Recent News
CSI:Williamwood
Analysing the deadly poison that was administered to the murder victim fell to Morven Macdonald (11) of Carolside Primary, Molly Gibson (11) of Netherlee Primary and Rose Bissett (12) Carolside Primary.
There was a ‘murrrrrder’ up at Williamwood High last week and over 300 youngsters on their summer break from maths, French and physics lessons got together to spend the day learning how a crime investigation team goes about solving a murder.
The summer science academy, run by East Renfrewshire Council and Strathclyde University aims to let the children who will step up to secondary schools after the summer holidays, to work together and to take part in hands on workshop sessions.
Prime suspect Johnny Reptile was interrogated by this group of youngsters.
Classrooms were transformed into the crime scene, fingerprinting area, forensic laboratories and interrogation rooms, where murder suspects, such as punk rocker Johhny Reptile, underwent a grilling by groups of youngsters.
The children who came from many of East Renfrewshire’s primary schools were assisted by sixth year pupils and teachers who gave up their time to act as mentors.
Further science sessions will take place at Woodfarm High School, Thornliebank from Tuesday 28 to Thursday 30 July, and from Monday 4 to Thursday 6 August at St Luke’s High School, Barrhead.
Checking out the crime scene.
Education convener Councillor Alan Lafferty said: “These sessions offer the children an imaginative way of learning about science in a very practical way. They were having fun but they were also learning about many aspects of police work such as finger printing and forensic science.”
Urban soles
The Urban Soles team
Local entrepreneurs listened to a presentation by some young ‘sole traders’ recently at an East Renfrewshire business networking event in Eastwood House.
Mearns Castle High School Young Enterprise Team Urban Soles were nominated Renfrewshire Company of the Year 2009 and went forward to the Young Enterprise Awards national finals in the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow in June.
The youngsters explained how they formed Urban Soles last year which designs and produces a distinctive range of high quality and originally designed plimsolls and other leisure footware.
The team also produced a catalogue of the range of shoes and the set designs. Customers are allowed to make orders for personalised shoes by having their name incorporated into the design. All Urban Soles shoes are waterproof.
By mid May 2009 £838 worth of shoes had been sold making an operating profit of £260.
The 17 strong team were involved in a variety of fundraising events since the start of the school year including a Halloween Ball for senior pupils and they held sales events at parents evenings, attended a trade fair at Braehead and ran a regular weekly stall in school on Friday lunchtimes.
One of their products Ugg boots were sold on Ebay for £70.
An example of their product
One of Urban Soles’ two managing directors, Sam Green, said: “Perhaps our biggest achievement was in eventually recognising that our company was in danger of disintegrating through our failure to correctly define our market, to work together as a team and to accept individual responsibility for selling the shoes. However, in February this year we tackled the problems head on and team began to gel.”
Fellow managing director, Ben Carroll said: “We have had our ups and downs but it has been worth it and it has been a huge learning curve for all of us. Wee all glad we took part and fully intend to use and develop the many skills we learned over the past year into our future studies.
“We are still trading very successfully earning more profits and continuing to satisfy our customers.”
One of the team Nayab Ahmed has even applied to a college in London to study shoe design.
Council and government agreement
Councillor Jim Flecther at the McCready family centre
For the council and schools Minister Keith Brown have signed the single outcome agreement that sets out the areas that the council will work on over the next year.
And, in East Ren, that agreement aims to make sure residents feel safer; more school leavers go on to education training and jobs; fewer people suffer from ill-health and household waste recycling continues to increase.
These are some of the aims of East Renfrewshire’s annual update of its single outcome agreement, the blueprint agreed with the Scottish Government which says that the council is trusted to identify and meet local needs while working within the broad parameters set by the government.
Council leader Councillors Jim Fletcher said: “Our agreement with the Scottish Government has been fine-tuned and our plan sets realistic challenges in the current financial climate while remaining ambitious to improve the quality of life of all our residents as well as boosting the local economy.”
Minister for Schools and Skills Keith Brown said: “I welcome East Renfrewshire Council’s Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) which sets out what it will aim to deliver and achieve in the next year to provide quality services to its people, including how it will work with the Scottish Government to support them and the local economy during the current economic downturn.
Councillor Jim Flecther and Minister for Schools and Skills Keith Brown signing the agreement.
“The SOA, which helps underpin the new relationship we have with local government through the Concordat, reflects East Renfrewshire’s strong approach to outcome-based partnership working - not only aligned with national commitments but reflecting the needs of the area. A great example of this is the McCready Family Centre which I had the opportunity to visit today.
“I now look forward to working with East Renfrewshire in implementing this agreement to help deliver the more successful Scotland which we all want to see.”
The plan has been agreed by councillors and was prepared by the council and its community planning partners including Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and Langside, Reid Kerr and Cardonald Colleges.
