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8-PAGE PULLOUT INSIDE: Councillors’ information and useful numbers Domestic Abuse How to get help

Domestic abuse is a pattern of control, which can include emotional, sexual, psychological, financial and physical abuse. It affects 1 in 4 women over the course of their lives. Domestic abuse can be perpetrated by partners or ex-partners. t Domestic abuse is abusive behaviour that is usually ongoing and gets worse over time. t It is usually persistent, unwanted, abusive behaviour used to exercise control and is a misuse of power. t It may result in distress, destructive criticism, verbal abuse, injury or death. t It can affect any person of any age, background, ethnicity and social class. t Domestic abuse is not caused by stress, unemployment, poverty, alcohol, mental illness, or by those who experience the domestic abuse. t There is no excuse for domestic abuse. There are numerous services available to those who have been affected by domestic abuse: Domestic Abuse Helpline (24 Hours) 0800 027 1234 EVA Services 01236 70 77 67

Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid 0141 353 0859 (Asian, Black and Ethnic Minority Women and Children) Homeless Out of Hours Service 0800 24 20 24 Housing 0303 123 1012 Rape Crisis Helpline 01698 527 003 Men’s Advice Line 0808 801 0327 Scottish Women’s Rights Centre 08088 010 789 Social Work 0303 123 1008 101 (non emergency) / Police 999 (emergency) Victim Support 01698 30 1111 Women’s Aid 01698 891 498

Welcome Pupils embrace Confucius Hub message by Chinese language and culture Council Leader 36-37 4-5 Latest news p39 Schools on Welfare update...9 out Reform 38 of 10 pupils p8-9 learning in £5million modern accommodation 6-9 transforms hidden New bins arrangements to help hit corner into recycling targets 10-11 Cunningar Woodland Helping young people through Park 39 tough times 12 Superheroes land in South City Deal latest 13 Lanarkshire for Comic Con 40-41 Easter fun for all the family 14-15 p14-15 p36-37 Two Syrian refugee families settled in South Lanarkshire speak of their gratitude 16-17 inside Housing programme builds 600 new homes for the future 18-19 your COUNCILLORS’ INFORMATION AND reporter USEFUL NUMBERS PAGES 21-28 £126million roads investment programme on track 20

Integration of health and social New community hub enriching care brings a sense of identity 29 lives of ’s older people 42-43 Joiners nail excellent teamwork 30-31 Improving contact between customers and council 44 Animal magic at Calderglen Children’s Zoo 32-33 Holy Cross High giving girls a sporting chance 45 New ice rink at the heart of leisure development 35 East Kilbride Editor Tom Little teacher News editor James Matt Davitt 01698 453857 Cover photo David relives his Gordon Scottish Publisher Cup Communications and Strategy, South 3HUHYRZOPYL*V\UJPS*V\UJPS6MÄJLZ(STHKH dream :[YLL[/HTPS[VU436(( p32-33 46-47 www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk

DELIVERING BEST DESPITE FUNDING

ELCOME to your Budget pressures 2016 edition of The Reporter. continue to threaten We send this magazine the hard work of toW you once a year to keep you informed about the work being your local council, carried out on your behalf by South Lanarkshire Council. but services This edition is packed with articles continue to excel that highlight this work, and I hope aW]_QTTÅVLXIZ\QK]TIZTa][MN]T\PM By Eddie McAvoy, eight-page pullout in the middle, which provides a handy guide to Council Leader your councillors including details of Other articles highlight the how to contact them. IMPROVEMENTS: Roads across roll-out of our new recycling bins, AW]¼TT IT[W ÅVL \PM TI\M[\ VM_[ South Lanarkshire continue to which are not only good for the JMVMÅ\NZWUKW]VKQTQV^M[\UMV\ on the massive investment we environment but also keep us in line have made in the future of South with EU and Scottish Government Lanarkshire through our Schools A magazine like The Reporter can Modernisation Programme. As you’ll ZMO]TI\QWV[ AW]¼TTIT[W ÅVL \QX[ NWZ only tell a small part of the story, as fun activities this Spring. see on pages 6 and 7, we have there are too many council services On you’ll see created what I believe is the best pages 18 and 19 across our large geography to how our council house plans are schools estate anywhere in Europe. include them all in this publication. progressing, and how we are using We are now giving our kids Our services touch the lives of every the latest energy saving technology, the best possible start in life by resident in one way or another, and while on there’s an outline nurturing them in top-class learning page 29 they are fundamental for tens of of how health and social care are facilities. With all secondary schools thousands of people. being integrated, and on already rebuilt, nine in 10 primary pages 42 Every year it gets harder to pupils are now in new schools, and and 43 aW]¼TTÅVL\PMTI\M[\VM_[WN make sure that we can provide our work to improve lives for elderly the programme is on track for people. completion by 2018. We will continue to manage our £663m budget prudently this year and will always work hard to protect frontline services

those services, because the council’s income has been cut. Council Tax rates have been frozen for the ninth year in a row, and we PI^M NIKML [QOVQÅKIV\ K]\[ QV \PM grant the council receives from the Scottish Government. This continues to add to the pressure on our budgets. ?MPI^MJMMVNWZKML\WÅVLUWZM than £90 million in savings in recent years, and your council is ITZMILaMNÅKQMV\TaZ]V)[IZM[]T\ BEST START: Council Leader Eddie McAvoy outside Bankhead Primary, one of the many every further cut has a potentially new schools built as part of the council’s Primary School Modernisation programme [QOVQÅKIV\ QUXIK\ WV [MZ^QKM[ IVL

SERVICES ALL YOUR FEEDBACK REDUCTIONS COUNTED IN a large-scale public consultation \PQ[aMIZ_MPI^MPIL\WÅVLIVW\PMZ exercise, every household in South ŠUQV[I^QVO[ Lanarkshire was sent details of 6WVM\PMTM[[ I[

SCHOOLS UPDATE... SCHOOLS UPDATE... SCHOOLS NEW SCHOOLS HAVE LEARNING IN MODERN BY LYNNE

HE groundbreaking £857m Primary Schools Modernisation programme has Tentered the home straight - with 114 of the 123-strong primary schools estate now complete. And, after 12 years of continuing investment, the project is on schedule to deliver a modern learning environment for every South Lanarkshire primary, nursery and ASN pupil by 2018. Indeed, the 11 new schools completed in the last year alone mean that 90% of pupils are now learning in modern accommodation with just two years left to run on the largest primary schools rebuilding programme in the country. HAPPY: Pupils from Primary are Not only that, the delighted with their new school (main picture) programme has also delivered and Woodside Primary pupils outside their new five new stand-alone nursery £9.1m school (bottom left) schools. The latest of these to open will be the £3m First Step Community Nursery in explained: “We committed creating an ideal place for Q Primary School Hillhouse, Hamilton, in April to the Primary Schools children to learn and staff Q Muiredge Primary School, this year. Modernisation project 12 years to teach in the 21st century. Primarily funded and ago and I am very proud that, By replacing old, outdated Q St Bride’s Primary School, delivered by council despite a very challenging buildings with attractive, resources, the £857m fund economic climate, we have modern structures we have Q Woodside Primary School, has been protected despite stuck steadfastly to that pledge also changed scores of our local Hamilton unprecedented cuts in Local and are now nearing successful neighbourhoods for the better, Q Biggar Primary School Government finance. completion. with many providing inclusive Q Gilmourton Primary School Councillor Eddie McAvoy, “Every new school provides facilities for those communities. Q New Primary School Leader of the Council, light and bright surroundings “Added to the £318 Q Auchengray Primary School million Secondary Schools Q Libberton Primary School Modernisation Programme Q Machanhill Primary School, which was completed almost a decade ago, I firmly believe that our commitment to providing Most recently re-opened, the young people with the very £2.7m Auchengray Primary best education possible – from school has one of the nursery to secondary - has paid smallest school rolls in South off, and will continue to do so Lanarkshire – teaching 18 pupils for generations to come.” (p1-7) from the communities of Auchengray, and Over the last year the following . primary schools have been Principal Teacher Jennifer completed at a total cost of Alexander is delighted with the £65.7m new campus which the students Q Bankhead Primary School, moved in to at the beginning of this year.

UPDATE... SCHOOLS UPDATE... SCHOOLS UPDATE... 9 OUT OF 10 PUPILS ACCOMMODATION

WORKING HARD: East Milton Primary pupil Hamzah Ahmed (above), Woodside Primary pupils Eva Fox and Fraser Livingstone at the school’s climbing wall (below left) and Auchengray Primary’s brother and sister, James (9) and Annabel (6) Dunbar (below right)

we look forward to welcoming them in to enjoy our lovely new How the schools school very soon.” Meanwhile over at Woodside are thriving Primary in Hamilton, the school’s 423 pupils have settled well into their £9.1m state-of- Q The Primary Schools the-art campus. Modernisation Programme Headteacher Jan McKeran is scheduled to finish in 2018 describes the new school as having rebuilt or refurbished an “amazing building” which the 123 schools in the South boosts Woodside’s “already Lanarkshire primary estate, strong and vibrant ethos”. along with five nursery She went on: “At the design schools. and build stage, we had a Q The smallest school on the lot of say on how the school would look and its layout and programme is the 13-pupil features. The children were Wiston Primary School in also able to decide on theme Clydesdale whilst the biggest and graphics. is Mossneuk Primary in East She explained: “Our old also lovely is that some of the “We wanted it to be bright Kilbride with a school roll school was around 150 years original stone and slate were and warm and welcoming, and of 482. old and a very traditional retained and have been used to for the space to flow in a way Q Auchengray Primary is a schoolhouse building. We enhance our new building.” that works for us. We’re thrilled zero carbon school as it has used the church hall next door The community around that it turned out so well for us. been designed to be powered for gym and had our lunches the school is also reaping the It’s a spacious school and our by an eco-friendly ground delivered pre-cooked each day. benefits, courtesy of a MUGA staff, pupils and parents just source heating system. Now everything has changed. pitch which can be used by love it. We have our own gym hall local people out of hours. “The technology in each Q Following the completion and kitchen where our new Concluded Mrs Alexander: classroom and across the school of the secondary schools cook, Mrs Scott, makes meals “A small rural school like enhances learning and we programme, every pupil now from scratch. The whole space Auchengray is such a focal have a school that is fit for the in our 17 high schools and is about three times the size point for the community. Any demands of modern education. two ASN secondary schools of what we had and is light, shows or events are always well It’s a real privilege to spend our has only every been taught in bright and modern. What’s supported by local people and days here.” a new, modern environment.

SCHOOLS UPDATE... SCHOOLS UPDATE... SCHOOLS NATIONAL AWARD HONOUR BY ANDREW THOMPSON and warm environment within the school setting. PROGRAMME This can recreate missing supporting children or distorted early childhood and young people attachments and help a young struggling to find their person develop positive Aplace in the school community relationships with staff and has won a prestigious national peers. award. The children the Trinity Over the last few years Nurture group works with the Nurture Group at Trinity have been through experiences High School in Rutherglen has ranging through a background of Sixth year pupils show their been implementing techniques early life trauma, bereavement, support for the Nurture Group designed to help pupils overcome family breakdown and other project at Trinity High (l to r) long lasting difficulties caused by traumatic experiences that Kelsey Nicol (17), Sean O’Neill troubled early years experiences. have left them unable to trust (17), Head Teacher Peter Bollan, The group encourages them adults, lacking in confidence Chief Executive of the Nurture to engage with their peers and and struggling with emotions Group Network Kevin Kibble, get the most from their time in including (at times) anger. Niall McHugh (17) and Rachel education. Presenting the Award the Fraser (17) Now that work has been Chief Executive of the Nurture recognised with the national Group Network Kevin Kibble charity Nurture Group Network said: “Trinity High School has presenting the school with its evidenced its success in running Marjorie Boxall Quality Mark an outstanding Nurture Group, Head teacher Peter Bollen said: and due to make the transition to Award, making it the first and the beneficiaries of their hard “We are absolutely delighted that Trinty and have had more than 50 Scottish high school to achieve work every day are the children the work in nurture over the past benefit from the support we can the honour. attending the school, their families few years has been recognised. offer.” The award takes its name from and the wider community. This is a testament to the hard “One of the children we the pioneering psychologist who Our standards to achieve this work, commitment and care worked with early on would developed Attachment Theory award are exacting and many of the staff and a tremendous barely speak to staff or fellow – the basis for nurture groups congratulations are due to the staff accolade for all who support pupils and struggled to cope which aim to create an accepting and pupils at the school”. our work. It is a privilege for in the school environment to Trinity High School to receive such an extent that there were the Marjorie Boxall Quality Mark discussions around a transfer to Award which will act as a catalyst an additional needs school where for taking forward our nurturing more specialist provision would practices within and beyond the be available. school and help many of our “However we took the young people to improve their decision to go forward with life chances.” the Nurture Group approach Principal Teacher for Pupil and in first year the pupil was Support at Trinity High Michael very highly involved with the Murray said; “We identify pupils group but as time went on the who could benefit from our involvement tapered off as she Nurture Group when they are became more confident in class nearing the end of primary school and began to make friends, by the end of 4th year she had become “We identify pupils an occasional visitor. “At the end of her school career Head Teacher Peter Bollen (front) and Chief Executive ZKRFRXOGEHQHÀWIURP that pupil went on to higher of the Nurture Group Network Kevin Kibble RXU1XUWXUH*URXSµ education, something that was

UPDATE... SCHOOLS UPDATE... SCHOOLS UPDATE...

ACHIEVEMENT: Joan with P1 pupils Finlay McPherson and Caitlin Alexander &DVWOHÀHOGWHDFKHUPDUNV \HDUVDWVFKRRO

Principal teacher Joan “Every child has something McQueen recently celebrated to offer and I love the challenge 40 years as a teacher at and the opportunity to help Castlefield Primary School in unlock their potential. The Greenhills, East Kilbride. world changes so quickly and Joan, who also lives in East pupils today will have jobs in Kilbride, began teaching at the future that don’t exist now. the school in November 1975. “I believe that if we equip Since then she has taught more them with the fundamentals than 1,200 pupils, covering in education and help them to all age groups from nursery develop as responsible young to primary seven. Those she citizens, then we’re preparing has taught include three them to make the most of the generations of local families opportunities that will come their way in life. What job ´,HQMR\WHDFKLQJ could offer greater satisfaction that that?” WRGD\DVPXFKDV,GLG Castlefield’s Head Teacher, ZKHQ,VWDUWHGRXWµ Penny McLaughlin, says Joan is an asset to the school: “Forty and she still keeps track of years service is a fantastic some of her first pupils. achievement and it’s quite Sixth year pupils Rachel Fraser and Niall Ringing the changes, Joan unusual for it to be gained in McHugh admire the award says that teaching today is one school. The knowledge much more active and much and experience that Joan has contrary to all expectations when there for him and he did become less formal than it was when of both the school and the she had started out at Trinity.” more comfortable in the Nurture she started out over four local community is invaluable “Another pupil I recall did Group Base and felt able to speak not want to come to school to staff. decades ago. But one thing that and a great support to me following the death of a parent “That started to transfer to hasn’t changed is her love of as Head Teacher. On behalf and when he was here he did class and improved attendance teaching. of our school I’d like to not want to engage with anyone and he ultimately completed Joan said: “I enjoy teaching congratulate Joan and thank but we persevered and made school and successfully went on today as much as I did when I her for her contribution and sure there was always someone to further education.” started out. commitment.”

