I would like to highlight Tommy McGrory from the Loud n Proud School of Rock Paisley, as a community Champion.  Tommy has been volunteering for over 25 years and for the past 12 years has been volunteering in excess of 70 hours a week on a project here in Renfrewshire.

The initial project idea was to involve young people from all over Renfrewshire in a musical performing band which would include banner and ribbon dancing cheer-leader type flag troupe.

This was a very ambitious plan, but it soon took off.  A recruitment drive was launched within the areas of highest need in Renfrewshire and work-shop sessions were set up in these communities, young people became hooked on the drum and percussion sessions and the numbers swelled.

tommy-mcgrory

As the project developed over the years and by responding to young peoples’ needs the Loud n Proud music project added the School of Rock element which involves young people developing their musical talents on guitar, keyboards, vocals and drums as well as engaging with young people who were starting from scratch and transforming them into Rock bands. In Addition singing lessons, rock choir and glee clubs have also been added to the already various activities. The latest development has seen Tommy take on programmes to support young people furthest from the labour market.  This all takes place at the Town centre venue above the Liberal Club High Street Paisley and the West way studio complex.

The Loud n Proud School of Rock has put on free performances all over Renfrewshire at a variety of events including switching on of the festive lights as well as performing at the annual Wickerman festival in Dumfries and the ABC in Glasgow and the towns “two rivers” festivals.

The amount of voluntary hours Tommy puts in to make sure these events happen are countless and thankless, but it doesn’t stop there.

Tommy also organised two musical show case extravaganzas at the SECC, depicting the history of the Apollo which involved over a 150 young people from all around Renfrewshire including young people from a variety of youth organizations which was seen by audiences of over 3000.

As If the Apollo idea is not a big enough project to add to Tommy’s list of jobs and things to do, Tommy also project managed a large scale and very ambitious plan which would see the Loud n Proud School of Rock transform a disused building in the middle of the Westway industrial business park formerly known as (Babcock & Willcox) into a centre of musical excellence for all budding musicians especially young people and  boasts fully equipped rehearsal studios, recording studio as well as a performance venue.

Tommy works tirelessly on all aspects of this project to make sure of its continued development and success and that the young people and all those concerned have a positive and life changing experiences.

www.loudnproud.org

All information supplied by www.engagerenfrewshire.com