Elderslie

Young people and staff from Gleniffer High School got the chance to meet the Scottish Government’s Minister for Mental Health as she paid a visit to the school as part of Children’s Mental Health Week.

Gleniffer High

Pupils and staff spoke with Clare Haughey about the different ways the school are supporting pupils and highlighting the importance of mental health across the whole school community.

Improving the health and wellbeing of pupils is a significant part of Renfrewshire’s Attainment Challenge Strategy, and Gleniffer High School are adopting a school-wide nurture approach, focusing on whole school activities and a programme of both staff and peer-led wellbeing support.

Head-teacher at Gleniffer, Lisa Chalmers has used Pupil Equity Funding, part of the £750 million Attainment Scotland Fund, to create posts within the school targeted at closing the poverty related attainment group through support and nurture.

Gleniffer High

She said:

“We have a number of staff who have volunteered to take on extra responsibility, working with our S1 pupils and interviewing them using health and wellbeing indicators. They are on hand to offer advice when needed and can report back to our Pastoral Support team if there are any issues.

“We were also able to use the Pupil Equity Fund to bring in a second Transition Teacher, working with target pupils in S1 who may be struggling and supporting them in core subjects such as maths and literacy.”

Gleniffer High

The success of the peer-led Hearty Lives group has also helped raise awareness of mental health in a positive and engaging manner within the school, and the group run a lunchtime hub promoted as a safe place where all pupils are welcome.

Gleniffer High

Minister for Mental Health Clare Haughey said:

“Gleniffer is a great example of the how we can support the wellbeing of our children and young people by bringing together their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.

“It’s crucial that children and young people are supported at important junctures such as their transition in and beyond schools.

“This is also the approach we are putting in place through our Programme for Government, which has committed £250 million to build a world-class mental health system that works for everyone.”

Children’s Mental Health Week takes place this year from Monday 4 February to Sunday 10 February and this year is focused on taking steps to be healthy both inside and out.

Renfrewshire Council’s Young People’s Champion, Councillor Michelle Campbell, was at Gleniffer High School to meet the Minister for Mental Health and to hear from the young people about the activities taking place in the school to promote a positive mental health.

Councillor Campbell said:

“Having worked in the mental health field I firmly believe that having a good mental health as a young person is key to their development and their success in later life. I’m delighted that the young people at Gleniffer are so involved in promoting positive health and wellbeing in the school community.

“The school have implemented some excellent initiatives using Attainment Scotland funding, complementing the existing work going on in schools Renfrewshire-wide to develop and support the mental, social and emotional health of our children and young people.”

08/02/2019/by Brian McGuire

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08/02/2019/by Brian McGuire

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Council Leader praises social care support

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson has praised Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership staff for their care and compassion in supporting service users, carers and families at West Lane Gardens and Whitehaugh.

iain nicolson

Capability Scotland confirmed in July 2017 it was ending these services in Johnstone and Paisley, which support adults with learning disabilities.

Renfrewshire Council provided funding to March 2019 to enable them to continue while Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership staff worked closely with everyone affected to examine all available service and care options.

Personalised plans are now in place based on assessed service user individual care needs and the HSCP is extending its highly-regarded Community Networks service, in response to discussions with carers and their family members.

Community Networks helps people with learning disabilities to develop and maintain the skills they need to lead healthy, safe lifestyles in their local communities.

A new hub will be established in Johnstone and capacity extended at Spinners Gate in Paisley.

Councillor Nicolson said: “Since Capability Scotland announced its intention to end these services I know that health and social care partnership staff have been working tirelessly with individual service users to ensure staff are working to support the needs of those who accessed these services.

“We provided council funding to give additional time and space to consider all the options and listen to what service users, family members and carers wanted.

“Everyone has a personalised assessment and budget and I’m pleased to see that almost all those who used the services and their carers have now agreed on a support plan which will enable them meet their needs and pursue activities and interests that are important to them and ensure they lead the fullest lives possible.

“Extending the community networks service into Johnstone and expanding its capacity in Paisley is an important step, recognising the high-quality care and support this service provides and responding to what service users, carers and family members want.