NEW BINS MEAN EVEN

Reducing the amount RIODQGÀOO waste has environmental DQGÀQDQFLDO

EHQHÀWV deliver it to a composting facility. If you currently compost at home you can still do so, but your burgundy bin should still be used to dispose of meat and bones (which can’t be composted at home) BY ANDY LIVINGSTONE Q You will also receive a new light-grey ORE than 40,000 homes in East bin to collect plastics, cans and glass Kilbride and are together receiving an improved waste Q Your blue bin is also changing and and recycling service as new will be used to collect paper and Marrangements, including food-waste collection, cardboard only are introduced in the area. Q There will be no changes to your non- The new system is currently being rolled out recyclable (black or green) waste bin. in four stages across South Lanarkshire and is The new light-grey bin, kitchen caddy and now seeing 30,000 properties and 10,000 flats in caddy liners are being delivered, along with the East Kilbride and Strathaven areas receiving an information booklet containing a new bin the new services. collection calendar, to houses with gardens in a Altogether, more than 2400 tonnes of food process lasting until March 4, and to flats during and garden waste have been collected in the February and between March 7 and 12. first areas to receive the new service – Hamilton, The new service is being introduced in East , and Uddingston – since Kilbride and Strathaven over two phases, with collection started in June 2015, which has meant Phase 1 including East and West Mains, a reduction in the amount of waste the council Calderwood, St Leonard’s, Brancumhall, has to send to landfill. Westwood and Murray, and Phase 2 Reducing the amount of landfill waste has including Stewartfield, Greenhills, Mossneuk, environmental and financial benefits and also Lindsayfield, Whitehills, Newlandsmuir, helps the council towards meeting the Scottish Strathaven and the outlying areas. Government’s recycling targets for household waste. The final two stages of the new recycling The vast majority of householders in these service will be coming to the initial areas have responded well to using the Rutherglen and Cambuslang area Waste disposal new service and the council has noticed an in the summer and towards the improvement in the way that residents are end of 2016 for Clydesdale recycling their waste. (Lanark, , Biggar and The following changes will now apply in surrounding areas). done by the East Kilbride and Strathaven areas: Q The burgundy bin that you currently use for glass will now be used to collect food and Anyone (statute) book garden waste. If you don’t currently have a wishing burgundy bin or if your bin is broken, you can further information The council’s services for request a repair or replacement by using the can find it on the waste collection must operate online form at www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/ council website at www. in line with a number of statutory forms/form/128/en/request_a_burgundy_bin southlanarkshire.gov.uk Q You will receive a new kitchen caddy and or by calling obligations that are placed on liners to collect food waste. The waste can then 0303 123 1020. local authorities by the Waste be transferred to your outdoor burgundy bin. The council will then collect the waste and (Scotland) Regulations 2012.

MORE BEING RECYCLED CHANGES: Residents in East Kilbride and Strathaven will now be able to separate their food waste, reducing the amount of waste sent to TIVLÅTT

ColoursC l off theth binsbi

East Kilbride has a variety of house types so the waste-collection service is tailored in certain cases according to what is most appropriate. However, in general the following system of colour coding applies:

Blue bin: this takes only paper and FDUGERDUG NQRZQDVWKHÀEUHPL[ 

Light-grey bin: this is a new bin and is provided for glass bottles, jars, plastic bottles, cans, tins and aerosols (known as WKHFRQWDLQHUPL[ 

Burgundy bin: This was previously used for glass, but is now for food and garden waste.

Black or green bin: this is for all waste THE REGULATIONS AMENDED: recycle and recover the waste. The that is not able to be recycled. Q Environmental Protection Act 1990 GLVSRVDORIZDVWHVXFKDVE\ODQGÀOOLV Q3ROOXWLRQ3UHYHQWLRQDQG&RQWURO 6FRWODQG  regarded as the least desirable option. Kitchen caddy: This is supplied with Regulations 2000 liners and is to allow you to collect food

Q/DQGÀOO 6FRWODQG 5HJXODWLRQV UNDER THE REGULATIONS: waste, which can then be transferred Q Any person who produces “controlled Q:DVWH0DQDJHPHQW/LFHQVLQJ 6FRWODQG  to your outdoor burgundy bin. If you waste” will have a duty to take all reasonable Regulations 2011 compost at home, you can still do so but steps to separate dry recyclable waste; your burgundy bin should be used to Q Local authorities have a duty to provide They also introduced a variety of far-reaching receptacles to householders to enable them dispose of meat and bones, which can’t measures as part of Scotland’s Zero Waste to recycle materials such as paper, card, EHFRPSRVWHGDWKRPH  Plan. The Plan seeks a zero waste society plastics, metals and glass; where the use of resources is minimised, local authorities must also provide a food Alternative arrangements are made valuable resources are not disposed of waste collection service to all non-rural IRUUHVLGHQWVRIÁDWVRUSURSHUWLHVWKDW LQODQGÀOOVDQGPRVWZDVWHLVVRUWHGLQWR properties; have either no access to the rear garden separate streams for reprocessing. Q/DQGÀOORSHUDWRUVDUHDOUHDG\EDQQHGIURP but space at the front of the house or accepting separately collected waste that no access to the rear and no space at 7KHSULRULW\LVWRSUHYHQWZDVWHLQWKHÀUVW could have been recycled and will be banned the front, and these householders are place. If that is not possible, then the order of from accepting biodegradable municipal QRWLÀHGRIWKHVHDUUDQJHPHQWVDVWKH\ preference that we should aim for is to reuse, waste from January 1, 2021. are relevant to them.

HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH TOUGH TIMES BY SARAH BURROWS UPPORTING children and young people through the stresses and strains of life is a top priority for the council’s Psychological SServices Team. In additional to helping pupils with additional support needs in schools, the team offers support for other areas of life that many young people find hard to deal with. Elizabeth King, the council’s Principal Psychologist said: “One of the main areas we get asked about is support for young people who are experiencing a difficult time following a bereavement or loss.” Events like divorce, separation, loss of a loved one or other major trauma can be deeply distressing to a young person. These events often also bring associated changes

CARING: Pupils are offered a variety of support methods to help them cope with LQNÅK]T\XMZQWL[QV\PMQZTQ^M[

advice throughout the development of Techniques - will give young people the the programme from teachers, young chance to develop the skills to cope with people, parents and carers and those who the challenges of all forms of assessments. work to support young people through The resource pack was originally the challenging times of bereavement and developed by Psychological Service in “Another main area of concern for loss. We are indebted to a wide range of partnership with Skills Development young people is how to deal with colleagues and very proud of the successful Scotland and the Construction Industry partnership approach.” Training Board (CITB) as part of a programme the stress that surrounds exams.” The Give Us A Break! programme aimed at supporting young people in their gives young people a chance to make apprenticeship pre-entry tests. in other areas of life, such as a change of sense of these experiences in a supportive Since then, it’s been reviewed and the home, school or living arrangement. environment with others who have gone materials have been further developed to For children and young people these through similar changes and also helps provide a standalone adult-led resource changes can be difficult. They often feel to build a deeper understanding in adults which is appropriate for young people of overwhelmed, confused or unable to cope. about just what young people go through secondary age facing class tests, NABs and Give Us A Break! is an 8-week group work following on from bereavement and loss. SQA examinations. programme for 10-14 year olds which was Elizabeth said: “Another main area of Elizabeth continues: “It is an activity- developed by South Lanarkshire Council concern for young people is how to deal based resource and encourages young Psychological Services in collaboration with the stress that surrounds exams. people to use psychological strategies to with Macmillan Cancer Support and NHS There has been a marked increase in young minimise stress and anxiety that they may Lanarkshire. Since the programme was people who require support during this encounter prior to presenting for exams. launched in 2009, 460 children and young difficult time, and as a result we’ve recently “The hope is that it will help a great people have taken part. launched our BEST programme.” many young people in the lead up to the Elizabeth said: “We had wonderful The BEST resource - Beating Exam Stress exams in May.”

The proposed school will have 18 classrooms, nursery class provision and indoor and outdoor community facilities

Deal brings investment to local communities NEW primary school, school places in Newton and cement the Clyde Valley region the Scottish Government and 1500 new homes and this will only increase with the as one of Europe’s leading eight local authorities across a local retail centre new homes that are also part of areas with a vibrant, thriving and the Clyde Valley. are to be built in the Community Growth Area economy.” The UK and Scottish ANewton thanks to the £1.13 project. The proposed school will Governments will each billion Glasgow and Clyde “We simply do not have the have 18 classrooms, nursery contribute £500million in Valley City Deal. resources on our own to move class provision and indoor and grant funding, and the local The Newton Community forward with a plan such as this, outdoor community facilities authorities will borrow a further Growth Area project will also see which is one of the many reasons including an all weather pitch, £130million. improvements to roads in and why I am so enthusiastic about changing rooms, meeting space Officials from each of the around the area, enhanced park City Deal. and hall, with the total floorspace eight local authorities as well as and ride facilities at Newton station “I look forward to working more than 4000 square metres. other local partner organisations and sustainable improvements to closely with our other partners As well as the Community worked to develop the City the local environment. to deliver this significant and Growth Areas, the other Deal. Further Community Growth large-scale project over the City Deal projects in the It is estimated that up to Area projects are planned for coming years. South Lanarkshire area 29,000 jobs may be created Hamilton, Larkhall and East “It will create jobs and help are the construction of the and there could be additional Kilbride. Cathkin Bypass, capacity private sector investment in the Leader of South Lanarkshire improvements along both region of £3.3 billion. Council, Councillor Eddie It is estimated that up Greenhills Road / A726 in The other areas to benefit McAvoy, said: “I am delighted to 29,000 jobs may be the south of East Kilbride and from City Deal alongside that we are now moving through the Stewartfield Way South Lanarkshire are forward with the first of our created and there could corridor to the north of East East Dunbartonshire, East exciting Community Growth be additional private Kibride. Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Area projects. sector investment in the The Glasgow and Clyde Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, “We are obviously aware that Valley City Deal is an agreement Renfrewshire and West there is a need for more primary regionreegion ofof £3.3£3.33 billionbillion between the UK government, Dunbartonshire.

Hop into Spring in BY SARAH BURROWS HERE’S lots on over Easter and Spring Break to keep little ones occupied - from traditional Easter fun to craft and activity Tclasses, kids’ theatre and Active Ace Camps… there’s something to put a spring in the step of children of all ages. At Chatelherault Country Park in Hamilton there will be Easter themed craft activities, quizzes, Easter egg hunt, face painting and fairground rides from Friday 25 to Monday 28 March from 12pm – 4pm each day. On Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March between 10am and 12pm there’s a chance to have breakfast with the Easter Bunny himself. A full breakfast is on offer with tea or coffee for only £5.50 for adults and £3.50 for kids. Bookingoking for this is essential – ccallall to reserve your table. For the fitness fanatics who want TThere’sh also an adult to work off those 110k trail. For more info Easter Eggs there’s oor to book log on to an Easter Bunnet wwww.entrycentral. race on Saturday 26 ccom March 1k for active And on Easter 5-9 year olds, 3k for SSuSunday there’s the 9 – 15 year olds and oololdd family favourite 5k for ages 15 and over.. oof decorating eggs aanandd rolling them down ththee banbankingk in front of the HHuHuntingnting LoLodge.d The Easter Bunny will be making an appearance. In Calderglen Country Park in East Kilbride there’s loads on too. On Mon 28 March from 11.30am – 1.30pm there’s a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party planned, which looks set to be a fun family event with stories, crafts and a walk through the rabbit hole! On 24, 25, 28 and 29 March from 11.30am - 3pm there’s a special Animal Easter event in the Conservatory for some fun filled activities. An Easter Egg Treasure Hunt will be running from Thursday 24 March – Sunday 17 April from 10pm-4pm daily. Also running during the school holidays are Children of all ages will have fun exploring the ever popular ACE Camps for primary aged the conservatory, ornamental gardens and pupils. zoo following the clues to solve the Easter The camps run from 10am – 3pm each day puzzle. and cost: £14.40/£7.20 Concession/ACE From Monday 4 – Friday 8 April it’s Hamilton Town House Insectivore Week at Calderglen. From Thursday 7th April and Monday 11th April 11.30am until 4 each day there’s a chance to all ages to get crafty. Rutherglen Town Hall meet some of Calderglen Zoo’s friendliest There is a small charge for some Monday 4th April and Wednesday 13th April animals and design food bags for the events at Calderglen Country Park and Lanark Memorial Hall meerkats and their friends. Chatelherault. Please check in advance. Tuesday 5th April and Tuesday 12th April Craft Workshops will run on 26 and 27 If you’re looking for something indoors East Kilbride Arts Centre March and 11, 13 and 15 April from 12pm to do with the kids during the school Friday 8th April and Friday 15th April – 4pm daily there’s a chance for children of holidays then look no further than the the reporter South Lanarkshire CUDDLES: Oliver Jackson meets Chatelherault’s Easter Bunny (main picture) while his twin brother Jacob gets ready to celebrate (far left). The history of former mining communities is explored in the Pits, Ponies, People and Stories exhibition (left) while Elves and the shoemaker (below) is a fun adaptation of Grimm’s tale

To book or for more information YLVLWZZZVOOFER[RIÀFHFRXN Or call: &KDWHOKHUDXOW01698 426213 Calderglen: 01355 236644 +DPLOWRQ7RZQKRXVH01698 452299 5XWKHUJOHQ 0141 613 5700 Lanark Memorial Hall: 01555 667999 EK Arts Centre: 01355 261000 EK Village Theatre: 01355 248669 /RZ3DUNV0XVHXP+DPLOWRQ 01698 328232

The Puppet Animation Festival presents puppetry and amazing visual effects. All Elves & the Shoemaker on Thursday 7 tickets are £5.50. April. A fun adaption of this Grimm’s Disney’s Beauty and The Beast at the EK tale is retold with the help of beautiful Village Theatre looks set to be another great Elf puppets, objects and of course, lots event for budding princesses. Running of lovely shoes! from Thursday 31 March – Saturday 2 Starting at 2.30pm, tickets for these April 2016 at 7.30pm and on Saturday performances are priced at £6 per person Matinee 2.30pm £10 / £8 concession or £20 for a family of four. Or if something more interactive is On Saturday 9 April the hugely popular in order – look no further than the Kid’s baby disco Rusk! will be returning with a Sunday Magic Show at EK Arts Centre on pyjama party theme. So bring your little Sunday 3 April at 1pm. Magician Douglas ones down for some afternoon fun and Cameron presents his latest magical join them in cutting some shapes on the wonders for all the family in this fun show. dancefloor. Kicking off at 2pm tickets are Despite making things vanish and appear, £5 with free entry for all adults. he is able to do this with ‘nothing up his And in the Town House, Hamilton sleeves’. Most suitable for children the Gruffalo’s Child will be featured aged 3 to 10 with all tickets £5. from 15 - 17 April and is sure to And in Low Parks Museum be popular with children of all in Hamilton a Pits, Ponies, ages. People and Stories On 6 April in Lanark exhibition will run until Memorial Hall it’s the end of the year. another creature on The project has been the loose. Purves a fascinating journey Puppets are back as into the shared heritage events at Rutherglen Town Hall. Pips and Panda travel handed down through On Wednesday 6 April Jabuti Theatre’s on their adventures to the people in South production of Moonbean on a Cat’s Toothfairyland. With lots Lanarkshire’s former Ear will be performed. A simple, yet of laughter, fun and songs mining communities compelling story about two children, a cat to join in, this spectacular and the exhibition is the and a mouse, and their adventure with the performance keeps all ages culmination of two years hard moon. entertained with its world-class work.

