Paisley Daily Express Column

Paisley Daily Express Column - 3 March 2010

SUPPORT TO FIND EMPLOYMENT

It was seeing the effects of unemployment in the early 1980’s – with the closure of the Linwood Car Plant – that first drew me into politics. So I am proud of the new steps that the government has taken towards supporting job seekers to get into employment through these tough economic times.

I am very aware of how the devastating consequences of long-term unemployment which can often lead to isolation, depression and other health and social issues.

So the government has pledged more help for people who have lost their jobs as well as a top up payment scheme to ensure that people will be financially better off by working rather than simply claiming benefits.

And in particular, it’s vitally important that young people are given a chance to get into employment so that they can avoid the bitter cycle of worklessness.

That’s why these latest initiatives are so important.

The Young Person’s Guarantee which offers specialised one-to-one support for 18-24 year old job seekers.

And younger people aged 16-17 will also be given extra support to get into work through access to Local Employment Partnership vacancies.

I really hope that these new initiatives help to get local unemployed young people here in Renfrewshire into work. Unemployment is never a price worth paying.

GREAT NEWS ON THE GAELIC MOD

The news last week that the Royal national Mod is coming to Paisley in 2013 if great news for the town. It’s no secret that I don’t see eye to eye with Renfrewshire Council on every issue but I willingly lent my support to the bid because I could see the potential benefits for Paisley.

Now all those efforts have paid off with the news from An Comunn Gàidhealach – the Mod’s governing body that Paisley is to host the popular festival.

It’s a first for Paisley and builds on the huge success of the Paisley Choral Festival.

So here’s to the 2013 Mod…a warm welcome awaits.

ALL CHANGE IN COTTON STREET

When I was in the town centre at the weekend I took the chance to have a look at the demolition underway at the old Renfrewshire Council HQ.

I have to admit I’ve never been a fan of the modernist architecture of the old building which I always felt was a blot on the town centre landscape.

So I welcome the prospect of its redevelopment in this prime site overlooking the Abbey.

It’s expected that the new development will create 137 residential apartments – which can only be good news too for our town centre. So the demolition underway can and should be followed by a better successor – for the site and the town centre.

READING IN RENFREWSHIRE!

Tomorrow is World Book Day 2010, the biggest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK.

World Book Day is a really worthwhile event and has made some great achievements in the 15 years since it began.

The aim of the day is to encourage people, both young and old, to appreciate the pleasure that can be had from a good book.

I have always been an avid reader myself and I am glad to hear that World Book Day has been so successful in improving access to books for thousands of children and young people all over the country.

Since World Book Day began, over 120 million World Book Day £1 book tokens have been distributed to school children across the world.

Schools have to register to get involved and I’d encourage as many local primary and secondary schools as possible to take part. To find out more just go online to www.worldbookday.com