Customers at Pollokshaws West Station will soon be in a spin as the vacant buildings on the platform ‘brake’ out in a new lease of life, thanks to a joint partnership between First ScotRail and South West Community Cycles.

First ScotRail was approached by South West Community Cycles, a charity run by a voluntary committee proactive in promoting health and education in the South West of Glasgow, after they heard about the train operator’s ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme.

The charity was looking for suitable premises in which they could set up a bicycle hire and repair centre, complete with cycle sales as well as refurbishment and cycle repair training, which was within close proximity to Pollok Park. The benefit of this location is due to the two major tourist attractions close by - The Burrell Collection and Pollok House – just a bike ride away!

First ScotRail is fully supporting the proposal and has agreed to lease the unused station building in order to develop the venture. Also involved in the grand plan is CEIS which is helping to develop the project, Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC) who will be sharing the offices with SW Community Cycles and The Railway Heritage Trust, whose key objective is to bring surplus railway property back into use.

John Yellowlees, external relations manager at First ScotRail, said, “This is a great opportunity and I am delighted that we are able to support this initiative in providing suitable premises. In supporting local schemes such as this, we can help further improve the environment of our stations, making them more attractive places for customers.

“Our ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme has been a great success since it launched in September 2005 and we have been thrilled with the quality as well as quantity of proposals coming in. We hope that this addition will encourage more people to put forward proposals for other stations.”

Donna Foote from SW Community Cycles said, “The building at Pollokshaws West Station is ideal for us to operate from and we are delighted that First ScotRail have agreed to let us use it. The benefits are numerous - everyone in the area knows where it is, we’ll be right next to Pollok Park and there is direct access to the trains.

“Cycling is such a great activity for keeping kids and their parents healthy – and something they can do together as a family. We believe that cycling should be available and affordable for everyone in South West Glasgow and that’s what we are working towards.”

Peter Hayman of Cyclists’ Touring Club, added: “It is great that First ScotRail is providing this accommodation which we will be sharing with SW Community Cycles. Our plan is to use the space to house our office, where we can focus on cycle related work in Scotland.”

Bovis Lend Lease is one of the first major companies in Scotland to benefit from the Healthyliving Award recently launched by the Scottish Consumer Council with the aim of making it easier for people to buy healthier food when they eat out.

The award was achieved through the collective efforts of Bovis and its catering supplier, Boyd Catering, for taking a range of steps to reduce levels of fat, salt and sugar in food and by making more fruit and vegetables available at its staff canteen located at the Silverburn site for the new Pollock Shopping Centre.

Instead of the traditional pie and chips which the builders used to tuck into during the day, many of the 700 employees now enjoy healthier options at breakfast and lunchtimes, such as porridge, fat free yoghurt, cereals, low fat chicken tikka masala, spicy bean tortilla, turkey and pepper stir fry, and oven cooked fish.

Lighter mayonnaise and spreads, along with semi-skimmed milk, has replaced the full fat versions, and fruit along with vegetables to accompany lunchtime dishes are provided free to all employees.

Pollok Leisure Centre is to close on Sunday 4 March for ten months to allow refurbishment works to be carried out under the Pollok Civic Realm Capital Project, a project that is developing and improving Pollok Town Centre.

This ten month period of work will see the relocation of the existing library and learning centre to The Wedge to create an expanded facility, new frontage and information hub.  The Wedge, a community facility, is based at 1066 Barrhead Road in Pollok.

The space vacated by the relocation of the library will be refurbished and a fitness suite provided.  The roof of the swimming pool will be replaced as part of the work.

Groups who regularly use Pollok Leisure Centre are being relocated to other venues during the period of the refurbishment works.

Councillor John Lynch, Executive Member for Cultural and Leisure Services at Glasgow City Council, said:  “This work will give the people of Pollok and the surrounding area an outstanding leisure facility, and regular users will be accomodated in other facilities while the work takes place.”

The first stage of the Pollok Civic Realm Project - the improvement of Pollok Health Centre and incorporating Social Work Services - is now nearing completion.

For further information, please call Pollok Leisure Centre on 0141 881 3313.

The Kellogg Drop a Jean Size Challenge aims to start a healthier lifestyle by seeing if you can Drop a Jean Size in 2 weeks through eating Special K cereals for breakfast and then again for lunch or dinner.

A free prize draw for a specially detailed "Special K Mountain bike" was run as part of Tesco’s healthy living campaign.

The winner of the bike was Michael Miller, who has actually dropped TWO jean sizes!!

The handover of the bike took place on Thursday 15th February at 2.30pm, Tesco Silverburn.

We offer men the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of activities including fishing, hill walking,orienteering etc. We also provide information on healthy eating, healthy lifestyles, stress relief etc.

What does befriending involve?

Each young person referred to the Service will have different needs and interests. The Support Workers will endeavour to match you with a young person on the basos of common interests and personality, your experience, abilites and skills.

As a volunteer you would be expected to commit yourself to befriending for at least six months from the date you are matched, with contact averaging 2 to 4 hours per week. Some matches last considerably longer and some will have variations in frequency.

In addition you would have monthly contact with a support worker and quarterly with other befrienders involved with the service ( these would be informal or social gatherings, or issue based training opportunities. You would also be required to complete a brief log or diary of each meeting or visit with the young person ( not a major report but a simple 10 minute questionnaire.

Where and when you meet is up to you and the young person ( and sometimes their parents) as long as there is consistant commitment and regularity. You must always ensure the young persons family know where you are going, what you will be doing and when they will be returning home.

What Can You Expect ?

In terms of the relationship itself, much depends on why you want to be involved. Befrienders volunteer for a variety of reasons and we will do our best to address your agenda and needs. However all volunteers can expect quality training which starts with the befrienders training programme and continues throughout their involvement.

The monthly meetings with your support worker and the diary/log sheets will be used to identify individual, further training needs . Beyond this, you would br e encouraged to request taining on anything remotely related to your voluntary work. We can offer no guarantees but would endeavour to accomodate any reasonable suggestion.

All expenses are reimbursed within reasonable limits; you will be advised of this in more detail. Should you wish to engage in other forms of voluntary work, as part of the Volunteer Centre the service is well placed to advise you about what opportunities exist. Many people find befriending is a useful stepping stone to personal and career development.

Finaly and probably most importantly, you can expect to enjoy the experience and have some fun.

For further information on how you can get involved please feel free to contact the befriending team at the address below.

84 Miller Street, Glasgow, G1 1DT

Email: befriending@volunteerglasgow.org

0141 226 3431