:MN]OMM[[Ia INTERVIEW Two families have been welcomed BY TOM LITTLE \W;W]\P4IVIZS[PQZMIN\MZÆMMQVO HE two Syrian families who have come to South Lanarkshire as part ;aZQIIVL[XMVLQVONW]ZaMIZ[QVI of the UK’s refugee resettlement programme are still working hard Lebanese camp. Here, they speak Ton their English. But one message comes through loud and clear... WN\PMQZZMTQMNIVLOZI\Q\]LM “Thank you!” they say repeatedly, when interviewed by The Reporter. “Thank you the first year of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons families can bear witness to that, though, very much Lanarkshire people. Thank you Resettlement Scheme (SVPRS). given what they have been through, they everybody who has helped us.” This follows the UK Government expanding are understandably cautious about being They look grateful, too, and happy. Happy the SVPRS to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees identified in our interview. to be here - despite the rain, despite the from camps neighbouring Syria by 2020. The “Before the war life was good in Syria, “ language barrier, despite being thousands of Scottish Government has said that Scotland says ‘R’, who has already picked up enough miles from home, and away from members of should accept at least 1,000 refugees. English to act as an interpreter, when needed, their family and most of their friends. Despite When the council’s Executive Committee for her husband ‘A’ and the other couple, all this, they are happy because they finally feel agreed that South Lanarkshire should play husband ‘M’ and wife ‘H’. “It was very nice safe. its part, councillors heard that many of those before the conflict. But then it turned bad.” These first Syrians to be welcomed to South who would benefit from the SVPRS included Both families describe how they were Lanarkshire have been settled within a short survivors of violence and torture. The two targeted and daily life became unbearable and walk of one another in the Rutherglen area. dangerous. “We had to leave and went to Four of the five children, all aged eight or Lebanon,” A said. “We lived with many other under, have been enrolled in a local primary “When the crisis started to families in a shared building. It was very bad, school and nursery. unfold and it became clear as you need a lot of money to live, for room After enduring months of conflict in Syrian, and to shop. But you are not allowed to work, then four years of discomfort and uncertainty that both the Westminster and if work, very little money.” in a refugee camp in Lebanon, they were flown and Scottish governments How does that compare to Scotland? to Scotland last December. They were the first “People here are smiling every time and of up to 60 refugees likely to come to the area in intended to act, we said that they help us,” R says. “People here are very South Lanarkshire Council was willing to help.”

‘thanks!’

and recite the names of the South Lanarkshire “The resilience that the families have, first Council staff who met them at the airport, of all leaving everything behind in Syria, living took them to their new homes and have been within a refugee camp and finally having helping them settle and integrate in the area. the strength to move to a country where the They have managed a few excursions, too language, culture and environment is totally – shopping in East Kilbride, with a stop-off different, shows that they are strong people at a soft play area (“The children, they bound who have the courage to move where required around!” laughs H), visiting Rutherglen Town for the sake of their family. Hall and the Library, a trip to the Riverside “It is a pleasure providing the families Museum in Glasgow and to the play areas in with support to settle and integrate into their Strathclyde Park . Also, they were special lunch new community. Watching them enjoying guests at the Lanarkshire Mosque in Bellshill, their new life in South Lanarkshire is very where they were able to meet up with other rewarding. “ Syrian families living in North Lanarkshire. Eddie McAvoy, South Lanarkshire Council The families knew very little about Scotland Leader, said: “When the crisis started to unfold before they arrived, or even the UK. But they and it became clear that both the Westminster misunderstand a question about London and Scottish governments intended to act, to make it clear they are glad to be in South we said that South Lanarkshire Council was Lanarkshire, rather than there. “London very willing to help. expensive and very busy,” says M. H adds: “We expect a total of 12 to 15 families, “People here speak to us. People in London around 60 people in total, will come to very busy.” South Lanarkshire in the next year. Housing good. All people in Rutherglen good, friendly When pushed to name something they associations will be involved in helping us and helpful. Every time, they smile and say don’t like, the answer is inevitable: “The rain. house the refugees, and I am sure they will ‘hi’. Our neighbours are very nice and they Every time - rain, rain, rain!” says R. But, with all receive a good Scots welcome in their new gave us Christmas cards. a predictable smile, she adds: “No problem!” communities.” “We are happy here. Happy and safe, Andrea Sinclair, who has been working The SVPRS is administered by the Home especially for the children. They like school with the two families in her role as the council’s Office, which has safeguards in place to very much and they learn English, numbers, Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement ensure people are genuine refugees. Funding the colours, about the body. They make friends Advisor, said: “Working with them over the arrangements have also been agreed with the and they play too.” past few months has been extremely satisfying Home Office and the Scottish Government to At the word “friends” all the adults smile but also incredibly humbling. cover the cost of participation in the scheme.

SUPPORT: The UK’s refugee resettlement programme has meant South Lanarkshire has welcomed two families from Syria recently

ENERGY SAVING Programme will see in excess of 600 new homes

BY ANDREW THOMPSON ITH the latest energy saving technology built into the new generation of homes being provided through South WLanarkshire’s ambitious council house building programme, high standards are being set for others to follow. The investment in providing new homes builds on the achievements of the on-going Home Happening programme which has seen the council working with tenants to achieve the national housing quality standard by delivering a wide range of improvements to its 25,400 homes. Executive Director of Housing and Technical Resources Daniel Lowe said: “Our existing housing stock has seen more than £430million spent on providing modern kitchens and bathrooms, new central heating systems, roofing, doors, windows and insulation. These measures have all helped to improve the quality of tenants’ homes and assist in tackling fuel poverty by reducing running costs.” With a sizeable proportion of the housing stock in South Lanarkshire sold off under the Right-to-Buy scheme and more than 16,000 people on the waiting list for housing, one way of making a small but important contribution to meeting the increased demand for housing is through the new build programme. This ambitious programme, which will see in excess of 600 new homes built over the next few years, represents a long term commitment from the council to help increase the supply of HAPPY TENANT: Former solider Jack McCutcheon who moved into a new-build new homes and provides an opportunity to council house in Fernhill following major regeneration work in the area. Jack is tailor some of those homes to meet particular LMTQOP\ML_Q\PPQ[OZW]VLÆWWZPWUMQV6MQT^IQO,ZQ^M¹

TECHNOLOGYreceive an update on the programme. It’s always good to hear about new sites being BUILDING identified, plans being developed, projects PROGRAMME: getting underway and completed - but the Baird Hill and thing that is most pleasing is the feedback under construction - from new tenants once they have moved Belmont Drive in about the difference their new home has made. “Our approach to new build allows the council to pursue a programme that is very responsive to local needs. By understanding how those needs are best met at the earliest stages of a new build development, we are able to get the best value from our available resources and provide great assistance to those households taking up tenancies. “We know how much demand there is for good quality homes and we know how many people are on our waiting lists but we are not in the least bit complacent about these

I am proud of what we are achieving through our new house building programme and delighted whenever I receive an update on the programme. - Alex McInnes

challenges and our responsibility to strive to provide safe, comfortable and affordable housing for families and individuals.” “A great deal of thought and planning is put into achieving the most significant benefits from our programme both in terms of meeting housing need and ensuring that every home we build is to the most modern standard and is located where it is most needed. “Our new homes are designed to be safe and secure and ensure that future maintenance requirements are reduced. Homes are also designed with the most to complete the regeneration of the Fernhill a development of 28 new homes at Baird Hill modern energy efficiency measures area is the new council housing which will in East Kilbride and the first tenants were including insulation and high efficiency see a further 70 new homes delivered in the able to move in during October of last year boilers, investment in renewable energy coming year to complement the 170 new with more than a dozen units now occupied. systems such as solar power and heat homes jointly delivered by West of Scotland At Belmont Drive in East Kilbride tenants pumps which will minimise running costs Housing Association and the council. are expected to begin moving into the first of for tenants and contribute to reducing Along with investment which has seen the 22 new homes on the site early this Spring. carbon emissions. completion of the new Fernhill Community Chair of South Lanarkshire Housing “A survey of the first tenants in our new Centre and five new retail units, residents are and Technical Resources, Councillor Alex council built homes gave us very positive seeing the ambitious Fernhill Masterplan McInnes said: “I am proud of what we are feedback and we continue to look to tenants come to a conclusion. achieving through our new house building views to help shape our future programme During 2014/15, work got underway on programme and delighted whenever I and designs.”

Around £12 million invested this year alone

And that’s not all… This year saw the start of a £20 million programme to replace South Lanarkshire’s 58,000 street light bulbs with more cost effective and environmentally friendly LEDs. In the year ahead £1.7million will also be invested in extending cycling paths across the area via the South Lanarkshire Cycling Partnership. On the road to success BY ANGELA MCMANUS said: “As well as significantly better roads, we’ve also seen a 49% reducation in the number of defects since 2008 and a 53% HE council is now almost three reduction in the number of claims received. quarters of the way through its That means that we’re paying out less in massive 12-year roads improvement repairs and claims and can put that money to Tprogramme which represents a total better use elsewhere. investment of £126 million. With more “We’re also pleased to say that our than 200 individual schemes, it’s the only investment has seen the council move up programme of its size in Scotland. the local authority roads league table from And it’s been sustained in a challenging being number 25 on the list for best roads economic climate, with ever-increasing to number 12. And we mean to improve on pressure on public sector budgets, this performance further by the end of the demonstrating that this is a high priority for programme.” the council. The investment in improving Around £12 million has been invested over South Lanarkshire’s roads network has been the last year alone on key roads improvements delivered on time and on budget year-on- over the year, with major resurfacing work in year since 2008 and is accruing significant areas across South Lanarkshire. benefits. South Lanarkshire Council’s Head of Clydesdale Area Roads and Transportation, Gordon Mackay, Hamilton Area Harelaw roundabout to Muirhead - £215,514. Wellhall Road, Hamilton - £128,000 Mauldslie Road in Carluke - £171,640. Fallside Road, Bothwell - £170,000 Wester Heathland to West Lothian Fernslea Avenue, Blantyre - £117,000 Boundary, Forth - £324,542 All material from the old surfaces is recycled East Kilbride, Rutherglen and and reused which has both a commercial and Cambuslang an environmental value, improving the area’s A71 Darvel Road, - £378,000 carbon footprint. Greenhills Road, East Kibride - £281,000 Now that most of the major routes have been resurfaced, the next phase will move Stroud Road, East Kilbride - £155,000 onto residential roads. Gordon added:”Over Kings Park Avenue, Rutherglen - £101,000 the next few years of the programme, residents Hamilton Road - Hallside Boulevard, and road users will start to see improvements Cambuslang - £108,000 in local roads in and around their own Lightburn Road, Cambuslang - £95,000 neighbourhoods and communities.” it’s your area Get involved

How do I contact What election my councillor? area do I live in?

What do councillors do?

Who makes decisions?? What is my area/ ?ward called? Why should questions 8 page I vote? your pull out answered and keep Why should ? I vote? Who makes decisions? ? This is your council and it’s importaantnt you have your say on how things are done. South Lanarkshire covers a big area – 684 square The council is legally responsible for pprovidinrov ng miles. This area is divided into 20 wards. The ward important public services and making decisionscisionsons on boundaries are set by an independent body known behalf of the local community about locall l servicesrvi as the Boundary Commission who look at population such as education, social care, roads, waste,te, culturalcucultu changes, carry out consultations and decide what will services and planning. be included in a particular ward. Scottish councils also have a duty to wwork with Voters from each of these wards elect three or four health, police, fire, Scottish Enterprise and theth councillors, depending on the size of the ward. In Scottish voluntary sector to plan and co-ordinate sseervrvicvices inin councils, councillors are elected by the Single Transferable their area. This is known as community plaannninging. Vote system – where people mark their ballot paper with a The people of South Lanarkshire are innviteed to vote ‘1’ for their first preference, ‘2’ for their second preference, for the councillors who form the counnccilil. ‘3’ for their third preference and so on – they can mark as The last full council elections were many or as few as they like. on 3 May 2012. They are next due This aim of this style of voting is to ensure the result more on Thursday 4 May 2017. (After closely reflects how people voted. With three or four this, they will take place every four councillors in each ward, wards generally have councillors years). from more than one political party. Occasionally, by-elections are called South Lanarkshire has 67 councillors to cover the 20 wards when a seat becomes vacant. in the area. They form the council and are responsible for making all the key decisions. The day to day work of the council is carried out by What do councillors do employees who work for the council. Senior council ? employees also work with the councillors to develop the Councillors attend full council meetings and council’s plans, strategies and policies. several committees. They’re also responsiblep e? ThiT s pull-out is designed to help you contact your for appointingpp the Provost, the Council councillors if you wish to do so. If you are still not sure which Leader and the Chairs and Deputes for each ward you live in or which councillors represent that ward, of the committees. you can check on our website www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk Committees make decisions on particular areas or phone Members Services on 01698 454366. of service provided by the council. All political parties on the council are involved in the various committees, which include Education, Social Work, Enterprise, Housing and Technical Resources, and Finance and Corporate. Most council meetings are open to the public, Your vote counts and dates and locations can be checked on a calendar on the ‘Councillors and Committees’ section of our website. You can also read and download the agenda and reports for the meetings. Occasionally, press and public are excluded from certain meetings or certain agenda items – for example adoption panels – but most meetings are open and seats are set aside for the public. ? As well as attending council meetings, councillors take an interest in what’s happening in the area they represent. For example, they may attend meetings of community councils, school councils or other local interest groups. Many hold local surgeries or publish a telephone number so people can contact them to discuss matters that concern them. Councillors can also be nominated to represent the council on other public bodies at national or local level.

