News and Events

Launch News

It's 'Go' time for the Year 2 team. Year 2 of Go Barrhead has now begun with a team of five people selected to make up the Go Barrhead Travel Advisor Team. Over the summer months they plan to visit homes in Arthurlie, Springhill, Auchenback, Dovecothall and Crossmill to promote personalised journey planning.
Launch News - further information

Go Barrhead's up and coming events

• Bike Festival - Sunday 20th June - Carlibar Park 11am-2pm. Dams to Darnley Fun Family Cycle from 2pm onwards.
• Sustainable Travel event (including planned walks/ cycles) on Saturday 4th September.
• Winter Wonderland Walk, Saturday 13th November.

These events are accessible to people of all ages and abilities. We hope for as many people as we can to attend so please get along and take the opportunity to get active and mix and meet like-minded people.

Riderz stunt team get kids geared for to cycling to school

The Riderz stunt cycling team visited Barrhead's Auchenback Primary School and St John's Primary School to encourage children to get on their bikes and cycle to school. In recent months, Scottish celebrity cyclists, such as Chris Hoy, Mark Beaumont and stunt rider Danny MacAskill, have given cycling the 'cool' factor and Scotland is now seeing a 33%* increase in pupils taking to their wheels in a bid to be like their icons.

In the meantime Cycling Scotland is urging drivers to give children the space and time they need to cycle safely to school. East Renfrewshire environment convener Councillor Eddie Phillips said: "Cycling to school means fewer cars on the school run, fitter kids and a low-carbon approach to getting to school. I commend this campaign to all road users. Make sure that you do give our youngsters space to cycle to school. They deserve it and it's the law."

Cycling to School Campaign Further Information

Cycling Scotland Chief Executive Ian Aitken commented: "Cycling is one of the best forms of exercise and is an ideal way of increasing children's exercise routine. Getting children out in the fresh air also means they will arrive at school more alert and eager to learn. Research shows that children want to cycle to school so we hope by making sure drivers look out for them, more children in East Renfrewshire will get on their bikes and cycle to school."

School cycling facilities are continuing to improve throughout Scotland and offerings such as cycle training is open to all schools in Scotland and provided on application. This year alone, Cycling Scotland has trained an additional 216 Cycle Trainers to the National Standard for Cycling Training.

What's more, schools can also be awarded for their commitment to cycling under the Cycle Friendly Schools award scheme which recognises schools that provide good facilities, incentives and promotion for children cycling to school. Over 10,000 children now go to a Cycle Friendly School, and more schools are receiving the award every month. Find out more about the scheme at www.cyclingscotland.org.

In the meantime Cycling Scotland is urging drivers to give children the space and time they need to cycle safely to school. East Renfrewshire environment convener Councillor Eddie Phillips said: "Cycling to school means fewer cars on the school run, fitter kids and a low-carbon approach to getting to school. I commend this campaign to all road users. Make sure that you do give our youngsters space to cycle to school. They deserve it and it's the law."

Mountain biking within PE curriculum for East Renfrewshire

School pupils in East Renfrewshire are among the first in the country to undertake mountain biking within their PE curriculum. More than 500 S2 to S5 pupils at Barrhead High School began a course in practical cycling skills in May, which over the coming weeks will be rolled out to include lessons in bike maintenance.

The initiative is just one of a number of cycling education measures being trialled with funding from the Scottish Government's three-year Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) programme. Launched in 2008 in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), SCSP is a £15m scheme targeted at reducing car use in Scotland in favour of more active and sustainable forms of transport. Over £5 million - the single largest area of investment within SCSP - will be used to deliver innovative cycling initiatives and improved infrastructure with a view to encouraging people to adopt cycling as a realistic and healthier travel choice.

Through Go Barrhead - East Renfrewshire Council's SCSP funded brand - fostering a healthy attitude to cycling begins at pre-school following the recent introduction of specialist balance bikes to local nurseries. Designed without pedals, the bikes encourage children as young as three to learn how to balance without the distraction of pedalling.

Smarter Choices, Smarter Places Further information

Incentivising a commitment to cycling has also produced real results at St John's Primary where a 14% increase in travelling to and from school by bike has been achieved through offering pupils free swimming or after school sports sessions at Barrhead Leisure Centre.

East Renfrewshire Council's environment convener, Councillor Eddie Phillips, who heads up the Go Barrhead project, said: "Cycling has never been more important as a healthy, practical and sustainable mode of transport.

"It's vital that we encourage our young people to literally get on their bikes in order to foster a positive attitude towards an active and healthy lifestyle."

"By building cycling into the PE curriculum at Barrhead High and by taking forward practical lessons across the high school's feeder primaries, which include on-road cycling training for children in primary six, we are supporting them in doing just that."

Additionally, Go Barrhead and East End On The Move - the SCSP brand introduced by Glasgow City Council - have just launched dedicated cycle to school campaigns in partnership with Cycling Scotland encouraging thousands of children in both areas to get on their bikes.

Go Walking with others in Barrhead

The First Steps Go Walking Group meets at Auchenback Resource Centre, 64 Aurs Drive Barrhead at 10.30am on Thursday mornings each week and will take you on different routes throughout Barrhead. It is suitable for beginners at any age or ability. It's free, lasts around 30 minutes and is led by Alan and Ian our friendly trained Paths to Health walk volunteers. You don't need walking experience or any fancy equipment or clothing, come along on your own or bring a friend. For more information please contact Moira or Elaine on 01415778436

Time to shape up with the new diet and exercise programme in East Ren

A new programme at Barrhead sports centre could help you lose weight and keep it off. Shape Up is East Renfrewshire's ten week diet and exercise programme at Barrhead Sports Centre to help you lose weight and feel great. Each week you'll also get a FREE voucher for your choice of swimming or one of the East Ren's popular fitness classes in Barrhead or Neilston. And they'll also get a goody bag packed with useful food measures and guides.
Shape up - further information

Weigh to go Dunterlie - lose weight and feel great for free

Residents in the Dunterlie area of Barrhead can access a new free weight loss and health programme. Weigh to Go Dunterlie occurs every Friday in Dunterlie Community Resource Centre from 9.30 until 11.30am. The free programme involves a weekly session with a weigh in and nutritional information and support.
Weigh to go Dunterlie - further information

Go Barrhead Newsletter

Read Go Barrhead's latest Newsletter. Download Newsletter (PDF 385 KB)

Pelican Makes For Safer Route To School

Getting safely to Barrhead's Cross Arthurlie Primary School is now easier thanks to a £16,000 pelican crossing on the town's busy Paisley Road, provided as part of the Go Barrhead drive to get residents out of their cars and into healthier lifestyles.

East Renfrewshire Council's environment convener, Councillor Eddie Phillips, joined Cross Arthurlie pupils to officially switch on the new crossing on Monday 26 October.

Councillor Eddie Phillips said: "Helping pupils to get to school on foot more easily makes sure that fewer parents drive their children and that makes for a healthier environment and fitter parents and youngsters. The Scottish Government-backed Go Barrhead scheme is geared to boosting walking, cycling, ditching the car and using public transport, and the new crossing helps residents of all ages cross this busy road more safely. That will help increase pedestrian traffic."

Cross Arthurlie head teacher Carole Frew said: "The new crossing is a great boon to our pupils and I'm sure that it will increase the number of parents and pupils walking to school."