By Amanda Crawford

Despite the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis affecting every community in Scotland, none more than those with historic levels of deprivation, one community is finally finding its feet.

Formerly labelled with the most unwelcome tag of ‘most deprived area in Scotland’, in 2012 and 2016, according to figures from The Scottish Index for Deprivation in Scotland (SIMD) Ferguslie Park in Renfrewshire has spent almost 60 years in regeneration.

In 2020, when local authorities and third sector services withdrew their presence for Covid lockdowns, the people came together. A community council reconvened, after a 30-year absence, and a number of new projects for youths and the elderly were set up as a result.

Terry McTernan, local activist turned Community Development Officer, said: “This notion that a community’s poverty-based ills can be outsourced is not serious.

“You can’t expect… a third sector organisation to come in, make a plan and solve all the problems a week on Tuesday. [That’s nonsense]. And we’ve been trapped in that same poverty-stricken, hamster wheel since 1969.

“People here have a scratch where it itches approach. If their kids need a youth club, they start one…

“But regulations would prevent them from doing these things and over regulation is prevalent, however necessary for safeguarding.”

Based out of their repurposed community hub, The Tannahill Centre, Terry and a team of six Community Learning Development Officers now offer support with paperwork including funding applications for people looking to start up community projects and he claims this is the turning point.

Karen Turner, 47, co-founded Pals of the Privies six years ago with Demi Campbell, 30, they are dedicated to eliminating the stigma that comes from being from an impoverished community.

Karen said: “I want people to be envious of this community. I want children and families from their own hardships to look forward to travelling here and enjoying free events that we host.”

Central Greenock is under the scope now labelled as most deprived area by the SIMD in 2020.

SNP Councillor Pam Armstrong, for Ward 3 in Inverclyde is a champion for education and maintains it is vital to tackling poverty not only in Scotland, but in Greenock.

She also wants to see a community council reconvened within central Greenock and is committed to that.