22 the reporter What election area

do I live in? Rutherglen Cambuslang 12 Uddingston ? 13 14 11 16 Bothwell

15 100 17 Blantyre Hamilton 9 8 7 18 19 East Kilbride 6

Forth

1 2 20 LarkhallLarkhall Carluke Carnwath Strathavenn Lanark Carstairs Stonehouse 5 and Blackwood Biggar

Lesmahagow 3 4

Douglas

Abington

Crawford Did you know You can find out who your councillor is online using your postcode. www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk /councillors/search © Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100020730 2016 copyright. All rights reserved © Crown the reporter 23 remember no surgeries are held on public and school holidays Key to political party How do I contact Independent Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party my councillor? Party ? Scottish Liberal Democrats For general enquiries phone Members Services on 01698 454366 Solidarity SSM

1 2 3 8.30pm to 9.00pm Carstairs Community Centre, Lynsey Hamilton Ed Archer Ralph Barker School Road, Carstairs 1st Wednesday 1st Tuesday 1st Monday 4th Thursday 5.30pm to 6.00pm 6.00pm to 7.00pm 7.00 to 7.30pm 6.30pm to 7.30pm Braidwood Village Hall, Smyllum Resource Abington Hall, Biggar Municipal Hall, Braidwood Road, Centre, Smyllum Carlisle Road, Kirkstyle, Biggar Braidwood Road, Lanark Abington 7.45pm to 8.15pm 6.15pm to 6.45pm 2nd Wednesday 1st Tuesday Village Hall, Crossford Village Hall, 6.00pm to 7.00pm 7.00 to 7.30pm Carnwath Road, Elsrickle Lanark Road, Crossford Forth Primary School, Biggar Municipal Hall, Biggar 8.30pm to 9.00pm 3rd Wednesday Main Street, Forth Village Hall, 5.30pm to 6.00pm 1st Wednesday 4th Tuesday 7.00pm to 7.30pm Dolphinton Lifestyles Hall, 6.00pm to 7.00pm Carnwath Road, Carluke Hall, Hamish Stewart Harry Smith Centre, St Charles’ Avenue, 6.15pm to 6.45pm To arrange an Thomas Taylor Avenue, Lanark Carstairs Junction appointment, phone The Tom Craig Centre, 4th Wednesday Lawhill Road, Law 07748 114 582 or 6.00pm to 7.00pm Bev Gauld 01698 454686 Pat Lee Primary School, Newbigging Village or email Hall, Road, To arrange an Riverside Road, Kirkfieldbank hamish.stewart@ Newbigging appointment phone Catherine southlanarkshire.gov.uk 07881 310 569 or by appointment only 01698 454415 McClymont Please call 07748 114 574. 4 1st Wednesday 1st Tuesday or email pat.lee@ George southlanarkshire.gov.uk From 6.00pm 6.00pm to 6.30pm McClymont House, Carmichael Village Hall, Greenshields Eileen Logan Gallowhill Road, Lanark School Road, Carmichael 1st Saturday Every Monday 2nd Wednesday 6.45pm to 7.15pm 10.30am to 11.30am St Bride Centre, 6.00pm to 7.00pm From 5.45pm Village Hall, Braehead, Douglas Lifestyles Hall, Smyllum Resource Centre, 51 Station Road, Thankerton 1st Monday Carnwath Road, Smyllum Road, Lanarkk 7.30pm to 8.00pm Carluke From 7.15pm 6.00pm to 6.45pm Symington Village Hall, Hall, 1st Wednesday Kirkfieldbank Primary School, Main Street, Symington 5.30pm to 6.30pm Muirfoot Road, Rigside Riverside Road, Kirkfieldbank 8.15pm to 8.45pm The Tom Craig Centre, 3rd Wednesday 7.00pm to 8.00pm Lawhill Road, Law Coulter Village Hall, One Stop Shop, From 6.30pm Birthwood Road, Coulter 2nd Wednesday Coalburn Road, Coalburn Braehead Hall, 1st Thursday 5.30pm to 6.30pm Carnwath Road, Braehead Braidwood Village Hall, 6.30pm to 7.00pm Alex McInnes From 7.00pm Braidwood Road, Braidwood Abington Village Hall, 1st Monday Forth Primary School, Carlisle Road, Abington 5.00pm to 5.45pm 3rd Wednesday Main Street, Forth 5.30pm to 6.30pm 7.15pm to 7.45pm Thornton Road Crossford Village Hall, Vivienne Shaw Crawford Village Hall, Community Centre, Lanark Road, Crossford 2nd Monday Carlisle Road, Crawford 34 Thornton Road, 3.30pm to 4.00pm 8.15pm to 8.45pm Kirkmuirhill David Shearer Smyllum Resource Leadhills Village Hall, 6.00pm to 6.45pm 1st and 3rd Monday Centre, Smyllum Ramsay Road, Leadhills The Fountain, Abbeygreen, 6.30pm to 7.00pm Road, Lanark From 9.00pm Lesmahagow The Tom Craig Centre, 4.30pm to 5.15pm Village Hall, 3rd Monday Lawhill Road, Law Kirkfieldbank Primary School, Crawfordjohn, Biggar From 7.00pm 2nd Monday Riverside Road, Kirkfieldbank 2nd Thursday Woodpark Primary School, 6.30pm to 7.00pm 6.00pm to 7.00pm 6.30pm to 7.00pm Priory Road, Lesmahagow Carluke Lifestyles Centre, Harry Smith Complex, Carstairs Junction Hall, Carnwath Road, Carluke Thomas Taylor Avenue, Lanark St Charles’ Avenue, Gordon Muir 3rd Monday 1st Monday 2nd Tuesday Carstairs Junction 7.15pm to 7.45pm 5.00pm to 5.45pm 7.30pm to 8.00pm 7.15pm to 7.45pm Village Hall, Thornton Road Auchengray Church Hall, Village Hall, Craigenhill Road, Kilncadzow Village Square, Pettinain Community Centre, Auchengray 4th Monday 8.00pm to 8.30pm 34 Thornton Road, 6.30pm to 7.00pm 2nd Wednesday Village Hall, Kirkmuirhill Braidwood Village Hall, 6.00pm to 6.30pm Quothquan 6.00pm to 6.45pm Braidwood Road, Braidwood Tarbrax Village Hall, 8.45pm to 9.15pm The Fountain, Abbeygreen, Crosswood Terrace, Tarbrax 7.15pm to 7.45pm Carnwath Town Hall, Lesmahagow Crossford Village Hall, 6.45pm to 7.15pm Main Street, Carnwath 3rd Monday Lanark Road, Crossford Braehead Hall, Carnwath 3rd Thursday From 7.00pm Road, Braehead 7.15pm to 8.15pm Woodpark Primary School, 7.30pm to 8.30pm Carnwath Town Hall, Priory Road, Lesmahagow Forth Sports and Community Main Street, Carnwath Centre, Main Street, Forth 24 the reporter 5 Avondale and 4th Saturday 8 East Kilbride Graham Simpson Stonehouse From 10.00am Central North To arrange an Greenhills Primary School, appointment phone Graeme Campbell Cedar Drive, Greenhills, Anne Maggs 07825 583 924 or 1st Saturday To arrange an East Kilbride 01698 454422 appointment phone 10.00am to 11.00am or email graham.simpson@ Douglas Edwards Kirktonholme Hall, 07825 583 905 or email 1st Thursday southlanarkshire.gov.uk graeme.campbell@ Kirktonholme Road, 6.00pm to 7.00pm David Watson southlanarkshire.gov.uk The Murray Owen West Mains, East Kilbride 2nd Friday Centre, Liddel Grove, 2nd Wednesday Margaret Cooper Murray, East Kilbride 6.00pm to 7.00pm 5.30pm to 6.30pm Stewartfield To arrange an 3rd Saturday East Kilbride Arts Centre, appointment phone Old Coach Road, East Mains, Community Sports 10.00am to 11.00am Centre, MacNeish Way, 07881 310 575 or Greenhills Community Hall, East Kilbride East Kilbride 01698 454946 or Greenhills Square, East Kilbride 4th Saturday 3rd Monday email margaret.cooper@ 4th Thursday 10.00am to 11.00am 6.30pm to 7.15pm southlanarkshire.gov.uk 7.00pm to 8.00pm Blacklaw Community Wing, Mossneuk Parish Church, Ally McCoist Centre, Blacklaw Primary School, Eden Drive, East Kilbride Isobel Dorman Quarry Road, East Kilbride Glen Arroch, East Kilbride 1st Monday 3rd Friday 6.00pm to 6.30pm 7 East Kilbride Alice Marie 5.30pm to 6.15pm McLean Gardens Mitchell Tennis Club, Sheltered Housing, Central South 1st Saturday Braehead Road, Thorntonhall McLean Gardens, Stonehousee John Anderson From 10.00am 6.45pm to 7.30pm 1st Thursday East Kilbride Arts 10 East Kilbride East Ballgreen Hall, Glasgow Road, 6.00pm to 7.00pm Centre, Old Coach Road, John Cairney The Murray Owen Strathaven East Mains, East Kilbride 1st Saturday Centre, Liddel Grove, 3rd Tuesday 3rd Monday Murray, East Kilbride 10.00am to 11.00am 6.00pm to 7.00pm From 6.00pm Claremont Parish 3rd Thursday South Lanarkshire Lifestyles Kirktonholme Hall, Church Hall, 6.00pm to 7.00pm Kirktonholme Road, High Common Road, Stonehouse, Udston Mill Road, Westwood Community Hall, West Mains, East Kilbride St Leonards, East Kilbride Stonehouse Riverton Drive, Westwood, East Kilbride Chris Thompson 2nd Saturday Bill Holman 10.00am to 11.00am 1st Thursday Gerry Convery 2nd Wednesday 6.00pm to 7.00pm Long Calderwood Primary 6.00pm to 7.00pm 1st Friday School, Bosworth Road, Maxwellton South Lanarkshire 6.00pm to 7.00pm Calderwood, East Kilbride Primary School, Lifestyles Stonehouse, The Murray Owen 4th Saturday Udston Mill Road, Stonehousee Centre, Liddel Grove, Maxwellton Avenue, Calderwood, East Kilbride 10.00am to 11.00am 3rd Thursday Murray, East Kilbride Hunter House, 6.00pm to 7.00pm 2nd Friday 4th Monday Calderwood Baptist Church, Ballgreen Hall, Glasgow Road, 6.00pm to 7.00pm 6.00pm to 7.00pm Maxwellton Road, East Kilbride Strathaven The Red Deer Centre, Blacklaw Community Wing, Alberta Avenue, Westwood, Blacklaw Primary School, Gladys Miller 6 East Kilbride South East Kilbride Glen Arroch, East Kilbride 1st Saturday 3rd Saturday 10.00am to 11.00am Archie Buchanan 10.00am to 11.00am Sheena Wardhaugh Long Calderwood 2nd and 4th Monday Westwood Hall, Riverton Drive, 1st Saturday Primary School, 6.00pm to 7.00pm Westwood, East Kilbride 10.00am to 11.00am Bosworth Road, Calderwood,, Greenhills Community 4th Saturday Kirktonholme Hall, East Kilbride Hall, Greenhills Square, 10.00am to 11.00am Kirktonholme Road, 2nd Saturday East Kilbride East Milton Primary School, West Mains, East Kilbride 10.00am to 11.00am 3rd Saturday Vancouver Drive, East Kilbride 2nd Wednesday Blacklaw Primary, Glen Arroch, 10.00am to 11.00am Susan Kerr 6.00pm to 7.00pm East Kilbride Greenhills Community Hall, 1st Friday East Kilbride Arts Centre, 4th Saturday Greenhills Square, East Kilbride 6.00pm to 7.00pm Old Coach Road, East Mains, 10.00am to 11.00am 4th Tuesday The Murray Owen East Kilbride Calderwood Hall, 10.30am to 11.30am Centre, Liddel Grove, Blackbraes Road, Greenhills Parish Church, Murray, East Kilbride 9 East Kilbride West Calderwood, East Kilbride Greenhills, East Kilbride 2nd Friday Janice McGinlay Jim Wardhaugh 6.00pm to 7.00pm To arrange an 2nd Saturday Jim Docherty The Red Deer Centre, appointment phone 10.00am to 11.00am 1st Saturday Alberta Avenue, Westwood, 07881 310 577 or Blacklaw Primary, From 10am East Kilbride 01698 454325 The Murray Owen Glen Arroch, 3rd Saturday or email janice.mcginlay@ East Kilbride Centre, Liddel 10.00am to 11.00am southlanarkshire.gov.uk Grove, Murray, East Kilbride Westwood Hall, Riverton Drive, 4th Saturday 2nd Saturday Westwood, East Kilbride 10.00am to 11.00am Calderwood Hall, From 10.00am 4th Saturday Blackbraes Road, Ally McCoist Centre, 10.00am to 11.00am Calderwood, East Kilbride Quarry Road, East Kilbride East Milton Primary School, 3rd Saturday Vancouver Drive, East Kilbride From 10.00am Castlefield Primary School, 25 Liprivick Road, remember Greenhills, East Kilbride no surgeries are held on public and school holidays the reporter 25 remember no surgeries are held on public and school holidays 11 Edward McAvoy 6.30pm to 7.00pm 16 Bothwell and 1st Monday Westburn Community Hall, Uddingston Robert Brown From 6.30ppm Northbank Avenue, 1st Wednesday Quigleysgyg Hall, Westburn, Cambuslang Maureen Devlin From 6.00pm Landemer Drive, 1st Wednesday 1st Tuesday Fernhill Community Rutherglen 5.00pm to 6.00pm From 6.00pm Centre, Auchenlarie 3rd Monday Particip8 Hub, St Brides Primary School, Drive, Fernhill From 6.30pmp 234-236 Hamilton Road, Ailsa Road, Bothwell 2nd Wednesday Bankhead Primary School, Halfway, Cambuslang 3rd Tuesday From 6.00pm Bankhead Road, Rutherglen From 6.00pm Pam Clearie Calderwood Primary School, Denis McKenna Uddingston Library, Buchanan Drive, Rutherglen To arrange an Bellshill Road, Uddingston 2nd Wednesday appointment phone 3rd Wednesday From 6.00pmp From 6.00pm Burnhill Sportsp Centre, 07748 114 559 or Anne Kegg 01698 454942 To arrange an Spittal Community Hall, Toryglenyg Road, or email pam.clearie@ appointment phone Carrick Road, Rutherglen Rutherglen southlanarkshire.gov.uk 07881 310 565 or 4th Wednesday 4th Wednesday From 6.00pmp 01698 454424 From 6.00pm Christine Deanie or email anne.kegg@ Royalyg Burgh House, 1st Thursday Loch Primary School, King Street, Rutherglen southlanarkshire.gov.uk Lochaber Drive, 5.30pm to 6.00pm Springhall, Rutherglen 13 Cambuslang West Cairns Primary School, Jim McGuigan From 6.45pm Ivybank Avenue, 1st Monday Committee Room 3, Russell Clearie Halfway, Cambuslang 6.00pm to 7.00pm 1st Monday 4th Thursday Uddingston Cathkin Community Wing, 5.00pm to 6.00pm Cathkin Primary School, 5.30pm to 6.00pm Grammar, Station C-TEC, 1-15 Main Hallside Primary School, Road, Uddingston Burnside Road, Rutherglen Street, Cambuslang Newton Station Road, 1st and 3rd Tuesday Gerard Killen 6.15pmppp to 7.15pm Halfway, Cambuslang 12.00pm to 12.30pm 2nd Tuesday Eastfield Communityy Centre, Dukes Road, Cambuslang 6.15pm to 6.45pm David Milne Centre, 5.30pm to 6.15pm Halfway Library, 211 Hamilton Old Mill Road, Uddingston 3rd Tuesday Fernhill Community 5.00ppppm to 6.00pm Road, Cambuslang 2nd Saturday Centre, Auchenlarie Whitlawburn Community 10.00am to 11.00am Drive, Fernhill Resource Centre, 15 Blantyre Bothwell Library, Main Street, 6.15pm to 6.45pm Belmont Road, Cambuslang Hugh Dunsmuir Bothwell Spittal Community Centre, 6.15pmpp to 7.15pmp 1st Saturday 3rd Monday Carrick Road, Spittal Burnside and Blairbeth Church, From 10.00am 6.00pm to 7.00pm 4th Tuesday Church Avenue, Rutherglen TACT Community Bothwell Senior Citizens’ Centre, Fallside Road, Bothwell 5.30pm to 6.00pm Clare McColl Hall, Hillview Drive, Cathkin Primary School, Blantyre 4th Saturday 2nd Wednesday 10.00am to 11.00am Burnside Road, Rutherglen 5.00pmppp to 5.45pm 3rd Saturday 6.00pm to 6.30pm Cambuslangg Institute, From 10.00am Uddingston Community Centre, Bellshill Road, Uddingston Loch Primary School, Lochaber Greenlees Road, Larkfield Neighbourhood Hall, Cambuslang Stonefield Road, Blantyre Drive, Springhall, Rutherglen 17 Hamilton North 6.45pm to 7.15pm 6.00ppppm to 7.00pm Mo Razzaq Calderwood Primary School, Whitlawburn Community and East Resource Centre, 1st Tuesday Buchanan Drive, Rutherglen Belmont Road, Cambuslang From 5.00pm Stephanie Callaghan 1st Tuesday 4th Monday Priestfield Hall, Brian McKenna Main Street, Blantyre 6.00pm to 7.00pm 1st Wednesday 6.00pmppp to 7.00pm 1st Saturday The Town House, 6.00pm to 6.45pm Eastfield Community Centre, Dukes Road, Cambuslang From 10.00am Cadzow Street, Spittal Primary School, TACT Community Hall, Hamilton Lochlea Road, Spittal Richard Tullett Hillview Drive, Blantyre 7.15pm to 8.00pm 2nd Wednesday 2nd Monday 3rd Saturday Glenlee Primary School, 6.00pm to 6.45pm 5.30pmppp to 6.15pm From 10.00am Anderson Street, Hamilton Cambuslangg Institute, Fernhill and Cathkin Parish Larkfield Neighbourhood Hall, 2nd Tuesday Greenlees Road, 6.00pm to 6.45pm Church, Neilvaig Drive, Cambuslang Stonefield Road, Blantyre Hall, Carlisle Road, Rutherglen 6.30pmppp to 7.30pm John McNamee 3rd Wednesday Ferniegair Eastfield Communityy Centre, 1st Saturday 7.00pm to 8.00pm 5.30pm to 6.15pm Dukes Road, Cambuslang From 10.00am Whitehill Neighbourhood Calderwood Primary School, 4th Monday TACT Community Hall, Centre, Hunter Road, Buchanan Drive, Rutherglen 5.30pm to 6.15pm Hillview Drive, Blantyre Whitehill, Hamilton Loch Primary School, 3rd Saturday 12 Rutherglen Central Lochaber Drive, From 10.00am Monica Lennon and North Springhall, Rutherglen Larkfield Neighbourhood Hall, 2nd Monday 6.30pm to 7.30pm Stonefield Road, Blantyre 6.00pm to 6.30pm Gordon Clark Ferniegair Hall, Carlisle 2nd Monday Whitlawburn Community Resource Centre, Bert Thomson Road, Ferniegair 6.00pm to 7.00pm Belmont Road, Cambuslang 1st Tuesday From 6.45pm Quigley’s Hall, From 5.00pm St John’s Primary School, Landemer Drive, 14 Priestfield Hall, Dixon Street, Hamilton Rutherglen Main Street, Blantyre Walter Brogan 4th Monday 3rd Monday 1st Saturday 6.00pm to 6.45pm 6.00pmppp to 7.00pm 1st Tuesday From 10.00am Royal Burgh House, 5.00pm to 5.30pm Whitehill Neighbourhood TACT Community Hall, Centre, Hunter Road, King Street, Rutherglen Flemington/Hallside Hillview Drive, Blantyre Church of Scotland, Whitehill, Hamilton Hutchison Place, Cambuslangg 3rd Saturday From 7.00pm From 10.00am 5.45pm to 6.15pm Glenlee Primary School, Larkfield Neighbourhood Hall, Anderson Street, Hamilton North Halfway Hall, Stonefield Road, Blantyre 26 the reporter Graham Avenue, Halfway Davie McLachlan 19 20 Larkhall Peter Craig 1st Monday 1st Monday 6.00pm to 6.45pm John Ross Jackie Burns 6.00pm to 6.30pm Whitehill 1st Tuesday 1st Tuesday Machanhill Primary Neighbourhood 6.00pm to 7.00pm 5.30pm to 6.15pm School, Machanhill, Centre, Hunter Road, South Lanarkshire Craigbank Primary Larkhall Lifestyles Fairhill, School, Glengonnar Whitehill, Hamilton 6.45pm to 7.15pm Neilsland Road, Hamilton Street, Strutherhill, Larkhall From 7.00pm Hareleeshill Primary School, Glenlee Primary School, 1st Saturday 6.30pm to 7.15pm Community Wing, Myrtle Lane, Anderson Street, Hamilton 10.00am to 11.00am Hareleeshill Primary School, Larkhall Chatelherault Primary School, Myrtle Lane, Larkhall 3rd Monday 2nd Monday 6.00pm to 6.30pm Silvertonhill Avenue, Hamilton 2nd Saturday 2nd Tuesday 6.00pm to 6.30pm St John’s Primary School, 10.00am to 10.45am Robert Smillie Memorial Dixon Street, Hamilton 6.00pm to 7.00pm Cameronian Hall, St Elizabeth’s Primary School, Primary School, Glen Avenue, From 6.45pm Victoria Street, Larkhall Larkhall Ferniegair Hall, Carlisle Road, William Drive, Eddlewood, 11.15am to 12.00pm Ferniegairg Hamilton 6.45pm to 7.15pm Quarter Primary School, Craigbank Community Wing, If you require assistance, 3rd Tuesday Limekilnburn Road, Quarter please contact 07748 114 596 6.00pm to 7.00pm Craigbank Primary School, 3rd Tuesday Avon Road, Larkhall Woodhead Primary School, 5.00pm to 5.45pm 18 Hamilton West Woodhead Crescent, Hamilton 3rd Monday Community Hall, 6.00pm to 7.00pm and Earnock 4th Tuesday Overton Road, Netherburn 6.00pm to 7.00pm Quarter Primary School, Allan Falconer 6.00pm to 6.45pm Limekilnburn Road, Quarter 4th Tuesday Our Lady and St Anne’s Primary Community Wing, School, Hall Street, Hamilton 4th Monday From 6.00pm Stewartgill Place, Ashgill 6.00pm to 6.30pm Hillhouse and Earnock Stuart Gallacher 4th Thursday Netherburn Community Hall, Community Centre, 1st Thursday 5.00pm to 5.45pm Overton Road, Netherburn Hillhouse Road, Hamilton From 6.00pm Parker Place Sheltered Housing 6.45pm to 7.15pm Graeme Horne Chatelherault Complex, Parker Place, Larkhall Ashgill Community Wing, 1st Monday Primary School, 6.00pm to 6.45pm Stewartgill Place, Ashgill Silvertonhill Avenue, Hamiltonn Margaretvale Sheltered 6.30pm to 7.15pm Lesley McDonald Hillhouse and Earnock 2nd Thursday Housing Complex, Larkhall From 6.00pm 1st Monday Community Centre, Andy Carmichael Hillhouse Road, Hamilton St Elizabeth’s Primary School 6.30pm to 7.00pm 1st Saturday Machanhill 3rd Monday Community Wing, William Drive, Eddlewood, Hamilton 10.00am to 10.45am Primary School, 6.30pm to 7.15pm Margaret Vale 3rd Thursday Machanhill, Larkhall Townhill Primary School, Sheltered From 6.00pm 2nd Monday Melfort Road, Hamilton Housing Complex, Woodhead Primary School, 6.30pm to 7.00pm Charlotte Path, Larkhall Jean McKeown Woodhead Crescent, Hamilton Netherburn Community Hall, 2nd Saturday 11.00am to 12pm Overton Road, Netherburn Joe Lowe Hareleeshill Community 10.15am to 11.00am 7.15pm to 7.45pm Hillhouse and Earnock To arrange an Wing, Hareleeshill Primary Primary School, Community Centre, appointment phone School, Myrtle Lane, Larkhall Douglas Road, Ashgill Hillhouse Road, Hamilton 07748 114 581 or 2nd Saturday 4th Monday 01698 454133 10.00am to 10.45am 3rd Monday 5.45pm to 6.15pm or email joe.lowe@ Netherburn Community Hall, 6.30pm to 7.00pm St Peter’s Primary School, southlanarkshire.gov.uk Overton Road, Netherburn Craigbank Community Wing, Craigbank Primary School, Highstonehall Road, 11.00am to 12pm Brian McCaig Avon Road, Larkhall Laighstonehall, Hamilton Ashgill Community Wing, 6.30pm to 7.00pm 1st Thursday 3rd Tuesday From 6.00pm Stewartgill Place, Ashgill Udston Primary School, 3rd Saturday From 6.30pm Thornhill Road, Hamilton Chatelherault Primary 10.00am to 10.45am Orange Halls, 64 Muir Street, If you require assistance, School, Silvertonhill Machanhill Primary School, Larkhall please contact 01698 454552 Avenue, Hamilton Machanhill, Larkhall 4th Tuesday of March, May, 2nd Thursday September and November John Menzies From 6.00pm 4th Saturday From 6.30pm 1st Monday St Elizabeth’s Primary School 10.00am to 11.00am Dalserf Parish Church Hall, 6.30pm to 7.15pm Community Wing, William Parker Place Sheltered Housing Hillhouse and Earnock Drive, Eddlewood, Hamilton Complex, Parker Place, Larkhall Kirk Road, Dalserf Community Centre, 3rd Thursday Hillhouse Road, Hamilton From 6.00pm 3rd Monday Woodhead Primary School, 6.30pm to 7.15pm Woodhead Crescent, Hamilton Townhill Primary School, Melfort Road, Hamilton

