Renfrewshire residents who are saving lives with mental health support, delivering end of life wishes and tackling social isolation were last week thanked for their efforts.
A number of community groups and individuals were recognised for their contribution to their communities at the 2023 Provost’s Community Awards.
Kickin’ On, Diane Mitchell, Lesley Compston, Suzanne Stevenson, Kirsteen Jamieson and Michael Shearer were named the winners of the awards organised by Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron.
Provost Cameron said they were all making the area a better place to live, work and play.
David McKenna established suicide prevention group Kickin’ On just weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
It was named community organisation of the year at the awards ceremony on Friday.
The organisation first used football sessions as a means to draw young men struggling with mental health problems and addiction to a support network.
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Three years later, the group has established its own mental health hub in Linwood which offers that same life-saving, judgement-free peer support to people from all walks of life.
Many of the people who attend the group credit it with saving their lives.
David told the Express: “Winning this award is something we don’t take for granted. To get this type of recognition and the fact the nominations are from people who have come along to our group and felt it has helped is something I am extremely proud of and spurs me on to continue doing what we do.”
Diane Mitchell, who has run music lessons and workshops in Paisley for a decade, took home the arts and culture
award.
The owner of the Diane Mitchell School of Music was recognised for her success in using music to tackle social isolation and loneliness.
She said she was delighted that her most recent initiatives, the Music Cafe and Intergenerational Music Cafe had been highlighted by the provost as successful programmes.
Diane said: “I was really surprised and really quite overwhelmed when I heard.
“You do these things never expecting to be recognised for it, but it was lovely to receive the award.
“On the night it was lovely to meet all of the other winners and getting to hear about what they had done. I will never forget it.”
At the awards ceremony on Friday, further accolades were handed out to Lesley Compston who recovered the carers award, Suzanne Stevenson who received the community volunteer award, Kirsteen Jamieson who received the employee of the year award and Michael Shearer who took the sports award gong.
Lesley is one of the founders of KLAS Care in Linwood, which now provides regular care to nearly 300 children in Linwood and Johnstone.
She also takes on a caring role for her father, and previously for her mother who sadly passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2022.
Michael is chairman of Renfrew FC youth and girls community football club.
He has been pivotal in growing the club through recruiting volunteers and bringing in sponsorship and funding that makes the club more accessible to young people and children in the Renfrew area.
Kirsteen works for Renfrewshire Council’s adult and family learning service, delivering lifelong and accessible training to people across Renfrewshire.
Kirsteen, who was formally a learner herself, is truly passionate about her job and loves nothing more than seeing people progress and achieve things they would never have dreamed possible.
Suzanne is the founder of Wedding Wish Makers – a non-profit organisation that organises and funds weddings for couples where one partner has had a terminal diagnosis.
Suzanne spends hours of her own time finding and organising suppliers across Scotland to enable the couples she is supporting to have the day of their dreams.
The award winners were invited to a special ceremony at Ingliston Country Club in Bishopton after being chosen from outstanding nominations submitted by their peers in the local community.
Renfrewshire’s provost Ms Cameron was joined by comperè Gina McKie to help celebrate the achievements of the winners,.
She said: “The community awards recognises those who really go the extra mile to make Renfrewshire a better place without looking for reward or recognition.
“As the provost, I meet hundreds of inspiring people and groups every year and it never ceases to amaze me that there is so much fantastic work going on throughout Renfrewshire.
“These winners were all nominated by their own communities, and I’m honoured to be able to reward them for their dedication and commitment.
“Congratulations to all our winners, your hard work does not go unnoticed.”
The Provost’s Community Awards were established in 1997 by former Provost Nancy Allison and have been continued by each subsequent provost, recognising more than 100 people for their devotion to their communities.
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