“It means the established relationships between service users can be maintained and I know work is ongoing to explore all staffing options, recognising the importance of familiarity for service users.”

08/02/2019/by Brian McGuire

Schoolkids were buzzing with excitement when they got up close to some giant bugs.

The youngsters from Wallace Primary School, in Elderslie visited intu Braehead to see a display of larger-than-life models of insects, including honeybees, ladybirds and grasshoppers in the shopping centre.

The Primary 3 pupils had taken part in a competition to draw their own insects and the winner, seven-year-old Max Belshaw will have his brightly-coloured bug made into a model for the school to keep. Max also won a £25 intu Gift Card.

More than 40 pupils from Wallace Primary visited Braehead to see the giant bugs and also take part in wildlife-related activities.

The Big Bugs On Tour was at intu Braehead during January before continuing a nationwide series of visits to other intu shopping centres.

The intu Big Bugs On Tour initiative is backed by naturalist Chris Packham and it aims to reconnect kids and adults to nature following a report that shows children are now better at identifying Pokemon characters than British wildlife.

Wallace Primary teacher, Lynn Stuart said: “The children loved taking part in the competition to design their own insects and they were very creative.”

Lydia Brown, intu Braehead’s community development manager said: “Our Big Bugs were certainly an attraction to visitors to the mall. Lots of people were taking photographs of youngsters beside the giant models of the insects.

“The pupils from Wallace Primary did a fantastic job designing their own insects and well done to Max for being chosen as the winner.”

Log on to www.intu.co.uk/bigbugs for more information on the Big Bugs Tour.

07/02/2019/by Brian McGuire

Join the award-winning M6 Theatre Company as they present Little Gift, a brand new family show touring to Paisley Arts Centre on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd March.

Directed by Andy Manley (White, One Little Word), one of the world’s leading theatre makers producing work for children and young people, Little Gift tells an optimistic story of friendship and hope.

Ted is a lonely old soul, living all alone in the big city. One morning his life is changed forever when a mysterious helping hand steps in and disrupts his quiet routine. This playful show presents Ted’s tale with a heart-warming mix of puppetry, live music and song.

Artistic Director of M6, Gilly Baskeyfield, created the show with Andy Manley:

“The idea for the show came from a chat with Andy about stories of redemption and helping a sad character, much like A Christmas Carol. Giving a gift is a lovely thing for both parties. It’s a way of noticing somebody and saying ‘I remember you’. ”

Little Gift is performed by actor Guy Hargreaves, who has worked previously with M6 on the original tour of their OFFIE Award-winning show Whatever the Weather. Gilly explains:

“We knew we needed a very special actor to bring Little Gift to life and we saw a number of performers for the role. Guy’s wonderful attitude, alongside his top notch clowning, dancing and musical skills make him the perfect fit. The audiences love him.”

Founded in 1977 and based in Rochdale, M6 Theatre Company is acknowledged as one of Britain’s leading touring theatre companies specialising in creating and delivering high quality theatre for young audiences. The company’s production of WHATEVER THE WEATHER (in association with Polka Theatre, created and directed by Gilly Baskeyfield) won an Off West End Theatre Award in 2016 for Best Production for Young People (0-7 years).

Little Gift is recommended for ages 3-7. Tickets cost £5 and are available from the Paisley Arts Centre box office on 0300 300 1210 or visit www.renfrewshireleisure.com/whats-on .

07/02/2019/by Brian McGuire

SOLWAY SHARKS 0 PAISLEY PIRATES 13

Pirates made short work of their hosts in a one sided affair played at the Dumfries Ice Bowl on Sunday night.

The visitors were ahead with only 31 seconds on the clock as Thorp linked with Henderson and Abercrombie to give his side a lead which they never lost, and Pirates continued to have all the pressure as they doubled their lead after 9 minutes through McLaughlin. There was only the briefest of respites for the home side until the 13th minute when Pirates scored four goals in four minutes through Johnston, Sarginson, Abercrombie and Dobson and, with two periods remaining, the game was over at 6-0 for the visitors after only one session of play, netminder Meechan being a virtual spectator, turning away only three shots while Carmichael in the home goal was given a breather after facing no fewer than 20 attempts on goal.