Key to political party remember Independent Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party No surgeries Scottish Labour Party are held on Scottish Liberal Democrats public and ? Scottish National Party school holidays Solidarity SSM the reporter 27

Scottish Parliamentary Election takes place on Thursday 5 May 2016 Your vote counts

On Thursday 5 May 2016 voters in South Lanarkshire Vote using a cross X will go to the polls for the Scottish Parliamentary Everyone is represented by eight Members of the Election. This will be the first time that 16 and 17 year Scottish Parliament (MSPs). One represents your olds have been able to vote in the Scottish Parliamentary Scottish Parliament Constituency and the other seven Election. Polling stations will be open from 7am – 10pm. all represent your Scottish Parliament region.

Make sure you are registered to vote To vote for your MSPs you will be issued with two ballot papers: All you need to do is make sure you are registered to vote. If you returned your completed voter registration form 1 Constituency ballot paper (lilac coloured) then you should be on the electoral register. If you have Lists the candidates in alphabetical order, together with moved recently you can now register online at their party where applicable. To vote simply mark a www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. cross (X) in the box opposite the name of one candidate only. The candidate with the most votes wins. Deadline: If you are not registered to vote, you must 2 Regional ballot paper (peach coloured) register by midnight on Monday 18 April 2016 to vote Lists parties and individual candidates (where at this election. appropriate). To vote, mark a cross (X) in the box opposite the name of one party or individual What’s next? candidate, the parties or individual candidates win seats based on: You will receive a poll card telling you where to go to vote, alternatively, if you are on holiday on polling day, or you t the number of votes they receive in this regional are working, or prefer not to go to the polling station, do ballot, and you know you can: t the number of constituency seats that parties t vote by post win in the region. t ask someone to vote on your behalf Interested in standing at the Election? (ie by appointing a proxy) If you wish to stand at this election simply contact the Deadlines: Election Office for your Nomination Pack and more information. The deadline for lodging Nominations is t Postal Vote – if you wish to apply for a postal vote 4pm on Friday 1 April 2016. You can also download a (or make changes to your existing postal or proxy Nomination Pack from the South Lanarkshire website arrangements) you must do this by 5pm on Tuesday www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk 19 April 2016. t Proxy – If you wish to appoint a proxy to vote on To register to vote, check the register or your behalf you must do this by 5pm on Tuesday arrange a postal or proxy vote contact: 26 April 2016. Electoral Registration Office, North Stand, Cadzow Avenue, Hamilton ML3 0LU Freephone: 0800 030 4333 Email: [email protected] Website: www.lanarkshire-vjb.gov.uk For information on voting arrangements or to stand at this election contact: Election Office, 21 Beckford Street, Hamilton ML3 0BT Phone: 0303 123 1019 Email: [email protected] Website: www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk vvovotee

28 the reporter Sense of identity HEALTH Thehf integration of hhealthlh anddl social caree PARTNERS: is about local teams of professionals Frontline working together – alongside partners health and including unpaid carers, the third social care sector and independent sector. staff recently The aim is to deliver quality, came together to sustainable care and services. participate In line with national legislation, in a ‘walk in integrated arrangements my shoes’ have to be in place in skill sharing South Lanarkshire by 1 summit April 2016. in South Harry Stevenson, Lanarkshire South Lanarkshire as integration Council’s Executive goes Director of Social Work live. Pictured are district Resources has been appointed as Chief nurse Natalie 7NÅKMZWN;W]\P4IVIZS[PQZM0MIT\PIVLL McCormick, ;WKQIT+IZM8IZ\VMZ[PQX0MZMPM\ITS[ WN60; us through the journey so far and his Lanarkshire aspirationsp for the future. with Ann Richford, OUTH Lanarkshire Health and Social a South Care Partnership’s vision is clear: Lanarkshire Working together to improve health Council home and wellbeing in the community - care worker. Swith the community. As well as providing our partnership with an all important sense of identity, who we are and what we stand for, that simple statement has also been our guiding principle as we’ve been setting down our plans for the future. Indeed, the partnership between South Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire is currently at an exciting stage of our integration journey as we finalise our Strategic Commissioning Plan. In essence, our plan sets out how health and social care services will be delivered in local areas to address local priorities. Beyond that, I’ve been making various Of course, there are many challenges, So, how have these priorities been ppersonal visits to many of the services in nnot least the financial climate we’re working identified? oour partnership, from care homes, hospitals iin. Even with the extra monies through the We’ve used various methods. A Joint aand health centres. On my travels, I’ve iintegration fund the fact is there’s still a big Strategic Needs Assessment has analysed, bbeen talking to a range of people involved ddemand on service - and staff are working for example, the health and care needs of our iin integration: health and social care staff, rreally hard to meet that. population in fine detail. GGPs, service users and patients , carers, Crucially, we share a common purpose in The national health and wellbeing sstakeholders and partners. oour partnership - and that’s supporting the outcomes are an all important guide too. The process has let me sense check what bbest outcomes with people. Our health, social Crucially, though, these priorities have ppeople know (and what they don’t know) ccare staff and partners are fully committed to also been established by good, old-fashioned aabout the journey we are on. wworking with people, their carers and families talking and listening to people throughout the That’s also given me the opportunity tto promote health and well-being, where all area. tto listen to the hopes of people in our four aaspects of care and support are co-ordinated aaround the person. In South Lanarkshire we have strong llocalities. and well-defined communities; members of And there seems to be a unifying theme: Amid the challenges and climate, those the public, health and social care staff, third sstaff and partners understand what needs ppeople and their outcomes remain an and private sector organisations, carers, tto be done and they are ready for that. ooverriding, unifying priority. stakeholders and others who respect and There is an acknowledgment that So, as we move from planning, to doing - value their local areas. wwe can’t continue to rely on a reactive, usingu the foundations of the exceptional work True to our vision, we have listened and ttraditional hospital/institutional model. alreadya established here - we are now set to used that local knowledge and expertise WWith an ageing population, it’s simply not buildb locality-based care and support that to shape our plan to ensure services are ssustainable in the long term. addressesa health inequalities, improves health responsive to community needs and continue There’s also recognition we have a unique outcomeso and delivers a better experience for to harness resources that exist in towns and oopportunity to rebalance the health and alla . villages across the area. ssocial care system by focusing on developing Just as our vision has shaped our This engagement process has taken various mmore preventative, proactive care in our pplans, that very mantra ‘Working together forms including a host of locality events and ccommunities ensuring individuals have the tto improve health and wellbeing in the planning groups with broad representation iinformation and support to live their lives ccommunity - with the community’ will shape from our partnership. ssafely. oour actions; now - and in the future. 29 BY SARAH BURROWS