TV star Dougie Henshall goes green in Barrhead
One of Barrhead’s most famous sons will return to help the town promote green issues.
For Primeval star Dougie Henshall, born and raised in the East Renfrewshire town, is set to visit Barrhead’s first ever Go Greener Family Day on Saturday 11 July.
And he’ll be joined by local hero Smeato, John Smeaton.
The Go Greener Family Day is at Barrhead Sports Centre and is set to get locals sizzling for summer with a beach party including sand complete with buckets and spades, bouncy castle and slide, puppet show and live music.
It is on Saturday 11 July from noon to 4pm and promotes health and environment messages. As part of this, there will also be free fruit, a climbing wall, a surfboard rider, sumo suits wrestling and wildlife exhibits.
Other events on the day also include: Car boot sale from 10am to 1pm; Thai boxing display; bungee run and jump; energy advice; beat the goalie; chill out zone with massage, yoga and tai chi; ‘Go Barrhead’ cycling information and ‘love food hate waste stand’.
East Renfrewshire Council’s environment convener, Councillor Eddie Phillips, said: “The Go Greener Family Day is all about fun and laughter but backed with some environmental and health messages. By getting together we can all make a difference to our local environment and improve the health of our communities.
“We’re delighted that one of our most famous sons, Dougie Henshall, has agreed to join us for the Go Greener Family Day. He is a well respected actor and is a credit to his town and we look forward to welcoming him and John Smeaton to a great day out in Barrhead on 11 July.”
For more information about the event contact Eddie Phillips on 0141 571 5826 or email eddie.phillips@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk or visit the Go Greener website.
Zara secures new play equipment
Councillor Ian McAlpine (left) checks out the play area at Broomburn Drive with Zara Anderson (8) and dad Kenny Anderson.
Primary school pupil Zara Anderson is celebrating after securing more than £9,000 worth of play equipment and safer surfacing for the play area in Broomburn Drive, Newton Mearns.
For eight year old Zara replied to a call from area forum convener and local councillor Ian McAlpine. As chair of the Newton Mearns South, Busby, Clarkston and Eaglesham area forum, he asked local residents to come forward with their ideas for improving the local area.
Councillor McAlpine, said: “Residents responded to the challenge to come forward with ideas to improve our area. We were delighted at the area forum to welcome Zara and her mum along to let us know about her ideas for the play area at Broom shops.
“Like all of the projects that came forward from local residents they were examined and judged on their merits and whether they would improve the community we live in. I have been delighted by the response from Zara and the many others in the community who took the time to bring forward their ideas. Every one of them has helped to improve our area.”
Zara’s mum, Kathryn Borland, said: “This has been a valuable learning opportunity for Zara and I have been impressed by the response she has had. I’d like to thank Councillor McAlpine and the area forum for listening to her and involving her in this process.”
A vision for Neilston
The villagers of Neilston present Council leader Jim Fletcher with the document
The residents of Neilston descended on Eastwood Park Theatre last week to formally hand over their charter for the future of their village to East Renfrewshire Council’s leader Councillor Jim Fletcher.
The colourful and detailed 80 page document describes and illustrates the process of creating a charter for Scotland’s first renaissance town.
Created by the residents of Neilston it documents their 20 year vision on how to inject new life into their village.
The charter was produced by the Neilston Town Team, East Renfrewshire Council, the Glasgow Urban Laboratory Macintosh School of Architecture, GSA, Architecture and Design Scotland and Urban Design Skills. The work was also supported by Barrhead Housing Association, the Lighthouse, SUST and the Development Trusts Association Scotland.
Alan Walker and Katie Robertson of the Neilston Town Team gave passionate speeches on what living in the village meant to them
Although similar renaissance projects have been undertaken in the USA, Australia and in the Yorkshire towns of Wakefield, Doncaster and Scarborough, this is the first of its kind in Scotland.
The renaissance town movement is led by Alan J Simpson, professor of architecture and urbanism at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, who has a wealth of experience in urban design and planning.
Professor Simpson said: “This initiative seeks to help bring about a revival of the village and at the heart of the renaissance is the fundamental belief in the value of local empowerment.
“A need is recognised to more fully engage and empower local communities in order to release their latent skills, knowledge and desire to improve their towns or villages as places to live, invest and visit.
“The renaissance project involves asking the community what they want for their village or town. It aims to leave a legacy of something better for future generations and to make people proud of their community.”
Councillor Jim Fletcher with members of the Neilston Town Team, Professor Simpson, Danny McKendry, principal regeneration officer at East Renfrewshire Council and councillors Elaine Green, Charlie Gilbert and Tony Buchanan who represent Neilston in Ward 1
Pauline Gallacher, of Neilston Village Regeneration Group, said: “The aim of this initiative is to create a new Neilston. It’s all about looking forward and to make the village a better place to live in and to create a good quality of life for its residents.”
