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Inspirational mums in Ferguslie Park are celebrating after scooping a prestigious award for their work in the community.

Stronger Women in Ferguslie Park Together (SWIFT) is made up of mums from the local area who want to develop their skills and give back to people living there.

Their sterling efforts have been recognised by Scotland’s Learning Partnership, which awarded SWIFT with the accolade for best group.

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While SWIFT work hard as a 14-strong collective to do good for others with fundraising initiatives and donation drives, its members have got just as much out of it as its beneficiaries.

SWIFT member Claire O’Neill said: “It’s helped us all grow in confidence.

“Doing things for others makes us believe in ourselves, which rubs off on our children.”

Community worker Teresa Pieraccini set up the group when she spotted a need for more work in adult development in the area.

Teresa told the Express: “I approached brilliant organisations like Families First and mother and toddler groups to find women to come along to SWIFT.

“A lot of them were a bit reluctant at first, but when I told them there was tea, cake and a creche they were sold.”

Desperate to tackle the stigma attached to Ferguslie Park, the women meet every Thursday morning at The Tannahill Centre to plan future charity work, try out self-development courses and have a good blether.

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Laura Connor said: “Nothing leaves these four walls.

“I can tell these girls anything and I know it will remain a secret.

“I was invited along whilst suffering from postnatal depression and it was such a brilliant help.”

Charlene Mullan has lived in the area all her life and couldn’t be more grateful to the group.

“I had such low self confidence two years ago,” she said.

“I found it really difficult to speak to people. Now it’s a lot easier as my self-belief has grown so much.

“I’m really thankful for SWIFT and all the girls.”

Others, like Louise Fraser, lacked self-confidence to the point where it was taking over their lives.

The mum-of-three said: “Before SWIFT came along I wouldn’t leave the house.

“I have three kids and I was too nervous to go anywhere with them.

“I’ve been living in Ferguslie Park for eight years now and for the first six I didn’t know anyone.

“Now I can talk to mums at the school gates and I have lots of friends. It’s brilliant.”

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Not only has the group helped the women emotionally, but it has also pushed them to pursue their passions and realise the skills they always had, but never used.

Mary-Ann Wright went from having little self-belief in her artistic ability to being the creator of one of the famous Pride of Paisley lions.

Her distinctive Paisley pattern was selected as one of the designs for the lion statues placed around the town.

Her pink and purple creation was emblazoned across pride lion Mystique, that sat outside the Cenotaph in the town.

The mum-of-four is now studying to be a creative therapist which will incorporate some of her artistic skills.

She said: “I wouldn’t have even considered showcasing my artwork if it wasn’t for Theresa and everyone at SWIFT.

“Now I feel like I can go on to do anything. The group is just amazing.”

Charlene Caven thinks the confidence-building courses have been particularly worthwhile.

“We’ve done lots of things from self-development to realising our skills. I now realise the importance of being really involved in my children’s school life and the wider community.

“It gives my higher aspirations and my kids feel the same,” she explained.

Proving the Ferguslie Park stereotypes wrong, two of the members are originally from London and say they would ‘never leave Feegie Park’.

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Londoner Ayisha Yakubu said: “Everyone is so friendly.

“One of the girls moved up from England recently and had to completely renovate her home.

“The women from SWIFT rallied round, donating furniture, decorators and other items to make her house a home.

“You wouldn’t get that anywhere else.”

Teresa said the good thing about Ferguslie Park is its sense of community.

She said: “The thing is, in Ferguslie Park even if you don’t have much, you share what you do have. That really is amazing and something you don’t find in other areas nearby.”

The SWIFT ladies received makeovers from beauty students at West College Scotland before receiving their award at Pollok Burgh House in October.