HREE joiners, based in Hamilton, are hammering home the equality message in South Lanarkshire. For colleagues Andrew Clelland, TMark Kennedy and James Maguire are not only skilled tradesman, all three of them are deaf. The men work in the joinery team in Hamilton and are each tasked with crafting doors, frames, skirting boards for the council’s housing stock and carrying out repairs as required. Andrew Clelland joined the council more than, 15 years ago as an apprentice and now, aged 31, he is looking to the future. He says: “I have always liked making things and I’m delighted that I am able to do that every day in my work.” Andrew says that as well as his love for the job, it’s been the support of his supervisors and his colleagues that have helped him become the excellent carpenter he is today. He continued: “I have a son, Callum, who is eight years old and is also deaf. I’d like to think that by the time he is ready to go out to work that his disability will not stop him doing what he wants to do. “I feel very proud that I am setting an example to him and to others that disability is not a barrier.” Andrew feels strongly that the very unique set up in his team has led to a happy working life. He commented: “The team are all fantastic and such a support to each other, but what’s a real help is that I have colleagues who have the same difficulty as me and if I’m having a bad day, they know exactly how I feel. SKILLED: (left to right) George Lang (supervisor) with joiners James Maguire, “I’m not sure that there will be many other workplaces that three out of a very small team council houses to get them ready for the next my hearing colleagues. I get given my works list are deaf or hearing impaired and we are a great tenant. Often I make the items, like doors, in in the morning and I can manage the workload support to each other.” the workshop and take them out and fit them in to suit. If my supervisor needs to contact me Mark Kennedy, 34, also joined as an the house. I also carry our repairs as and when they can text me when I’m out and about.” apprentice and has been with the council for 18 required. “I enjoy my work and I hope to work years. “I really like the fact that my job is so varied towards progressing to supervisor level within He says: “I started off in the workshop, but and I am treated like every other tradesman. a few years.” now I go out and about to do work at empty There are no differences made between me and Mark has a small amount of hearing and had never relied on signing as a means of communication. However, in order that he could get on better with Andrew and his other colleague James, he decided that he would learn. He said: “The unique set up we have has encouraged me to learn new communication skills too, which isn’t something I thought I would do. My wife, who is also deaf, is extremely proud of me and I hope that my children Kai and Ava will be as they get older.” George Lang, Mark’s supervisor, added: “When Mark started at an apprentice all those years ago we fully expected to teach him all the usual skills he’d need as a joiner but in actual fact he has taught us so much and inspired us to broaden our skillsets and learn British Sign DELIGHTED: Andrew, James and Language. Mark enjoy the variety of their jobs James Maguire, 57, has worked in the with the council building trade for years and joined the council

Hamilton Library has now become Dementia friendly

Hamilton Library is now the first South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture facility to become formally dementia friendly, thanks to a partnership between them Alzheimer Scotland and Seniors Together . The library linked up with the organisations to provide staff with specialist training on how to communicate with customers living with the condition. Staff took part in a dementia awareness session where they learned about the illness and found out about the best ways to communicate with customers who have dementia. The team from Seniors Together and Alzheimer Scotland also carried out an environmental audit of the library and staff added stickers and signage. At the end of the training programme, staff were presented with a certificate

to commend them for their hard work Picture: Anne- on the course. Andrew Cleland and Mark Kennedy and Stuart Grant (supervisor) Janine Nugent Staff were given simple tips on how to communicate effectively when three years ago. He is the only joiner of the dealing with dementia. three who has experience of working outwith DEDICATED: Andrew hard The training sessions are very the council. at work in the workshop informative with positive feedback provided from staff. Paul Nicoll, James said: “I’ve had many different jobs Library Assistant at Hamilton, said the in the building trade and at times I do feel that sessions were very helpful: “ We are my disability has stopped me from getting on. a very customer focussed service but However, since joining the council I’m happy the sessions certainly made us more that it really doesn’t seem to make a difference. sensitive to individual needs of all our I enjoy working with the team and my work customers and in particular the group is varied from day to day to keep it interesting concerned.” and challenging for me. I hope to continue to “Being much more aware of the work here until I retire.” condition in general has meant we as staff can make the libraries a more Supervisor Stuart Grant is full of praise for stress free and welcoming place to the workers. He said: “It’s great to have the come to”. guys on board. They’ve been part of the team Gerry Campbell, General Manager for years and it’s been fantastic to see them of SLLC, added: “I am delighted that grow in confidence in their abilities. Hamilton Library has received this “I’ve learned so much by having the guys award, it is a tribute to the dedication here. We’ve had to think more about how we of staff to providing the best possible communicate with all staff and we’ve learned service to customers and demonstrates sign language to enable us to better speak with a unique and innovative approach to a real and growing issue in today’s the team. society. We welcome the opportunity “The signing has become the main way we to work in partnership with Alzheimer communicate with each other as a team and Scotland and Seniors together and I’m looking forward to learning the next level hope to extend this initiative during shortly. It’s a great skill for me to have and I feel 2016 to make all of our libraries in strongly that more people should learn.” South Lanarkshire dementia friendly.”

GIFTS GIVE ZOO ANIMALS SOCIAL SKILLS BY LYNNE CARSTAIRS

HE Children’s Zoo at East Kilbride’s Calderglen Country Park is one of the most Tpopular visitor attractions in South Lanarkshire. Given that it is home to more than 50 species of mammal, reptile, insects and fish - including the critically endangered Scottish Wildcat – it’s not hard to see its appeal. Now South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture have launched a new initiative to build on that popularity and give visitors an even more personal stake in the livelihoods of its inhabitants. A ‘wishlist’ has been “The Zoo has a compiled via online retailer Amazon, detailing toys and other limited budget ‘enrichment’ items that can be which we bought and donated to the zoo. Ranging from £1 to more need to spend than £200 the wishlist contains something for just about every on food and animal, And, as a thank you to the shelter. So we purchaser, the team is using social media to post pictures and videos, had to come where possible, of the recipient with their new gift. And even were a good few charities and throughout the year to give up with a way if the animals are a little more zoos who had set their own up. visitors the chance to get closer to fund more camera shy, anyone who includes That got me thinking and, after to its animals which include their name with the gift, will get a agreeing it with colleagues we meerkats, emperor tamarin enrichment personal thank you online. decided to give it a go. monkeys, wallabies, porcupines, So far, according to Animal “We’ve been delighted with guinea pigs, snakes, insects and items for Keeper and Education Officer, the response so far and we have many species of birds. the animals, Natalie Martin, the meerkats and pledge to post pics and videos These include children’s monkeys have benefited most where we can of the animals birthday parties, ‘zookeeper for things that from the idea which she came playing with the toys so that those the day’, ‘wild breakfast’ and improve their up with after setting up her own who donate can see that we have ‘meet the meerkats’. For more birthday list on the website. received them and are making information on these and the wish quality of life.” She went on: “The zoo has a good use of them. list initiative, contact the park on limited budget which we need “We are grateful for all and 01355 236644, to spend on food and shelter. So any support we get and the wish Calderglen Country Park is a we had to come up with a way to list provides another way for us to four-star tourist attraction which fund more enrichment items for boost the health and wellbeing of as well as the Children’s Zoo, has the animals, things that improve the animals, we are privileged to a tropical glasshouse, ornamental their quality of life. work with.” gardens, nature trails and walks, “I had done a wish list myself Calderglen Children’s Zoo courtyard cafe, play areas and an on Amazon and noticed that there also hosts a variety of events 18 hole golf course.

FULFILLING: Natalie Martin thinks the toys enrich the animals lives (main picture) while student volunteer Kerrie Macaulay (right) loves working at Calderglen Picture: Anne- Janine Nugent

ANIMAL MAGIC Student volunteer acrossa the globe. Kerrie Macaulay spent many Said Kerrie, pictured here happy childhood days visiting wwith porcupines Hawthorn Calderglen Park with her dad and aand Blackberry: “I feel very siblings. pprivileged to have been given the And now the 23-year-old is cchance to work at the park. It’s very ‘loving every minute’ of working hhands on and gives me such a head behind the scenes at the hugely sstart in my course work, and for my popular children’s zoo just 20 ffuture career. It really is the kind of minutes from her family home. eexperience that money just can’t buy. Currently in year one of a three- “Before this I was working year course in Zoology at Paisley ono farms in Devon and moving University, the former Calderglen arounda without much of a plan. So High School pupil dreams of I decided to get my head in gear, working with elephants one day. anda to come home and knuckle But for now she is helping downd to my studies. And, out the team at Calderglen havingh the opportunity to once a week to build her learnle my craft in a place I experience working knowk and love so well with more than 50 is a dream come species from true.”tr

BY ANDREW THOMPSON child or is going through the adoption process should be HILDREN in South very proud. It is a remarkable Lanarkshire, from thing to do to give such an babies to teenagers, opportunity to a young life. are in need of “It is also important that we Cfamilies who will help them continue to raise awareness get the best out of life, and the of the need for more families, Family Placement Team want or prospective families, to to speak to anyone interested come forward and provide in adoption. a home for a child who can’t The Family Placement be with their birth family. Team’s recruitment drive is We are looking for ordinary being backed by local people families to do something who have already successfully Could you be the extraordinary.” adopted. The council’s website – “When someone calls you www.southlanarkshire.gov. Mummy you’ve just got to be parent a child in uk – has a dedicated section their mother,” said Michelle, on adoption including details a young South Lanarkshire on what is adoption, who mum. South Lanarkshire can adopt, what’s involved, Michelle and her husband assessment, checks, the saw adoption as the natural is looking for? approval process, support and choice when they discovered more information. they could not have children. For them, the process from thing it all seemed to fall into our son’s profile and we knew Q If you think you could application to completion took place very naturally. he was our perfect match.” be part of a child’s future, just under a year. “The classes we attended Harry Stevenson, the please phone the family She said: “It was a bit helped us understand why council’s Executive Director of placement team on 01698 nerve-wracking at first, but children need adoption, issues Social Work and Chief Officer 454895 between 8.45am and there was so much done to let they face growing up and the of the Health and Social Care 4.45pm, Monday to Friday, us know what to expect and situation for children in care. Partnership, added: “Every or e-mail familyplacement@ to walk us through the whole During those classes we saw parent that has adopted a southlanarkshire.gov.uk.

adoptionin South Lanarkshire

South Lanarkshire Council need to recruit adoptive carers for a range of children including sibling groups who need lifelong families.

If you are interested in finding out more please contact the Family Placement Team on 0303 123 1008 or email [email protected]

East Kilbride Task Force is committed to bringing new and exciting opportunities

HUB: The new leisure development will include a revamped ice rink, new restaurants, a gym and the existing cinema complex New ice rink at heart of leisure development in East Kilbride

BY SARAH BURROWS Force, Councillor Chris Thompson, said: Council’s commitment to a new ice rink is “It is excellent news that work is now well fantastic news for East Kilbride Shopping ORK is now well underway underway with this project. Centre. with the new £2.3m state- “The ice rink will form a key part of the “In addition to a new ice rink the of-the-art ice rink at East leisure hub and it is something that as a new development will comprise 11 new Kilbride. council we are delighted to be involved in. restaurants and cafes, a gym and an WThe new rink will complement a “With around 100,000 visitors a year, the upgrade to the Olympia Mall area. substantial redevelopment within the ice rink brings people into the town centre “The new development has already Olympia Mall at East Kilbride town centre. and when the works are complete we hope secured several exciting restaurant A new leisure hub will be created, that even more people will come and spend brands.” featuring a variety of family-orientated a day enjoying all the facilities on offer. The refurbishment of the ice rink will be restaurants, a new commercial gym, “This investment safeguards the future managed on behalf of South Lanarkshire the existing cinema complex and the of the ice rink and ensures it will be at Council by South Lanarkshire Leisure & refurbished ice rink. the heart of this exciting new leisure Culture (SLLC). The East Kilbride Task Force has worked development. The majority of the costs involved in closely with the Town Centre on the plans “It shows that the East Kilbride Task the refurbishment of the Ice Rink will be for the leisure hub. Force is committed to bringing new and met by the council with contributions The Task Force includes representatives exciting opportunities to the town.” sought from Renewable Energy Fund and from South Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Head of Retail, Orion Capital Managers, sportscotland. Enterprise, Business Gateway Lanarkshire Richard Low, said: “South Lanarkshire The refurbishment which will replace Enterprise Services, Skills Development the aging plant with a new ammonia plant, Scotland, Lanarkshire Chamber of air handling and heat recovery systems, a Commerce, South Lanarkshire College In addition to a new ice new ice pad, new barriers and redecoration and Orion Capital Managers, on behalf of and is expected to be complete in Autumn East Kilbride Town rink the development will 2016. Centre. comprise 11 restaurants Councillor Hamish Stewart, Chair of Chair of South the Community Services Committee, said: Lanarkshire Council’s and cafes, a gym and an “This is a major investment project to Enterprise Services improve leisure facilities for the people of Committee, and upgrade to the Olympia East Kilbride and surrounding areas which chair of the Task Mall area I am sure will be very welcome indeed.”

PUPILS EMBRACE LANGUAGE AND

LEARNING: The Confucius Hub allows pupils to learn about Chinese culture. Pictured left to right are: Anthony Duggan (15), Ciaran Reilly (15), Reece Harding (15), Megan Russell (17), Shona Waugh (17), British Council Chinese Language Assistant Jiuling Huang, Adele Martin (16), Caitlyn Morrison (15), Euan Hamill (14), Charliann Gibb (16).

