315 JULY 2021 - Gryffe Advertizer

Explore Lochwinnoch’s history
and legends
A collection of short stories inspired
by the Lochwinnoch countryside
have launched online this week,
thanks to funding received from
Renfrewshire Council.
‘Tales from Ochwinnay’, created
by local authors Lyn McNicol and
Laura Jackson, was designed to
provide a free story-telling resource
for children across Renfrewshire,
helping to nurture reading skills during a
time where live story-telling events are unable to take place. The
five short videos were filmed on location in Lochwinnoch and
feature original illustrations created for each story.
The project has been supported by Renfrewshire’s Artist
Development Grant, launched in 2020 as part of Renfrewshire’s
Cultural Recovery and Renewal Fund to support Renfrewshire’s
cultural sector in adapting to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Artist Development Grants are supporting artists who live or
work in Renfrewshire to continue their practice at a time when their
livelihoods are threatened.
Author Lyn McNicol said: “This support has been a much-needed
boost to our creativity. In pre-pandemic years we have toured over
1,500 schools, libraries and festivals for author events with our
existing book series. In March 2020 our live sessions stopped so
we were a bit lost. I was hospitalised in February this year with a
serious illness and whilst in hospital, also tested positive for Covid-
19. This project has helped hugely in my recovery and in reminding
us both, as authors, of what we do best. “
Author and illustrator Laura Jackson said: “Renfrewshire’s Artist
Development Grant has been invaluable in allowing our creativity
to blossom again. The stories were great fun to write and I was
able to utilise my illustration – which was a joy. Creating the videos
in Parkhill Woods was a taste once again of our live events, even
though our audience this time, was mostly birds!”
Renfrewshire’s Cultural Recovery and Renewal Fund is part of
Future Paisley, a radical and wide-ranging cultural regeneration
programme, and is administered by Renfrewshire Leisure on behalf
of Renfrewshire Council.
Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Chair of Renfrewshire Leisure said:
“The Artist Development Grants were designed to allow our local
professional artists to continue with their work during this difficult
time and it is great to see our cultural sector beginning to thrive once
again. ‘Tales from Ochwinnay’ is a fantastic resource that can be
used across Renfrewshire and beyond in homes, nurseries, schools
and libraries to nurture reading and inspire our young people to try
some creative writing and story-telling of their own.”
Access online at: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/talesfromochwinnay
e: info@advertizer.co.uk | www.advertizer.co.uk | July 2021 17