It’s a time to reflect

I hope that everyone in Renfrewshire South has a lovely Christmas and is looking forward to welcoming a New Year – and the start of a new decade – filled with joy and opportunity.

As well as a time for celebration, this is also a time to reflect and to help those who may be alone at this time of year. I would encourage all in Renfrewshire South to offer compassion and support to vulnerable neighbours and those who are without their loved ones this Christmas.

We are lucky to have so many groups and organisations across Renfrewshire South working tirelessly all year for the good of our communities, and I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who gives their time to these positive causes.

I’d like to thank everyone from who took part in my 2019 Christmas card competition, which this year had a theme of “What Christmas means to you”. It was great to receive so many responses and I was hugely impressed by the wealth of talent and creativity on display in our local primary schools.

As we move into another period of wintry weather it is also important to thank members of the health and emergency services, postal workers and everyone working over the festive period doing everything they can to serve our communities – especially in difficult conditions.

So, as we enjoy the festivities and look to the future, let’s start the decade as we mean to go on – with a spirit of inclusivity and optimism.