Solway had a slightly quieter time of it in the middle session, with Morris replacing Carmichael in the home goal, and it wasn’t until just after the halfway point that Pirates took their score to seven through Sarginson’s second goal of the evening, and with Donaghy having replaced Meechan at the away end. It looked as if the score might remain at seven to the end of the session, but with less than half a minute remaining up popped Abercrombie to net his second, and his team’s eighth, with seconds left.

In the final session, Pirates restricted themselves to scoring in bursts, Walker and Wallace netting either side of the 45th minute to take the scoring into double figures, the goals from Huber and a rare marker from Wilson rounding off the dozen in less than sixty seconds at the 50th minute. A final hat trick goal for Abercrombie two minutes later made it a very unlucky 13th goal conceded by the home side, and the easiest of victories for Pirates, a 66 shots to 12 margin telling its own story.

Pirates are on the road again this weekend, heading to the other end of the country as they take on a difficult looking fixture .in Aberdeen

PAISLEY PIRATES-PREVIEW

Fresh on the heels of their thumping 13-0 win in Dumfries against Solway last Sunday, Paisley Pirates head in the other direction this Saturday as they travel to Aberdeen for a difficult looking tie against the local Lynx. Pirates have not had the best of records at the venue in the last few years and will be looking to build upon a confidence boosting result when they go to the north east.

Coach Adam Walker said, “The team played well last time out and it was good for our guys to inject some confidence into the team and give some guys a chance to step up and claim a place in the line up. Scoring throughout the team is always a good thing so we’ll take that into Saturday’s game and hopefully put in a good performance in Aberdeen.”

Pirates are still chasing one of the top four places in the league to guarantee themselves a seeded berth in the end of season play offs, the winning of which has so far eluded the club, so every point gathered between now and the end of the season is critical if they wish to progress to the weekend tournament in early Spring in Dundee.

06/02/2019/by Brian McGuire

GLASGOW Airport is today ramping up its efforts in the battle against single-use plastic by offering staff free refillable water bottles.

More than 5,300 people work in and around the airport and each one, from pilots to aircraft engineers and cabin crew to security guards, will be encouraged to pick up one of the reusable bottles.

Pupils from a Glasgow primary school, known nationwide as anti-plastic campaigners the Sunnyside Ocean Defenders, visited the airport to help hand out the branded bottles.

Kirsty Webster, Glasgow Airport’s Sustainability Assurance Manager, said: “There’s a heightened awareness of single use plastics and the devastating effects they are having on our environment and oceans.

“As a responsible business we are committed to reducing our environmental impact. We do this by offering a number of re-usable solutions as part of our own drive to reduce single-use plastics across the airport.

“Many of our catering outlets within the terminal have already moved away from the use of plastic straws and we are keen to keep pushing this forward.

“The introduction of the reusable bottles builds on the other waste management initiatives we already have in place, including the provision of free water refill stations in the airport. Our retailers will also fill up water bottles on request.”

The Sunnyside Ocean Defenders have made the headlines nationwide through their ‘#NaeStrawAtAw’ campaign. The pupils were invited to the airport back in May last year to spread their message and highlight the many alternatives to plastic straws to our caterers, staff and passengers.

“The Sunnyside Ocean Defenders’ visit last year was really popular and I’m a huge fan of their campaign, so I was thrilled they were able to come back in again to help hand out the reusable bottles and reinforce the message,” Kirsty added.

In 2014, Glasgow Airport formed an action group involving all retailers to develop a Charter which became known as ‘Keep It Clean Behind the Scenes’. Through the Charter, more than 600 retail staff from over 30 businesses receive regular training on how to manage waste effectively and increase recycling.

Loganair cabin Crew, Jaymie Elliot and Linda McClean pictured with pupils from Sunnyside school, Artur Wrobel and Kennedy Brown.
Picture by Chris James 5/2/19

Lisa Perrie, Principal Teacher at Sunnyside Primary School, said: “The children were really excited about coming back to help support this campaign. Kirsty and the airport team deserve real credit for making what is a significant commitment to fund the introduction of more than 5000 reusable bottles for staff. It sends a powerful message that we can each take steps to help to cut down on single-use plastic.”

