Families First Team for Gallowhill, Paisley

Families in the Gallowhill area of Paisley are being invited to celebrate the launch of their very own Families First Team on Friday 24 June.

from left to right: Craig Callery (Left),Elizabeth Cannon, Margaret McGrory,Pamela McKechan, Mairead O’Keefe, Penny Ralston, Elizabeth McInally (Right)

A fun-packed day is planned including: face painting, cooking demonstrations, Book Bug reading activities and arts and crafts. Reflecting the serious side of the Families First programme, the new team will also be on hand to give advice on: employment issues, helping people get all the benefits that they are entitled to and how to reduce energy bills.

The event runs from 10am till 2pm at the Gallowhill Community Centre on Netherhill Road, Paisley. Refreshments are available.

Families First is Renfrewshire Council’s pioneering neighbourhood-based programme. It was set up as part of the council’s drive to boost early years intervention and support for families. The programme was launched in November 2013 in Linwood and Ferguslie.

The new Gallowhill Families First team is one of three new teams, the others are in Foxbar and Johnstone, set up following a £1m investment from the council’s Tackling Poverty Fund. This will bring the number of core teams in Renfrewshire to five.

Councillor Jacqueline Henry, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Education and Children Policy Board, said, “Families First has been independently evaluated by Glasgow University. That evaluation found that the Linwood and Ferguslie core teams have had a ‘profound impact’ on the lives of local families.

“The teams have helped improve relationships between children and their parents and increased the chances of local people getting back into work or higher education.

“The Gallowhill team will provide local families with the same help with real-world issues from which those living in Linwood and Ferguslie currently benefit.”