbish at the end.

All interested volunteers are invited to any of the arranged litter picks and are free to turn up on the day to take part, as well as being able to arrange their own by contacting the council directly.

For more information on Renfrewshire’s Big Spring Clean, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/BigSpringClean2019 or call 0300 300 1375, or for the campaign, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/TeamUptoCleanUp

09/04/2019/by Brian McGuire

THE big-hearted team at intu Braehead has made sure youngsters from a disadvantaged background get a chocolate Easter egg this year.

The shopping and leisure destination has donated more than 200 Easter eggs to Renfrewshire Foodbank for distribution to kids who otherwise might not have received the chocolate treat this year.

Peter Beagley, the regional centre director with responsibility for intu Braehead personally delivered the Easter eggs to the foodbank’s warehouse, in Renfrew.

And he took the time to hear about the vital work of the volunteers there in helping feeding families who can barely afford food for their children and themselves.

Peter said: “As we’re coming up to Easter many parents and carers won’t be able to afford to buy a chocolate egg for their children, which is something that many better-off people just take for granted.

“We don’t want children to feel left out when all their friends are talking about the Easter egg they got, so we decided to buy all these Easter eggs and give them to the good people at Renfrewshire Foodbank.

“The chocolate eggs will now be distributed to children who, through no fault of their own, wouldn’t get an Easter egg this year.”

Renfrewshire Foodbank manager, Elizabeth Alexander said: “We can’t thank intu Braehead enough for this kind gesture.

“This will mean so much to a child who otherwise wouldn’t have been given an Easter egg.

“They will see their friends getting Easter eggs and they can feel very left out and disappointed if they don’t get a chocolate egg as well.

“And it will also be a relief for the parents that their child will get an Easter egg.”

08/04/2019/by Brian McGuire