A single plastic bottle will take 450 years to degrade. According to Zero Waste Scotland, approximately 15,000 tonnes of plastic bottles are currently sent to landfill each year across the country.

Jill Farrell, Chief Operating Officer, Zero Waste Scotland said: “Single-use plastic bottles are one of the most recognisable symbols of the throwaway culture we live in. We applaud Glasgow Airport’s decision to hand out re-usable water bottles as these will give their staff the joy of using them again and again, while saving single-use plastic bottles from ending up in the landfill.

“If we are serious about putting an end to single-use plastic pollution, then we must find sustainable alternatives, such as re-usable water bottles, and recycle as much as we can. Eco-friendly alternatives such as these not only help to protect the environment, but also save consumers money.”

More information on all Zero Waste Scotland’s programmes can be found at https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/.

06/02/2019/by Brian McGuire

RL-Wedding-Fayre-A5-DS-Flyer-19-01-19-FINAL-1

Planning to get married will be a piece of wedding cake thanks to an event taking place at Johnstone Town Hall.

All you need when planning for the big day will be on hand at a Wedding Fayre being staged by Renfrewshire Leisure on Sunday, February 17 between 11am and 3pm.

The event will feature a wide variety of local wedding suppliers, from photographers to kiltmakers and florists to candy carts.

It will also give future brides and grooms the chance to view a wedding set-up in Johnstone Town Hall, which has hosted many such receptions.

They will also be able to experience the award-winning venue’s state-of-the-art technical facilities and have a look around the dedicated marriage suite. Free consultations will also be available with wedding co-ordinators on the day.

Visitors to the Wedding Fayre will receive a complimentary drink, a goody bag and a range of special offers and discounts.

For more information contact Renfrewshire Leisure on 0300 300 1210.

05/02/2019/by Brian McGuire

EXTERNAL PERSPECTIVE - credit CRGP Architects & Surveyors

Plans to build a state-of-the-art athletics facility in Renfrewshire have taken a step forward after councillors backed a Community Asset Transfer to Kilbarchan Amateur Athletics Club (AAC).

INTERNAL PERPSECTIVE 1 - credit CRGP Architects & Surveyors

More than 4000sqm of land will be transferred to the local club to progress plans for a £1.3million indoor facility, which would allow year-round training and be built alongside the outdoor track and field facilities at Linwood’s On-X sports centre.

The proposed indoor training centre would provide the club with:

–     a 60m running track;
–     Horizontal and vertical jumps;
–     Pole vault;
–     Indoor throws cage- including javelin;
–     Club room;
–     Strength and conditioning area

Two of the clubs most high-profile members are Olympians Callum and Derek Hawkins who represented Great Britain in the Marathon at the 2016 Rio Olympics – with Callum finishing in 9^th place.

Jim Goudie, Kilbarchan AAC Immediate Past President, said: “This development would offer us the opportunity to train in any weather, all-year-round, and make the On-X Centre a complete facility for elite and club athletes in Renfrewshire.

“We want to bring as many people we can into athletics and having this indoor facility will give people the chance to take up the sport, while keeping younger athletes from becoming disheartened with training sessions cancelled or in the pouring rain.

INTERNAL PERPSECTIVE 2 - credit CRGP Architects & Surveyors

Derek Hawkins and Callum Hawkins - Team GB

Callum and Derek Hawkins at Rio Olympics

“We’ve had four Olympians pass through our club so far and we want to give our members the best possible chance to follow in their footsteps – and this facility would do just that.”

In addition to the transfer of the land lease, the project has been allocated £500,000 by Renfrewshire Council to support the development which will provide facilities for both elite and club runners across Renfrewshire.

Councillor Iain Nicolson, Renfrewshire Council Leader, said: “We’re committed to providing opportunities for local groups and residents to make a positive difference to where they live, and the Community Asset Transfer process is one of a number of ways that communities can make their mark.

