Paisley people celebrate 30 years of community spirit with King's Award
The people of Ferguslie have marked the 30-year anniversary of the Tannahill Centre with royal recognition – just as they did in 1995.
The centre on Paisley's Blackstoun Road – which has become a beacon of community empowerment – was formally opened on July 5, 1995, by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip.
Now, three decades later, their son has bestowed those who dedicate their time to the centre's many projects with the King's Award for Voluntary Service – the highest honour a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
Earlier this month, King Charles also welcomed two Tannahill stalwarts, Mandy Chappell and Elaine Carter, to Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, for his summer garden party.
It has a wonderful moment for Elaine, who still has great memories of the Queen opening the centre 30 years ago.
She said: 'The biggest achievement of the Tannahill Centre is the way it has supported so many volunteer organisations to get off the ground in Ferguslie.
'And that volunteer spirit is what makes Ferguslie what it is; the willingness to help your neighbour and your community.
'The King's Award was recognition of that and a thank you to all the volunteers over the years who have worked hard to make a difference.
'There was great fan fare when the Queen and Prince Phillip came in 1995 and King Charles came with them when they visited in 1994 after the floods so it was nice to cap this year off with a royal award.'
Elaine was chosen to attend the garden party on behalf of the Tannahill volunteers as a former employee and long-time volunteer with Ferguslie Seniors.
Her companion Mandy has also been a long-serving member of the influential Darkwood Crew.
It is a group established to look after the environment and green spaces in Ferguslie but has morphed into an organisation that also tackles food insecurity and social isolation.
And it is among more than a dozen groups and charities which use the Tannahill Centre as a hub to bring about positive change.
The Tannahill Events Team, Ferguslie Community Choir, Own Yer Bike, No Substitute For Life Mens Group, Youth Voice, Ferguslie Youth Club, Ferguslie Community Church, Pachedu, Ferguslie Seniors, Ferguslie Women's Group and Community Together have all found a home in the building at various points in time.
Terry McTernan, former chairman of Ferguslie Park Community Council and leading figure in the Darkwood Crew, said the role of the Tannahill Centre in the recent rejuvenation in Ferguslie cannot be understated.
Terry, who now works as the volunteer coordinator at the centre, said: 'This award helps capture the partnership working and anchor-type organisation that exists at the Tannahill Centre.
'Certainly, since the pandemic, the Tannahill Centre has worked in partnership with the likes of Ferguslie Seniors, Darkwood Crew, No Substitute for Life Men's Mental Health, so there's a whole caboodle of them and the Tannahill Centre has been happy to showcase them.
'Ferguslie Park is a unique community in terms of volunteering and it's bred into our culture, so it's lovely to have that recognised by the King in this 30th anniversary year.'
The birthday year has been celebrated with a series of events at the Tannahill Centre, with a party, the presentation of the King's Award for Voluntary Service by the Lord-Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, Colonel Peter McCarthy and the royal garden party.
Paul Irwin, community development manager of the Tannahill Centre, said: 'Both Mandy and Elaine are tireless champions for our community. Whether it is addressing isolation, promoting dignity or helping Ferguslie flourish – they embody the very best of us.
'This award belongs to every volunteer, past and present, who has put in hours of selfless dedication to make our centre a safe, welcoming, and inspiring place for everyone.
'This includes all of the volunteer-led groups that have established themselves over the years, who do so much to directly address issues within the area.'
Paul added: 'The hard work and resilience of all Ferguslie volunteers have made a lasting difference in the lives of so many and we couldn't be prouder of what we've achieved together.'
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