“And the local people will have a real say in what their village will become. The Neilston charter is a clear outline of what the community wants and where it should be headed.”
Councillor Tony Buchanan said: “The renaissance town movement has proven its success in Yorkshire and this could be a real opportunity to make a lasting difference to Neilston.
“The people of Neilston have embraced the concept of re-designing their town by combining the history and heritage of the village with a vision of modernisation and sustainable economic growth. Ultimately the success has been resulting collaboration and support of the local community in discussing our collective future.
“The charter is not a fixed text but instead a living document that will grow and develop in accordance with future generation’s wants and needs.”
On accepting the charter Councillor Fletcher said he would certainly sit down and read through what he could see was a most impressive document. He acknowledged the hard work that had gone in to producing the charter.
Councillor in summer water safety plea
A strong plea for water safety over the summer has gone out from Councillor Charlie Gilbert, newly nominated by East Renfrewshire to serve on the Scottish Accident Prevention Council’s water and leisure committee.
Councillor Gilbert who is already East Renfrewshire’s rep on SAPC’s road safety committee said: “I am very pleased to represent East Renfrewshire on the water and leisure committee and I make a strong, seasonal plea to everyone who uses lochs, sea lochs, beaches, rivers or swimming pools to be extremely careful over the summer. There have been a considerable number of tragic deaths by drowning recently and taking care is vital. In East Renfrewshire we have a large number of small lochs and larger reservoirs and no one should ever attempt to swim in them as a combination of extremely cold fresh water and treacherous under-water surfaces makes them potential death traps. I appeal to all parents to help us drive that message home and would like to remind all East Renfrewshire residents to enjoy water sports safely when on holiday.”
Boundary thumbs down
East Renfrewshire Council says that Barrhead, Neilston and Uplawmoor should stay within East Renfrewshire for Holyrood elections and that the constituency, currently known as ‘Eastwood’ should be renamed ‘East Renfrewshire.’
Councillors have voted by 10 votes to seven in favour of formally responding to the Boundary Commission rejecting its proposal to transfer Barrhead, Neilston and Uplawmoor to a new South Renfrewshire constituency.
Council leader Councillor Jim Fletcher said: “The council has already made its views known and we will be telling the Boundary Commission that the area should remain intact for Holyrood elections. The people of Barrhead, Neilston and Uplawmoor have made it very clear that they do not wish to be removed from our area for Holyrood elections.”
The Boundary Commission proposals do not affect the council boundaries or the Westminster East Renfrewshire constituency which remain unaltered.
Calling time on street drinkers
Calling time on street drinkers has moved a step closer in East Renfrewshire with a new council byelaw being sent to Scottish Ministers for final approval.
Councillors voted unanimously to replace an existing bye-law banning drinking in public places with one making it illegal to have an opened alcohol container in public.
Council leader Councillor Jim Fletcher said: “We received no objections to the new bye-law during the statutory consultation period and the bye-law is now with Scottish Ministers for final sign-off. We believe that the new approach will make a significant contribution to reducing alcohol-related public disorder.”
Under the existing 1998 bye-law police can impose a £40 fine on anyone caught drinking in public. The new law means that tickets can be issued to anyone with an open alcohol container. Ten fixed penalty tickets are issued every week in East Renfrewshire at present.
Top award for homelessness service
Left to right: Grace Scott, Anne Pickering, Martin McNelis and Jennifer Gray
Homelessness services at East Renfrewshire Council has been awarded a prestigious Customer Service Excellence accreditation.
The service was assessed through interviews with clients who had used the service, partners who work with the homelessness team, and the team’s staff and senior managers.
A commitment to customer service from the homelessness team was found from management level through to front line staff.
Among other areas the service was praised for:
Being proactive in telling potential customers, such as school leavers about the help it can offer through presentations.
Homelessness staff taking account of individual needs and attempting to house people in their area of choice.
Staff building a good rapport with customers.
The service provides temporary and permanent accommodation, advice and assistance to between 300 to 400 homeless each year.
Councillor Devlin, convener for housing and construction services said: “This award shows the residents of East Renfrewshire that we place them at the heart of our service and our homelessness team is a real example of public service excellence in action.
“We take homelessness very seriously and actively work towards preventing it happening in the first place, and fully support those people who unfortunately do find themselves homeless, to get back on their feet. We will be working to maintain this status and also to extend it to the whole of housing services.”
Customer Service Excellence is the government’s new standard. It replaces the Charter Mark scheme but is more challenging as it now includes culture and ethos and a strong customer focus.
Customer Service Excellence is a UK wide initiative which is managed by the Cabinet Office.
If anyone is worried they may be at risk of homelessness, or is currently homeless they should get in touch with the team, who will be able to give support and help. Call 0141 577 3001 during office hours, or dial freephone 0800 052 0180 out with office hours.