New shed can be a place for all
BY RENFREWSHIRE SOUTH MSP TOM ARTHUR
Last week I was invited along to a Winter Connections event at Castle Semple Visitor Centre to meet with some residents of Lochwinnoch and the surrounding villages.
Organised by Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust (LCDT) and facilitated by LCDT’s community development officer, Pam Shaw, the event was one in a series of meetings set up to discuss the formation of a Men’s Shed in the village.
I was pleased to see so many people from the community attend on the day and the range of life experiences and skills they all had to offer were fantastic.
Whilst all in attendance were male, they were very keen to convey their intentions to make the shed as inclusive as possible. In fact, the plans discussed were for a ‘people’s shed’ where all would be welcome.
I am acutely aware of the community benefits that sheds can provide.
In Barrhead, at the other side of my constituency, there is a long-established shed that has helped to alleviate loneliness, social isolation, mental health struggles and many more challenges for service users.
Not to mention the fact that they are just generally fun places to spend time, catch up with friends and learn new skills.
I am certain that Lochwinnoch residents will be well-served by a shed facility and I have offered them my support to help get their plans off the ground.
It was also a pleasure to welcome Linwood couple Kirsty and Lewis Cuthbert as my guests to the Scottish Parliament recently.
I had reached out to Kirsty last year to congratulate her for organising a team of family and friends to walk more than 300,000 steps during Baby Loss Awareness Month.
Together, they raised almost £1,000 for
SiMBA and Naya’s Wish charities, whilst also raising awareness of the challenges faced by families who experience the loss of a baby.
Kirsty and Lewis were able to tell me more about those challenges and relayed how I could assist as their MSP.
I have given my commitment to contact relevant council and government officers to ask that their ideas are given consideration in order to assist families who have experienced this most devastating loss.
Within my capacity as MSP for Renfrewshire South, I arranged a meeting with planning and regeneration officers from Renfrewshire Council as well as local Councillor Emma Rodden, to discuss the vacant site at McDowall Street and the general plans for the future of Johnstone town centre.
Officers are currently exploring possible regeneration opportunities within Johnstone town centre and I look forward to hearing more about this as the plans develop.
If you live in Renfrewshire South and would like assistance or advice, please do not hesitate to contact my office on 01505 331 990 or email me at tom.arthur.msp@ parliament.scot