Latest news with #MattRoss
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Larkfield garden is getting summer ready - but needs more volunteers to help it bloom
THE team behind an ever-growing garden project in Greenock are looking for more volunteers to pitch in this summer and help make their ambitious project a success. Over the past year green-fingered volunteers have transformed a former derelict site off Banff Road into a thriving outdoor space, dubbed the 'Larkfield Guerrilla Garden'. Volunteers flocked to the garden on Tuesday to lend a helping hand in planting flower beds, building a polytunnel and tidying up the site, making progress towards their ultimate goal of having the garden be fully open for visitors. (Image: George Munro) Larkfield resident Kirsty Cairns founded the project with help from Matt Ross and Jackie McPherson. Read more Bee-themed event to be held at Kilmacolm Library this weekend McGill's confirm 'major expansion' into coach travel with seven-figure acquisition The Haven announces competition to name new coffee and crepe van Together the trio created a community garden and produce growing space on the site that had been lying empty for 17 years. Kirsty said: 'We don't have a food panty in this area anymore, so the idea is to grow food here and give it away for free because there is a lot of food poverty in Inverclyde. 'If this is going to work it needs to be a bigger team effort and Matthew and I would still try to make it work on our own, but we need the community to help bring it to life. 'We need more input from the community and not just through gardening work but also input on what they want to see this space used for and how it's going to work best for locals.' Vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and onions are already being grown at the garden and will be distributed among the community when they are ready. (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) The small Guerrilla Garden team plan to open the gardens to more locals, but they say more volunteers are needed to maintain and complete the grounds. Other News Former church building in Greenock reduced to rubble after years lying empty Lots of summer fun is being had by little ones at Branchton's Family Playscheme Gourock gift shop owner looks back on 21 years after second national award win Matt added: 'Every time we come down here there are always lots of jobs still to be done and with it just being the two of us, we can't get everything finished ourselves. 'With more people here, we would be able to grow more.' (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) But luckily for the garden, help has been coming in from all quarters. Staff from the RBS call centre in Greenock recently got in the gardening spirit with a group of a dozen workers taking part in a team building day at the site. Local politicians have even put their gardening gloves on with Greenock MSP Stuart McMillan having helped out on the site in the past and returning on Tuesday to join in with the latest effort. He told the Tele: 'I have been helping out here a few times now and it is a great project, Kirsty and the team have done a magnificent job. 'They had the foresight to do this and use this piece of land that was sitting doing nothing and turn it into something for the community.' Anyone who is interested in getting involved with the garden should contact Kirsty via the Larkfield Guerrilla Garden Facebook page.


South China Morning Post
04-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Nepal propelled by unbreakable spirit and bus-driver-turned-head coach on Asian Cup quest
Matt Ross turned his life upside down to move across the world for football and found himself driving a bus. After sticking to his guns to forge an upwardly-mobile career, however, the Nepal head coach said his own mental toughness 'pales into insignificance' with that of the players in his world No 175-ranked squad. 'When you hear of the conditions in which some of our boys grew up, and the sacrifices their parents and extended families have made, it melts your heart,' said Ross, ahead of Nepal's friendly with Hong Kong on Thursday. 'It equips our team with such belief and strength. We have an unbreakable spirit.' The Australian and his wife quit their teaching jobs in 2011 to move to Germany, where the 47-year-old, who had been coaching part-time, pursued a professional football role. Nepal's players are put through their paces during a training session at Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: Edmond So While his wife landed a teaching post, Ross was running into dead ends and took a job as the school's bus driver. In 2013, he finally gained unpaid work as a video analyst for Eintracht Frankfurt Women.


South China Morning Post
04-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Nepal propelled by unbreakable spirit and bus-driver-turned-head coach on Asian Cup quest
Matt Ross turned his life upside down to move across the world for football and found himself driving a bus. After sticking to his guns to forge an upwardly-mobile career, however, the Nepal head coach said his own mental toughness 'pales into insignificance' with that of the players in his world No 175-ranked squad. 'When you hear of the conditions in which some of our boys grew up, and the sacrifices their parents and extended families have made, it melts your heart,' said Ross, ahead of Nepal's friendly with Hong Kong on Thursday. 'It equips our team with such belief and strength. We have an unbreakable spirit.' The Australian and his wife quit their teaching jobs in 2011 to move to Germany, where the 47-year-old, who had been coaching part-time, pursued a professional football role. Nepal's players are put through their paces during a training session at Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: Edmond So While his wife landed a teaching post, Ross was running into dead ends and took a job as the school's bus driver. In 2013, he finally gained unpaid work as a video analyst for Eintracht Frankfurt Women.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Singapore's SGI announces JV to expedite financing for clinical trials
Singapore-based SPRIM Global Investments (SGI) and One Investment Management (OneIM) have announced a $300m joint venture (JV) to expedite financing for clinical trials. This alliance is set to broaden SGI's TrialCap platform, which provides specialised funding solutions for clinical trials ranging from Phase I through Phase III. TrialCap's two decades of industry 'expertise' is set to offer flexible and financial backing to medtech and biotech firms. This is expected to assist these companies in progressing their therapies and bringing treatments to market sooner. SGI managing partner and co-founder Michael Shleifer said: 'Our mission is to remove financial barriers that hinder biotech and medtech companies from focusing on research and development. 'Through this strategic partnership with OneIM, we are significantly expanding our ability to provide critical financing solutions that drive innovation in life sciences.' SGI, established in 2008, is a private investment firm with a focus on clinical-stage life sciences and pharmaceutical services. Its investment model is designed to offer 'agile' financing to biotech companies globally, thereby backing the trial progression and the development of transformative treatments. OneIM is an alternative investment manager that invests across various asset classes and industries and its team operates from offices in London, Abu Dhabi, Tokyo and New York. Founded in 2022, it manages assets worth approximately $7bn. OneIM partner Matt Ross said: 'We see tremendous opportunities in the life sciences sector and are delighted to collaborate with SGI, a firm that has a proven track record, deep connectivity across the healthcare ecosystem, and a strong pipeline of opportunities. 'We look forward to accelerating the growth of this platform alongside Michael and the team.' "Singapore's SGI announces JV to expedite financing for clinical trials" was originally created and published by Clinical Trials Arena, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Time for a raise? NJ residents weigh In on pay for teachers, EMTs, firefighters, more
New Jersey residents wasted no time in responding to a survey that asked a thought-provoking question regarding teachers and other public sector workers pay. With teachers and other public sector workers being the most respected professions in society, it's no surprise that these professionals remain notoriously underpaid, according to Test Prep Insight. The online education company surveyed 3,042 participants based on age, gender and geography to find out how much they think teachers and other public sector workers should be paid. The findings suggest that overall Americans believe teachers across the country should earn an additional $17,344 per year. And in the Garden State, the public polled agreed that teachers should earn $18,780 more than the average $42,667 state salary, according to This would increase the yearly salary to $61,447, the report stated. "Public sector workers, especially teachers, play an invaluable role in shaping our communities, yet their compensation fails to reflect their contributions," says Matt Ross of Test Prep Insight. "Our survey results highlight the public's growing recognition of this issue and the urgent need for change. It's time for meaningful policy discussions that prioritize fair wages for those who dedicate their lives to public service." More: Best Places to Work in the US includes this New Jersey financial services firm According to the survey, these are public sector careers that deserve the biggest pay increases: Teachers: $18,780 Postal Workers: $16,400 EMTs: $15,450 Public Transportation Drivers: $12,100 Park Rangers: $8,450 Firefighters: $7,272.73 Sanitation: $6,575 The survey asked respondents what factors contribute most to these wage disparities. Here are the findings: 38% of respondents attributed it to political decision-making 30% pointed to broader economic conditions within their states 18% of responses say budget constraints in education 8% believe unions and collective bargaining play a role This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Survey: NJ public wants fair pay for teachers, postal workers, more