“The approval of this land transfer will allow Kilbarchan AAC to advance these exciting proposals and the successful completion of the development would significantly enhance the quality of the athletics training facilities available in Renfrewshire.

“The club have a varied membership of both elite and club level athletes and the new facility would not only support the club’s continued development and success, it would also encourage more new members to take up a healthy lifestyle and get involved in sport.”

Scottish Athletics have identified the proposal as an important project within the National Facilities Strategy- which aims to provide athletics with numerous top-class facilities throughout the country to maximise participation and increase standards of performance in all disciplines.

Head of Development for scottishathletics, Colin Hutchison, said: “scottishathletics is delighted that Renfrewshire Council has agreed a Community Asset Transfer with Kilbarchan AAC. As the governing body for athletics in Scotland we are fully behind Kilbarchan’s proposed facility development at the On-X in Linwood and are excited about the opportunities it will present for the club and athletics in Renfrewshire.

“The commitment from the club’s volunteers to get the project to this stage has been phenomenal and we are all extremely grateful to the generous funders that are contributing to the project. The facility will be vital to continue growing athletics in Renfrewshire and the indoor facility will greatly enhance the club’s capacity to develop their young athletes year-round.”

The club will now continue to identify funding opportunities to source the remaining financial support required to advance the project to the next stage.

For more information on opportunities for local people or groups in Renfrewshire, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/communityempowerment.

05/02/2019/by Brian McGuire

SCOTLAND’S top retail and leisure destination, intu Braehead has welcomed the opening of new stores creating more than 30 jobs.

Management has announced two new tenants have taken units and an existing store is tripling its retail space.

The UK’s largest independent toy retailer, The Entertainer has opened in the upper mall having taken up a unit of more than 5600 square feet bringing work for 12 new staff.

This was followed by cake, crepe and dessert outlet, The Little Dessert Shop opening a 1,600 square feet store in the adjacent Soar at intu Braehead leisure complex, which already hosts Scotland’s only indoor real snow ski slope, a multi-screen cinema, ten-pin bowling, an adventure climbing facility, the UK’s tallest indoor helix slide along with various bars and restaurants and retail outlets.

The new store will be the first Little Dessert Shop in Scotland and it has meant 20 new jobs have been created.

Fashion trainers and apparel retailer Footasylum are currently fitting out a new unit in the upper mall of the shopping centre, which will see them operating out of a 10,000 square feet unit three times the size of their present store.

Operators cite intu Braehead’s high profile and its “remarkable” catchment as reasons for opening stores there.

And intu Braehead was recently ranked as Scotland’s top shopping centre by GobalData, who measured the requirements and data from both tenants and shoppers to give a comprehensive review of the country’s shopping malls.

Donnie Macdonald, from the Little Dessert Shop said: ”The mix of retail, dining and entertainment venues at intu Braehead make it the largest and most visited shopping centre in Scotland.

“While I was looking for premises in which to open the country’s First Little Dessert Shop, availability of a space in Soar at intu Braehead presented itself as a total no-brainer.

“The centre enjoys a high profile throughout Scotland and given its enduring draw as a shopping destination, it clearly ranks high not just on local people’s radar, but also draws large numbers of tourists and visitors.

“There is literally no better location for pretty much any kind of food, shopping or leisure pursuit, given Soar at intu Braehead’s already huge popularity, which continues to be illustrated by its remarkable catchment.”

Andrew Milner-Walker, head of property at The Entertainer comments, “We are pleased to open another store at intu Braehead following the success we’ve experienced at other intu centres across the UK.

“With The Entertainer stores in a range of intu locations including Lakeside and Derby, it was a natural move for us to open in one of Scotland’s largest shopping centres.”

Peter Beagley, regional centre director with responsibility for intu Braehead said: “The team here at intu Braehead is determined to create the conditions that give retailers the best chance of successful trading.

“Our aim is to drive footfall to intu Braehead, continue to be Scotland’s number one retail and leisure destination and give people a much wider and enjoyable experience than just going to the shops when they visit us.

“Our unique mix of leisure and retail along with our creative and innovative marketing strategy certainly seems to be working for us and our retail partners.”

05/02/2019/by Brian McGuire

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