BY ANDREW THOMPSON Uddingston Grammar showed off their Tai Chi Councillor Jean McKeown, said: “Having the skills; young people from Universal Connections Confucius Hub in Hamilton has brought real HERE was no monkeying around as sang a Chinese New Year song; pupils from St opportunities for our young people to learn pupils studying Chinese in South Cadoc’s Primary in Cambuslang demonstrated Mandarin and gain a genuine understanding Lanarkshire primary and secondary their Kung Fu numbers; Hamilton Grammar of Chinese culture which they will be able schools gathered in Hamilton at the offered a fan dance and St Hilary’s Primary to take with them as they go out into the Tstart of the Chinese Year of the monkey. from East Kilbride gave the audience world. The children and young people from five ‘Jasmine Flower’, a Chinese song and “I remember attending the official schools and Hamilton’s Universal Connections dance routine. opening of the Hub a little over three youth centre are learning about Chinese In addition to working with the years ago and how new, exciting and language and culture with the support of South pupils involved in the New Year so very different the first pupils were Lanarkshire’s Confucius Hub. event the Confucius Hub has been finding it. But, remarkably quickly it Established three years ago, and based in taking the teaching of the Mandarin has developed into an established and Hamilton Grammar, the hub is the local base language and Chinese culture to an popular part of the life of our learning for the Confucius Institute of Scotland which increasing number of South Lanarkshire communities.” is the national centre to promote educational, schools, with a total of 23 primary schools, and The Hub benefits from the support of economic and cultural ties between Scotland four secondaries now involved. two Han Ban Teachers who are volunteer and China. The Confucius Hub has also very good links teachers from China. They are trained in The Chinese New Year began on 8 February with the Youth Learning Service via Universal teaching Chinese as a foreign language under and is traditionally marked with the 15-day Connections with learning opportunities being a programme sponsored by the country’s Spring Festival; the Confucius Hub celebration provided for 45 young people. Ministry of Education. The Hub also has a was held on Thursday 11 February in the Chair of Education Resources Committee, Chinese Language Assistant from China. Banqueting Hall of South Lanarkshire Council Robert Burgess, Youth Learning Services, headquarters and was an opportunity for the “Remarkably quickly it has Confucius Hub Coordinator, said: “Our pupils to demonstrate their language skills and developed into an established Spring Festival Chinese New Year celebration aspects of Chinese culture. was a tremendous success and all the pupils Pupils from St Bride’s Primary in Bothwell and popular part of the life of our and young people enjoyed being able to preformed a selection of Chinese poetry; learning communities.” demonstrate their skills and learning and also the reporter SALMON TO RETURN TO AVON WATER

MAJESTICM Atlantic salmon couldc soon be leaping back up CHINESE thet Avon Falls. The fish became virtually extincte in the Clyde in the 19th century.c Over the last 40 years, CULTURE improvedi treatment of domesticd and industrial wastes anda reductions in industrial dischargesd have resulted in sufficients improvements in waterw quality in the lower riversr and upper estuaries of thet Clyde to allow salmon tot return. But in some rivers includingi the Avon Water, barriersb are preventing them fromf reaching their spawning grounds.g However this summer, a flagshipfl partnership project betweenb SEPA, Rivers and East meets West to build FisheriesF Trusts Scotland (RAFTS),( the Clyde and Avon learning differences ValleyV Local Partnership, South Three Hamilton Grammar students are to spend LanarkshireL Council, Clyde a full year studying in China later this year RiverR Foundation, anglers and thanks to the Confucius Hub. locall communities will open Sixth year pupils Nathan Epemolu, Scott upu 200km of salmon spawning Renwick and Tom Moffat (all 17) will be jetting groundsg in the Avon Water once off to China next September after securing again.a places and funding to study in the city of Natural rock fish passes will Tianjin. beb installed at the Ferniegair It is set to be an immersive experience with anda Millheugh weirs (built in little or no English to be spoken but the trio are surprisingly undaunted at the prospect of travelling to the other side of the world to live and learn in a country with a culture and language entirely different to what they have grown up with. Nathan said; “I’m really looking forward to it, it’s going to be an amazing opportunity. I did study Mandarin last year but I am a little bit latel 19th century to serve local rusty so I will need to practise.” mills)m in the summer of 2016, Tom and Scott are both currently learning meaningm that Atlantic salmon Mandarin at Hamilton Grammar and Tom shoulds be leaping the weirs in has already completed a starter course at autumna 2016. Universal Connections. CAVLP Programme Manager Scott said: “It’s my goal to study theatre and DonnaD Marshall said: “The China is really on the cusp of so many major watercoursesw of the Clyde and developments in the arts. It would be great to AvonA valleys are an important enroll on a Theatre Studies course there so, anda unique habitat for native who knows, perhaps I’ll end up staying for more wildlife.w For this reason, the opportunity to enjoy the performances they than a year.” wew have always viewed our were not part of. involvementi in this project as “The Confucius Hub has had an amazing Tom added: “China is so important in the a vital part of delivering our impact in a short space of time and there is a real world that to spend a year living there and overallo Heritage Lottery Fund passion for taking part being demonstrated by learning the language will be something that supporteds Programme.” our young people. It has also created amazing will help us all in whatever career path we opportunities with groups from schools and choose. We’ve been told we won’t hear English The fish passes will open up universities taking the opportunity to travel to VSRNHQDIWHUWKHÀUVWIHZZHHNV²,UHDGDEORJ approximatelya 200km of salmon China with our partner schools there. by someone studying there now who said in spawnings grounds in the Avon “Fifteen young people and four staff from WKHÀUVWZHHNWKH\ZHUHVHWWKHWDVNRIXVLQJ WaterW and upgrade the Water Universal Connections will be visiting Beijing public transport to navigate from the city FrameworkF Directive status of and Tianjin in April. During the visit they will centre to the campus.” eighte rivers in one fell swoop, attend Mandarin classes and participate in a sixs of which will achieve high wide variety of cultural activities.” status.s

Welfare Reform in South

BY ANGELA McMANUSUS tenantstenants aaffected. Working with locallocal hohousingu teams, the BACT HE Welfare Reformorm hashas been highly succesful in Act 2012 came intonto helpinghelping tot ensure that people force four years Lanarkshire havehave accessedacce the funding ago, bringing withith available,availablea from the UK and Tit a wide range of reforms to Scotttish Governments, to the benefits and tax credits cover the shortfall in housing system. benefit. Universal Credit (UC) is a Under UC money to big part of the reform and is a help, rent is paid directly new type of benefit designed to the tenant, who is then to support people who are on responsible for making their a low income or out of work. rent payment. Once again the It replaces six existing benefits BACT and the local housing – Housing Benefit, income- teams have been working based Job Seekers Allowance, to support tenants who are income-based Employment claiming UC and make sure and Support Allowance, tenants are aware of how it Income Support, Child Tax works and their responsibility Credit and Working Tax Credit to pay their rent. - and is paid directly to the Annette Finnan, Head of claimant, one month in arrears. Area Services in Housing and In South Lanarkshire, Technical Resources, said: UC came into operation in ”We continue to monitor October last year, initially only this important and dynamic affecting 200 claimants. But policy area and to develop our over the next couple of years, the impact of welfare reform for those struggling to make services so that they are best starting this April, the changes placed to support tenants to will affect more and more on residents. They’ve been ends meet and community working together, maximising recycling projects where claim UC and pay their rent. people in receipt of benefit “Our Benefits are Changing with increasing impacts. efforts to raise awareness of essential household items can the changes and the support be exchanged or swapped. Team is more than happy to available to residents, as well Trained volunteers, working offer advice and assistance A partnership as training staff to help. in SELECT hubs are also to council tenants. The focus Partnership initiatives providing critical support of the team is to make sure approach include an outreach welfare to fellow residents to help the Universal Credit claim South Lanarkhire Community advice service in health them to use the internet for has been made and the best Planning Partners have been facilities for those with long jobsearch purposes; claiming rent payment method is working together through term conditions, food co- benefits , accessing money established. The team are also the ‘Tackling Poverty and ops and food banks set up saving opportunities etc , on hand to assist in accessing Inequality Group’ to alleviate across South Lanarkshire while local libraries have other services.” continued to provide free The council’s Money access to a PC. Matters Advice Service can also help anyone affected. Supporting Council Tenants Over the past three years the council has put a great deal of Q The council’s Benefits effort into supporting council are Changing team tenants affected by welfare can be contacted at reform , in particular the benefitsarechanging@ under occupancy provisions or southlanarkshire.gov.uk “bedroom tax” . The Benefits or on 0303 123 1012, while are Changing Team (BACT) the Money Matters Advice was set up in April 2013 to Service is available on 0303 PROVIDING: Libraries have continued free access to a PC make contact with council 123 1008.

£5M PARK TRANSFORMS CLIMBING: ;KW\TIVL¼[ÅZ[\M^MZ JW]TLMZQVOXIZSQ[ []ZM\WJMIP]OM HIDDEN CORNER PQ\_Q\PaW]VO[\MZ[

LITTLE-KNOWN, remote and of tenements in the 1970s and to begin the More than 15,000 trees have been planted previously difficult to access process of creating the new park, the entire together with an extensive path network, a corner of Rutherglen is set to site was transferred over to Clyde Gateway riverside boardwalk and a large meadow become one of Scotland’s most by South Lanarkshire Council. and series of picnic areas. There is also Apopular free visitor attractions. The area has traditionally been known plenty on offer for those who want to be Cuningar Woodland Park is set to open as Cuningar Loop and is situated behind particularly active with an adventure play this spring after being developed for the showpeople homes just off Downiebrae area, a bike skills track and Scotland’s first past two years, thanks to the combined Road, but the lack of any pathway or road ever bouldering park. efforts of Clyde Gateway and Forest onto the site made it something of a secret. The park sits in the ward of Council Enterprise Scotland. More than £5million has now been spent Leader Councillor Eddie McAvoy. He The land at Cuningar, which extended to on the creation of Cuningar Woodland Park said: “There were ‘come and try’ weekend 30 hectares in size, had last been used as a which takes up half of the site that now events last year which generated a lot landfill site for rubble from the demolition sits in the ownership of Clyde Gateway. of excitement and many of the local youngsters were thrilled to make use of the bike tracks, the adventure play area and the incredibly striking and unique Derelict site back in use bouldering park. There has been a bit of fine tuning done by Forest Enterprise Clyde Gateway, the council- RutherglenR Links, the largest new VMI\ZPULZZZWHJL[OLLHZ`V Scotland over the winter months and backed regeneration agency VMÄJLISVJRJVUZ[Y\J[LKPU[OLV HJJLZZ[VW\ISPJ[YHUZWVY[HUKH everyone is gearing up and looking MVY9\[OLYNSLUHUK:OH^ÄLSK I\YNOPUTVYL[OHU[OPY[``LHYZI TV[VY^H`SPURZHSVUN^P[O[OLT forward to it full opening seven days a has announced details of the SPIE, one of the UK’s leading OPNOS`JVTWL[P[P]LYLU[HSSL]LSZO week. ÄYZ[VJJ\WPLY[VTV]LPU[V6UL WYV]PKLYZVM]P[HST\S[P[LJOUPJHSW ¸;OLJV\UJPSOHZNP]LU “I’m particularly pleased to see this ZLY]PJLZPUJS\KPUNJVUZ[Y\J[PVUZ [YLTLUKV\ZZ\WWVY[[VV\YLMMVY[Z[ fantastic level of investment coming into THPU[LUHUJLLUNPULLYPUNHUKT [VIYPUN[OPZ]HJHU[HUKKLYLSPJ[[V Rutherglen and it perfectly complements YLWHPYZPZTV]PUNPU[V[OL[VW[^VY townto centre site back into use as what Clyde Gateway is doing elsewhere ÅVVYZVM[OLMV\YZ[VYL`‰TPSSPVUÅ HI\ZPULZZWHYRHUKPUKLLKP[^HZH with the creation of new business and buildingb which is located on the *V\UJPSSVY4J(]V`[OL3LHKLY* ZP[LVM[OLMVYTLY4VUVNYHTZ VM[OL*V\UJPS^OVWLYMVYTLKV office spaces across the burgh, not MHJ[VY`VU-HYTLSVHU9VHKQ\Z[M [OL[VWWPUNV\[JLYLTVU`H[[ forgetting also the work they do with `HYKZMYVT4HPU:[YLL[ 6UL9\[OLYNSLU3PURZIHJRPU6 schools and community groups.” 0HU4HUZVU[OL*OPLM ^OLU[OLÄYZ[WOHZLVM Cuningar Woodland Park is currently ,_LJ\[P]LVM*S`KL.H[L^H`ZHPK!, itsit construction was nearing open to the public every Saturday and ¸:70,PZQ\Z[VULVMHU\TILYVM¸ JVTWSL[PVU¹J Sunday between 10am and 4pm. ÄYTZHUKVYNHUPZH[PVUZ^OVHYLÄ Q-\Y[OLYPUMVYTH[PVUVUVMÄJL [HRPUNHK]HU[HNLVM[OLTHU`[ I\PSKPUNHUK[OLYLTHPUKLYVM[OLI  Q More information is available at: thingst Clyde Gateway has to offer II\ZPULZZWHYRJHUILMV\UKH[ http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/visit/ includingi the quality and location ^^^^Y\[OLYNSLUSPURZJVT cuningar-loop

SUPERHEROES LAND IN SOUTH LANARKSHIRE

BY ANDREW THOMPSON

OUTH Lanarkshire’s first Comic Con proved to be a real draw for fantasy and sci-fi fans from across Scotland with organisers describing Sit as an overwhelming success. Hosted by South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture and the Big Glasgow Comic Page website, the event at Greenhills Library attracted around 40 specialist traders and hundreds of fans, many of whom came dressed as their favourite comic book or film characters. To those in the know this is called Cosplay (a shortened term from “costume play”) and enthusiasts lavish hours of work and a huge amount of attention on their outfits to bring to life accurate versions of favourite characters from comics, books, films Emma Addams, 25, East Kilbride Jennifer Morrow, East and video games. as Mikasa Ackerman: “This is Kilbride: “I have had a great The impressive, and at some scary, results P\ÀUVW&RQDOWKRXJK,KDYH WLPHDQGZRXOGGHÀQLWHO\EH of their labours were on display at Greenhills Library, with assorted stormtroopers from been wanting to go to one for EDFNLIWKH\GRLWDJDLQµ Star Wars, superheroes, aliens and more mingling with more soberly dressed fans and a while, it has been good and I families as they browsed the stalls at the South ZRXOGGHÀQLWHO\FRPHDJDLQµ Lanarkshire Mini Comic Con. In addition to a huge array of comics, graphic novels, crafts, art, film memorabilia and Funko Pop (bobble headed character fantastically friendly and there was a lot of fun figures) available; a series of workshops to be had. and classes were running through the “Hosting this event has been fantastic day including horror make-up and and we were really pleased by the zombie acting sessions, a Superhero attendance, but it was also a great Academy, including make a mask and opportunity to promote reading through cape, and a Doctor Who quiz. one of the most exciting and dynamic South Lanarkshire literary forms of the moment. We Leisure and Culture ran a free prize draw for anyone Community Librarian joining the library or borrowing Heather MacLean books on the day, which was a said: “It was great success. Owen Fleming, 11, East Kilbride certainly one of “To be honest when as Doctor Who: “I like Doctor the most unusual the library staff first Who and comics and have had days we have approached the Big ever had in one of Glasgow Comic website DJRRGWLPHP\PXPKHOSHG our libraries and I for advice about putting PHZLWKP\FRVWXPHDQG, think it is fair to say something like this together that there was some we had not imagined anything KRSHWKHUHLVDQRWKHURQH, bemusement among on this scale. Their support has ZLOOFRPHDJDLQµ our regular users. But been tremendous and this has the atmosphere was definitely been one of our most

Down in the woods todaytoday

He may be the most frightening thing in the forest (apart from Mouse) but there was fans to enjoy their local library than an nothing to fear at East Kilbride Central Library event like the Gruffalo Tea. when the Gruffalo came to tea for National “There was a lot of fun to be had with Libraries Day and turned out to be a big softie sequel ‘The Gruffalo’s Child’ and more than 30 mask making, characters from the story and at heart. Gruffalo themed books are available in the UK of course reading. First published 17 years ago author Julia alone. But on National Libraries Day the focus “I would like to congratulate our libraries Donaldson’s Gruffalo has been translated into ZDVÀUPO\RQWKHRULJLQDODV\RXQJIDQVPHW team on all the effort they put into the dozens of languages (including Latin) and, is up in East Kilbride Central Library for a Gruffalo special events for National Libraries Day and now a well established children’s classic with Tea. throughout the year to encourage people to more than 13.5 million copies sold worldwide Chair of South Lanarkshire Leisure and make the most of their Library and to help get and with 58 separate editions, a generation of Culture, Councillor Hamish Stewart, said: “The new users to pay a visit.” children has grown up with it. Gruffalo undoubtedly deserves to be regardedded The multi-award winning book has also as a children’s classic and I could not think of EHHQDGDSWHGLQWRDVWDJHVKRZDÀOPKDVD a better way of encouraging our youngest bookook successful National Library Day events ever.” credit to all those involved in putting it on andd Ian Bonar, from Big Glasgow Comic Page, definitely something I would do again.” said: “We have regular events in Glasgow but Mum Angela Lamont was there with herr this has been our first try at holding an event son Owen who took a prize in the under-166 outside the city centre and it has definitely Cosplay. She said: “This has been fantastic. been well worth it. Owen has wanted to attend a Comic Conn “The library team first approached me for event for a while but was a little wary of goingg some advice and possible contacts but when to one in the city without really knowing whatt talking to them I could tell how serious they to expect.” were about trying to do something special so Gerry Campbell, General Managerr we decided to take the plunge and offer the of South Lanarkshire Leisure, said: “Thee full support that we could. Greenhills Library team have done a great jobb “I have been absolutely blown away by in supporting an event that has taken themm how well the event went. We expected a few into new territory and I think it reflects welll James Burns, Kilwinning as hundred people and we got more than three on how our libraries across South Lanarkshiree thousand, loads of people in Cosplay and a are willing to move with the times and doo Judge Burns: “This is my fourth great family atmosphere.” strive to cater for all sections of the community.. event of this kind and this one is Ivor Davis, of Glasgow based Ivor’s Comics “This event is a great example of how librariess a lot busier than I expected but was among the stall holders at the event. are working hard to stay relevant and has alsoo He said: “I am a regular at the Big Glasgow been a real opportunity to get people through thee there was a lot of buzz about it in events in the city and I have to say this has doors on National Libraries Day to see just howw the weeks beforehand and it has really exceeded all expectations. It is a huge much is on offer in a modern library.” a real family feel.”

