Renfrewshire will be a thriving, safe and forward looking community which cares for its people and its environment 
Renfrewshire community plan 2000 - 2010 Provost's Community Awards
Home > Services > Community and Living > Provost's Community Awards
"As Renfrewshire's Provost, it's my privilege to meet many people in our community who show such dedication to others and achieve so much.
The Provost's Community Awards are your chance to tell us that you admire these people too, and you'd like them to be rewarded for who they are and what they do.
If you know someone who helps others, who makes a difference in their community or who battles to overcome physical or emotional barriers in their life, nominating them for one of these awards is a great way of showing what you think of them."
Provost Celia Lawson
The Provost's Community Awards are your chance to tell us that you admire these people too, and you'd like them to be rewarded for who they are and what they do.
If you know someone who helps others, who makes a difference in their community or who battles to overcome physical or emotional barriers in their life, nominating them for one of these awards is a great way of showing what you think of them."
Provost Celia Lawson
These are the different award categories you can nominate someone for:
- Child of Achievement – sponsored by Glasgow Airport Ltd
- Carer – sponsored by former Provost Nancy Allison
- Community Volunteer or Group – sponsored by Ciba Specialty Chemicals PLC
- Special Needs - sponsored by Scottish Power and former Provost Ronnie and Mrs Helen Burns
- Adult Achiever - sponsored by Diageo
- Arts and Culture - sponsored by Acre Industrial & Cleaning Services Ltd
- Spirit of Fairtrade - sponsored by the Piazza Shopping Centre
The awards ceremony will take place in March 2009.
Nominations closed on Thursday 24 December 2008.
If you'd like more information about the awards, please phone Drew Gibson or Mairi Brown on 0141 840 3363 or 0141 840 3706.
We could not deliver the Provost's Community Awards without the outstanding support and contribution of our sponsors.
Child of Achievement- 2008 winner: Lauren Harper
For this award, we are looking for a child who has achieved in their young life, whether it is in school, through voluntary work, in a youth group or who has overcome a difficulty, and is inspirational to us all.
Lauren Harper was nominated by her mum Leah, who said that Lauren "is a very special person without whom she would not be here today."
When Lauren was nine years old, Leah witnessed the murder of her partner at her workplace. For the next five years, Lauren was a huge support to her mum as she battled with depression. Her help was even more vital when Leah had an operation to correct a heart problem in 2007.
As well as all the help she gives her mum, Lauren was very active in helping the Singing Children of Africa Choir on their visit to Renfrewshire last year, and acts as a child sponsor to a 5-year-old African girl.
Categories
Carer - 2008 winner: Mary Ross
It is widely recognised that there are many unpaid carers in today's society, for example, a friendly neighbour who drops into check on their elderly neighbour.
This category is open to any individual or group who offers care to a relative, friend or neighbour.
Our 2008 winner, Mary Ross, works at Bishopton Primary School and was nominated by her colleague Agnes McKillop.
At the school, Mary does much beyond what is expected of her, including running a special "Mary's Table" in the dining hall for kids who find lunchtime a daunting experience. At home, she has fostered children for a number of years, many of whom came to Mary in difficult circumstances, whilst caring for her husband and elderly father. She often rents holiday cottages where all of the children can enjoy a memorable holiday. For the past 20 years, Mary has also run a youth club for teenagers in Bishopton.
Categories
Community Volunteer - 2008 winner: Willie Ross
In this category, we are looking for an individual or group who either lives or works in Renfrewshire. The community activity they do could include neighbourhood clean-ups, active involvement in a community group such as a community council, charity work or youth work.
Willie Ross was nominated by a friend for all of the good work he does in his local community in Paisley.
He has raised money for a number of different charities, entertains elderly people and raises money through variety shows. Despite having a disability himself, Willie also takes disabled people on shopping trips.
Categories
Special Needs - 2008 winner: Monica Keeney
This award is open to any age group, and will recognise a person who has overcome a difficulty and demonstrated that despite their difficulties, they play a full and active part in society.
Last year's winner, Monica Keeney, is a highly-qualified engineer who contracted Multiple Sclerosis. Within a very short period of time, she became a wheelchair user, visually impaired and with restricted use of her upper limbs.
Monica is studying for an HNC in Creative Writing at Reid Kerr College and plans to write a book for her two 'beautiful daughters' about all the things her mother never told her. She plays an active part in college life and inspires her fellow students, moving lecturer George Smith to describe her as a "unique, humble, caring person" in his nomination.
Categories
Adult Achiever (New award)
This category is open to anyone over 16 years of age who has been successful in their adult life, whether it is through education, work or social activities.
Categories
Arts and Culture (New award)
This new category introduced this year, is open to an individual or group, of any age group, who have demonstrated commitment to the arts and/or culture, for example, a youngster involved in music, photography, art; or an adult who has given their time to raise awareness of the arts and/or culture in Renfrewshire.
Categories
Spirit of Fairtrade (New award)
This new category has been introduced this year to support the Council's commitment to raising the profile of Fairtrade in Renfrewshire. The award is open to independent outlets such as cafes, charity shops and restaurants who sell and promote Fairtrade goods. Nominations are open to individuals or groups who actively promote Fairtrade.
Categories
