More than 60 local residents attended a screening of the documentary Love and Trouble at the Tannahill Centre in Ferguslie Park on Thursday 9th April, followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A on trauma, recovery and resilience.
The event, held from 6pm to 9pm, was delivered in partnership with Laura McGlinn of Scotland’s ACEs Action Community as part of a wider national tour. Organisers said it created a safe and informal space for open discussion, with contributions rooted in lived experience.
Discussions during the evening covered personal journeys of recovery as well as the importance of using appropriate and sensitive language when talking about suicide.
The panel was chaired by Jade Macdonald, a University of Glasgow CLD student and co-founder of Renfrewshire Helping Those In Need.
Panel members were Terry McTernan, Volunteer Coordinator at the Tannahill Centre; Laura McGlinn, ACEs advocate and mental health activist; Kayleigh Dyer, trauma responsive consultant and domestic abuse specialist; Suzanne Baines, mental health practitioner and creator of You Matter Always; and Lee Davidson, relationship mentor and therapist.
Organisers said the event highlighted the importance of normalising conversations around trauma in supportive community settings and showed growing interest across Renfrewshire in trauma-informed approaches.
Terry McTernan, Volunteer Coordinator at the Tannahill Centre, said: “We were delighted to support Laura and her team in delivering such a meaningful event. The level of engagement showed just how important it is to create safe spaces where people can openly explore trauma and recovery.
“This feels like a hopeful starting point for developing a Renfrewshire-wide ACEs and Trauma Hub and building stronger, more informed communities.”
Laura McGlinn added: “Tonight marks an outstanding first screening as part of what will become a nationwide movement across Scotland.
“I’m proud to stand alongside a dedicated team of volunteers supporting the relaunch of the Renfrewshire ACEs Action Community. We are driven by a shared passion for Renfrewshire and Paisley, and a recognition that many of us carry trauma in different ways, often navigating it alone.
“Scotland has long carried a sense of inherited shame, and together, we are determined to challenge that, creating space for people not just to cope, but to thrive within their communities truly.
“This is about sharing knowledge, mindfulness, and pathways to healing. We are calling on local groups to connect with us as we build a directory of support, a living resource that offers hope, encourages conversation, and shines a light for those who need it most.
“Adverse Childhood Experiences can affect anyone, often without warning or control. But through trust, compassion, and community, no one has to fall alone. This is a movement shaped by people, for people, a safe space where everyone is welcome to simply be themselves.
“We invite you to join us and follow the journey via our new public Facebook page, Renfrewshire ACEs Action Community.”
Special thanks were also given to panel contributors, volunteers and photographer David Cameron for helping make the event a success.
Photo Credit: David Cameron
Photo Credit: David Cameron