thethe reporterreporter HUB FOR CARING BY LYNNE CARSTAIRS

NEW community hub is improving lives for Lesmahagow’s older community. Glebe Gardens in the heart of the Avillage centre, has been designed to become a focus not only for the tenants of the sheltered housing complex, but also for the provision of services for older people with a variety of needs. The facility, which opened earlier this year, marks an investment by South Lanarkshire’s TIME FOR TEA: Jean Anderson Housing and Technical Resources, in enjoys a cuppa poured by Sheltered partnership with Social Work Resources, and Housing Team Leader Wilma Overend is a key part of ongoing health and social care wider opportunities for older people within this integration under the Community Planning community. It enables them to build on existing partnership. friendships, reduce social isolation and receive The communal building at Glebe Gardens ‘person centred’ care aimed at maintaining was originally a large meeting hall with ancillary their independence and wellbeing. With that and toilet accommodation. Day care services for in mind, we have also established a visiting older people also operated in the building but services room where clients can access personal restricted space and limited facilities made it care such as podiatry or hairdressing. more difficult to offer personal care supports. “This is supported by good partnership Now, following extension and working between health, housing and social redevelopment, it houses a further three work colleagues to support older people with bespoke social/living areas, kitchen and complex needs remain longer at home in their bathroom facilities, two laundries and a visiting local community. services personal care suite. “The environment – specifically designed to Its light, bright decor is designed to be a be dementia friendly - makes such a difference ‘home away from home’ and is fast becoming to our clients and it is so lovely to see them a central part of the lives of the residents of relaxed and at ease.” Glebe Gardens sheltered housing complex, as And for the tenants of Glebe Gardens the well as many more from the surrounding area new community hub has provided a social accessing social work day care. lifeline. The advantages of such integration of key Eighty-eight-year-old Betty Hamilton is a services are many, as Wilma Overend, Sheltered tenant of four years standing, having moved Housing team leader, explains. “The investment from her family home in the village where she in extending the space here offers so much brought up her five children. flexibility both for sheltered housing tenants, She said: “I am so happy here as I still get and our Social Work colleagues to adapt the to keep my independence but have the support accommodation based on need,” she said. when I need it. This new facility has made life “There is room for the day care sevice users even better as it’s somewhere we can all get and the tenants to spread out, to have their own together. space or to be together. It can be sociable or “Before this, there were times when it was “I am so happy here as private and that is such a bonus. easier just to stay at home, especially in the Adds Eileen Smyth, Daycare Resource winter. When we heard this was being built I still get to keep my Manager: “The refurbished facility will open up we were so excited, and it has turned out to be independence but have the everything we could have hoped for. It’s just support when I need it. perfect.” In fact, as Wilma Overend explains, the new lounge and kitchen space has already helped her new home, this wasn’t possible. So, they one new tenant maintain a lifelong family used the facility here and the tradition was able tradition. to continue. It was lovely to be able to offer that She added: “One lady moved in towards support to the tenant and her family.” the end of last year who, when she was in her Moving forward, the aim now is to widen the use of the facility to include elderly residents INTEGRATED: New hub at Glebe Gardens own home, hosted her family every year at Christmas. But with the reduction in space in of the local area. A regular bingo afternoon is the reporter REGISTRATIONR AND LICENSINGL SERVICES TheT registration service is one which everyone CALM SURROUNDINGS willw use at some stage, to register a birth, The new development at Glebe Gardens is already winning marriagem or death. So it is important that widespread and warm praise. ppeople know the best, and easiest, way for George (carer) said: “This unit is now first class. It’s fresh, tthem to access it. comfortable, warm and ideal for my mother who has dementia.” In Hamilton, the Licensing and Registration Wilma (daughter of service user): “This new development officeo at The Town House, 102 Cadzow makes a tremendous difference to both my mum and me. For her, Street,S Hamilton ML3 6HH operates both an a smaller, fresher and calmer environment, and for me, easier to appointmenta service and walk in service for get to work. Less stress all round!” LicensingL and Registration matters with the Gillian (daughter of service user): “Wow, what a fantastic space! So bright and clean and with dementia-friendly colours. A exceptione of taxi and private hire car/driver boutique hotel feel which I am sure the users and staff appreciate. applications. a Thanks for the investment as this facility and support is a In Rutherglen and Cambuslang, the lifesaver to many with dementia.” LicensingL and Registration office at The Town Hall,H 139 Main Street, Rutherglen G73 2JJ offerso the same service as the Hamilton office. SUPPORT: Customers should be advised that there Jessie maym be a wait using the walk in service McDade is dependingd on the volume of customers. To one of the bookb an appointment please call 0303 123 residents enjoying the 1015.1 new facilities at Glebe 2IÀFHKRXUVDWERWK+DPLOWRQDQG2 Gardens 5XWKHUJOHQDUH5 Picture: Anne- Q0RQGD\7XHVGD\DQG7KXUVGD\DPWR Janine Nugent SP Q:HGQHVGD\DPWRSP Q)ULGD\DPWRSP Q6DWXUGD\DPWRSP )URP1RYHPEHU XQWLOWKHHQGRI)HEUXDU\HDFK\HDUWKHRIÀFHLVX RSHQIURPDPWRSPR )

InI East Kilbride, the office at the Civic Centre, CornwallC Street, East Kilbride operates an appointmenta only service for registration mattersm two days per week. To make an appointmenta customers should phone 01698 453792.4 In Clydesdale, the office at South Vennel, LanarkL - operates an appointment only services for registration matters two days per week. w To make an appointment customers shoulds phone 01698 453792.

AllA taxi and private hire car matters are dealt withw at the Licensing Office, 4 Livingstone Boulevard,B Hamilton International TechnologyT Park, Blantyre G72 0BP.

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LicensingL customers can also apply online at already underway, and with two or three local wwww .southlanarkshire.gov.uk organisations already using it as meeting place, If customers require a copy of an extract/ its place at the centre of the community is being certificatec of a birth, death, marriage or civil cemented. partnershipp that took place in Scotland they The model being delivered at Glebe canc order a copy online from our website Gardens is similar to the approach www.southlanarkshire.gov.ukw . already developed at the new Clydeford View(Cambuslang) and Eastcroft Gardens Q In addition there is an appointment only (Rutherglen) Sheltered Housing developments. The services are designed not only to give services for registration matters at Council tenants the best possible quality of housing Offices,O Almada Street, Hamilton ML3 0AA. and facilities, but also to help promote positive AppointmentsA can be made by phoning engagement of communities, both within the PERFECT: Betty Hamilton is 016980 453792. Payments for extracts/ development and in the surrounding areas. delighted with the changes certificatesc is by card payment only.

CONTACT: The Q and A Implementation Group meet to discuss the way forward

Improving contact between customers and council

BY ANGELA McMANUS mean that requests from the web will be dealt with more effectively, saving time and money and improving the service to customers. ITH the growing popularity of Patrick Murphy, Head of Support Services online services across all age in Housing and Technical Resources, is groups, it’s no surprise that many leading these changes. Patrick says it’s about more people want to contact the W following the customer’s lead in how they council online too. prefer to contact the council, making sure To ensure that the council keeps up to date their experience is a positive one. with online developments, ways have been He said: “We’re living in a digital age identified to make online processes more and we have to ensure that our methods of straightforward, quicker and easier to use. contact keep up with the expansion of new Numbers using the website have increased technology and customer preferences. People over the last year, so to make information expect and want to have their business dealt clearer and easier to find, hundreds of with as simply and as quickly as possible. documents that are no longer relevant for We need to manage their expectations and customers have been removed to keep online respond as best we possibly can - that’s what information up-to-date. these improvements are all about.” There are plans in place to improve the CALLS: One of the many and popular Even with the increase in online enquiries, ways to get in touch with the council transfer of information from web forms contacting the council by phone remains directly to the relevant service. This will popular. Around 1.5 million calls are received We’re planning to significantly expand its each year and they have been analysed to use, introducing a council-wide system that make improvements – again through the use enables us to send both personal messages – of the latest technology. This will help reduce reminding people of appointments for house the number of unanswered calls, and to repairs, for example – and bulk messages expand the use of automated phone services. with more general information such as road Added to this, the number of UK closures or promotion of cultural events.” households using mobile phones exceeds And for those who don’t have online those with land lines, resulting in a whole access or a phone at home, the Q and A offices new group of customers whose preferences located across South Lanarkshire provide are to access and receive information and both PC kiosks and public access telephones. services “on the move”. Blantyre, Carluke and Rutherglen Q and A The use of text messaging as part of the offices will be moving this summer to be co- drive to improve customer contact is also located with the local library – remaining in FACE-TO-FACE: The Q and A being explored. Patrick said: “While the the heart of the community and close to the service is changing council already uses texting, it’s fairly limited. customer. the reporter HOLY CROSS GIVES GIRLS Abigail A SPORTING Shaw CHANCE

BY SARAH BURROWS

oly Cross High School in Hamilton has taken a unique approach to encourage more girls Hinto sport. The school’s PE department decided the best way to encourage girls to take part in extra-curricular clubs was to use sporting role models from the school that younger girls could aspire to be like. The girls are now the focus of a series of posters which show them participating in their chosen sports. PE Teacher Marianne Bradley, who led the project within the school, is delighted by the response of the posters. She said: “I decided to use our own girls on the posters BALLET so that it would be more relatable DANCER: for those who were beginning to Erin lose interest in PE and sport. Gallagher “Many girls that attend the DOING THE DANCE: Rachael Lees, Erin school and girls from the wider Gallagher and Abigail Shaw community have commented on the posters and it’s been great to see an increase in girls’ participation rates in PE and in extra-curricular clubs. “It’s been a great way to highlight the successes of some of our pupils in their own sporting field, and so far the feedback has been very encouraging. Hopefully the new girls we have encouraged will become the sporting stars and poster girls of the future.”

ON THE BALL: Adele Baillie, Anna Wilson and Anna King Picture: Anne-Janine Nugent

‘KEEPING’ Goalie Matt and his EK team- mates make a case for the defence against Scottish champions

BY ANDY LIVINGSTONE

S far as football’s David against Goliath encounters go, it doesn’t get much more classic than this: a Lanarkshire Ateam from the fifth tier of the country’s senior football facing up to the Scottish chachampions. FFormed in only 2010 as an amateur cclublu and achieving senior status as recentlyrec as 2013, East Kilbride had pplayedla Lothian Thistle in a Scottish CCupu replay knowing that the winners hadha a tie hosting Celtic waiting in the nnext round. From the moment the final whistle wwent in their 2-0 victory in that fourth-roundf tie, excitement flooded tthe club and the town as they looked forward to the match with the Glasgow giants. The wait seemed interminable, but the big day eventually arrived andan an incredible 4000 East Kilbride fans took their seats at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium to watch them match up, 11 v 11, against the multi-million-pound team from Glasgow. And how they fought! The EK players gave every ounce of effort they had, battling for every ball, throwing themselves in front of shots, maintaining their organisation and being brave enough to play football themselves when in possession. Matt McGinley combines In the end, Celtic won, but to restrict the Champions to just two goals – with one of his football with his them going in off the arm of Celtic striker day job, teaching PE at Leigh Griffiths and the other coming after Calderglen High School a lucky break of the ball to Colin Kazim-

SUPERSTARS AT BAY

WELL-EARNED PLAUDITS: Matt joins the rest of the team in saluting the huge crowd of East Kilbride fans who supported them at the big game.

Richards – was a feat beyond anything the while he was at university and caught the said. “They bring a drum and add so much rest of Scottish football had thought possible. eye of Morton, who signed him on a full- enthusiasm to the atmosphere even just The whole team contributed to that time contract when he was 21. A season normally, so you can imagine the excitement achievement, but it was goalkeeper Matt there was followed by two years at Albion leading up to the Celtic game. McGinley and captain Barry Russell whose Rovers before his first teaching job took him “However, for the players, it was about performances stood out from even those of to Aberdeen and he signed for Buckie Thistle. keeping our feet on the ground and trying the rest of the heroes. Last summer, he moved to his current to remain focused. We trained as normal in And yet Matt – who pulled off save after post, teaching PE at Calderglen, and he the week leading up to it, and spoke before stunning save – might never have been a contacted several teams to enquire about a it about enjoying it and playing to the best of goalkeeper at all if his football career had trial with them. East Kilbride took him on our ability. followed its original path. at the start of this season and so began the “It turned out to be a brilliant experience – The 26-year-old, who teaches PE at road to the meeting with Celtic – a clash that the whole team loved every minute of it. We East Kilbride’s Calderglen High School, generated as much anticipation knew that set pieces were always going to be explained: “I actually played in defence, as at the school as in the rest of a danger because of their greater physicality, a right-back or centre-half, until I was 18. It the town, if not more. so to limit them to just two set-piece goals was only when an amateur team I was with “There is a group of shows how well we did. found they were short of a goalie one game up to 50 third- and fourth- “It was an achievement by the whole that I filled in in goals, and I’ve played there year boys who have team. We worked as a unit from front ever since.” been coming to the East to back, we stopped a lot of crosses at Matt played at amateur and junior level Kilbride games,” Matt source and there were people throwing themselves in front of everything. “This may make people realise the good level we are playing at. All of the players in our squad have played at a good level, whether at youth age-groups or as adults, and the quality throughout our league is really good. “This has been an unexpected boost, so now we have to take the experience and confidence from the Celtic game and use that in the cups and in trying PUPIL SUPPORT: Matt and the EK team to climb up the enjoy the enthusiastic backing of a large league.” band of boys from the school.

You can use our website... to make a payment, report a repair or fault, check school holidays and contact us If you have internet access, please use our online payments for UHQWFRXQFLOWD[SDUNLQJÀQHVDQGPRUH,W·VDYDLODEOHDQ\WLPH day or night. Don’t have internet access? Refuse, grounds maintenance Here’s a handy list of our main contact numbers and street cleansing 0303 123 1020 Payments 0303 123 1005 Conference and banqueting 0303 123 1009 Housing repairs 0303 123 1010 Bereavement services (cemeteries and crematorium) 0303 123 1016 &RXQFLOWD[DQGEHQHÀWV 0303 123 1011 Parking 0303 123 1006 Council tax arrears 0303 123 1014 Customer Services Centre - Housing enquiries (except repairs) 0303 123 1012 for other enquiries 0303 123 1015 Crisis and Community Care grants 0303 123 1007 Out-of-hours emergency repairs Social Work and Money Matters 0303 123 1008 and homeless 0800 242 024 www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk