Dunterlie Action Group (DAG) held the event this month which also highlighted a year of progress and achievement, and the growth of local groups.

Earlier this year DAG hosted a Scottish Parliament’s 25th anniversary community celebration event which saw the Presiding Officer and West Scotland MSPs visit Dunterlie, and the group’s chair Rena McGuire BEM invited to speak at Holyrood.

The group also secured £15,000 from the National Lottery Awards for All to deliver its Community Vision, and £30,000 from the Place Based Investment Fund to improve Dunterlie Resource Centre and create murals celebrating local life.

Rena said: “It’s been a real pleasure being the chair of the action group over the past few years and to see the community coming together to try to sustain the amazing work being done by so many different groups in the area.”

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Dunterlie Resource Centre has never been busier, with 17 active groups, 15 of which are new, now operating in the community and providing food support, activities for children, and social spaces for all ages.

As a result, visits to the centre have increased from less than 100 per week to around 325 every week.

The baby and toddlers’ group have enjoyed cinema screenings and trips to Edinburgh Zoo, Dunterlie Foodshare has distributed more than 1,500 bags of free food, and Weigh In Weigh Less and the men’s group have enjoyed trips with Seagull Cruises, to Millport and to the Falkirk Wheel.

East Renfrewshire ASN Parents Action Group, known as ERA, have also developed the space at Barrhead Waterworks and this project also continues to go from strength to strength.

Looking ahead, the action group’s key aim is to employ a worker to support its ambitions, move to charitable status, and explore greater community ownership of the centre.

The group believes its collaborative model of working could serve as a blueprint for delivering East Renfrewshire Council’s new A Place to Grow strategy, which aims to ensure the area is a place where everyone can flourish, thrive and grow.

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“We now have a clear vision for the future and a plan for delivering it with support from our partners the Corra Foundation, Barrhead Housing and East Renfrewshire Council,” added Rena.

“We hope that with this support we can make Dunterlie an example of how A Place to Grow can be realised in communities like ours.”

Secretary, Annmarie Strain added: “The community centre has become a lifeline for so many of us, whether it’s through food support, social activities, or just having a place to connect.

“It feels like DAG is really growing stronger and beginning to make change in our area.”