PROJECTS
The Paisley Hammermen Society is a registered charity SC002007. One of the key charitable actions of the society is to provide financial help to members and members families who find themselves in difficult times. We currently make grants and donations and have a number of alimentors who continue to receive assistance.
In more recent times this has been extended to providing financial support to various local projects which are closely related to training, education and the many trades the Hammermen Society represents. An overview of some of the recent projects are detailed below:
UWS Summer STEM Academy
This 2-day project, which the Society supported in 2018 & 2019, provides pupils with the opportunity to participate in the development of a STEM based activity in partnership with industry and academia. The project is designed to help further awareness of career opportunities involving STEM subjects and, in the summer of 2019, pupils from 13 schools across 10 local authority areas took part.
Students engaged enthusiastically in all programme activities and gave the following feedback:
‘Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the first ever Summer STEM Academy last week. I learned loads and had a fantastic time’
…’I would like to sincerely thank you for organising the event and providing us all with inspiration ad opportunities within different fields of science.’
Summer School Experience
The Society provided financial support for a student to participate in a UWS exchange programme to China in 2018 as part of a group of students and staff.
The programme was designed to give the students an opportunity to understand technological developments and horizon scan to recognise opportunities and contextualise their experiences and plans with a view to being globally competitive in their future careers.
Students participated in a programme of industrial visits and placements as well as meeting with local entrepreneurs and businesses.
Field Trip to National Construction College Scotland
This 2-day course in construction skills appreciation is an integral part of the Civil Engineering programme leading to the BEng Degree for all students at the University of the West of Scotland and was followed by a one week visit to BRE Innovation Park at Ravenscraig Campus.
As part of this programme, 52 students visited the Daldowie Waste-Water Treatment Plant giving the students the opportunity to understand different processes and technologies involved in the wastewater treatment enabling them to relate and apply theoretical concepts into practice.
This site visit helped students to understand the basic principles, enhance their learning experiences and gave them opportunities to understand the environmental considerations relating to waste-water treatment.
Paisley’s Men Shed
The Society provided financial support to assist with the establishment of Paisley’s men Shed, a facility which gives community members a place to meet like-minded people in a fun and welcoming social setting.
Men of all ages come together to build bird houses, plant boxes and bird feeders, tend to community allotments and undertake guided walks over Renfrewshire and beyond in a safe, friendly and inclusive environment.
Members who are involved in the Men’s Shed project have commented that they feel invigorated, more motivated, more active, healthier and indeed happier
West College Scotland – Greenpower Project
The Society provided financial support to assist the very successful Greenbelt Project at WCS.
This initiative has grown from a fantastic motor focused learning experience to a potentially life-changing opportunity where young people are learning real life skills to prepare them for the workplace.
Students who have participated in this program have already secured full-time employment as a direct result of their involvement with the Greenpower Project.
Paisley Mens Shed Project 2020
A donation of £1850 from the Paisley Hammermen Society for tools and materials has enabled members of the Men’s Shed to design and hand make a range of bird nesting boxes, bird tables and planters. The Shed team have benefitted from the project and have been working remotely as the Men’s Shed has been closed by Covid 19 restrictions.
Mr Brian Hunt, Deacon of Paisley Hammermen said ” members of our society are delighted to support the Men’s Shed in continuing their excellent work in the community. The donation is part of our ongoing charitable works in Paisley and Renfrewshire”
Richard Potts, the designer and fabricator thanked Deacon Hunt for the donation of £1,850 and the continuing support of the society. He said, ” These fantastic bird boxes were developed and created remotely by individual shedders as a pilot project. Based on the success of this, we’re hoping to roll out other remote projects to all our shedders. Much of our valuable work is made possible with the assistance of local organisations such as the Paisley Hammermen.”
The bird nesting boxes have been specially designed for small birds in Paisley and Renfrewshire such as blue tits, great tits and robins. They can be mounted on posts, fences, walls and sheds. The bird tables can feed a large variety of birds, especially over the winter.
The local community has already benefitted from the items which have been placed at the RSPB Nature Reserve in Lochwinnoch and at Abbeyfield Nursing Home. Several other items have already been made and will be installed in at least 8 sites once the Covid 19 restrictions allow. Frank O’Neill presented fine examples of the nesting boxes to Paisley Hammermen members in recognition of their support for the Men’s Shed.
