A BRAVE Port Glasgow mum who has survived an abusive a relationship has become a driving force for good in her local community.

Claire Saunderson's achievements are truly remarkable and she is constantly striving to learn more to help her home town and her family.

The devoted mum-of-five, of Mid Avenue, started a toddler group and is now a member of Port Glasgow East Community Council, a community cook, and volunteers with Homestart Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.

(Image: George Munro) Claire is mum to Gavin, 21 and Katie, 20, who both have additional support needs, Ava,15, Hayden, 12 and little Maye, who is four and she also has four step-children.

After living in Branchton, she returned to Port Glasgow in 2016 and is now happy in a new relationship with new partner Steven, 56, who is Maye's dad.

She said: "I thought there wasn't much to for families, no toddler groups at that time, and I felt something had to be done."

She was inspired to set up a toddler group after giving birth to Maye during lockdown, the following year she set up Clune Park Toddlers group.

Claire said: "I had Maye during lockdown in July 2020 and she hadn't had any socialising and I was looking for a group.

"I took a group of kids round the corner to play rounders and Monica Ellis from community learning and development saw me and asked us along to the Beacon for a week of fun activities."

(Image: Public)

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The rest is history, Claire and the group were offered a space at the iZone in Dubbs Road, then Clune Park Resource Centre and then when it closed, Port Glasgow Town Hall.

Claire said: "The group was really well attended and we has a list of people waiting for a space, we had lots of activities next week and we would prepare a meal and eat together.

"It showed that it was needed in our area and I joined the Clune Park committee and we got Meliora Funding to have a fun day at Clune Park.

"Then Clune Park School was set on fire and the resource centre closed, then we were given a space in Port Glasgow Town Hall which was a godsend."

The toddlers' group runs every Monday morning in the town hall and it has been a victim of its own success with other toddler groups starting on the back of it, but their numbers have gone down.

But Claire things that it a positive move and now instead of nothing for families, there is a toddler group every day of the week in Port Glasgow, apart from a Friday.

She said: "It's blooming great, it's energised other parents to set groups up. Pamela MacDonald also set up an ASN group at Port Parish New Parish Church and I volunteer with that group too.

"I want to do something for the good of the community, it's benefitting my children too, as well as future kids coming up and hopefully when that generation grows up they'll give something back. I would like to think that my kids would give something back too."

She added "My son Gavin has autism and ADHD and Katie has autism, learning difficulties and a series of other issues and I think it's really important to support the group. 

"I wish there had been help for them when they were younger."

As well as caring for the younger children she is also Gavin's official carer.

She said: "Gavin has his own flat around the corner and I help him to pay his bills and take him shopping, he's also got a daughter who we have here to stay at the weekends.

"Katie lives in assisted accommodation with the Richmond Fellowship, she relies on me a lot - I take her out twice a week."

You would think Claire would busy enough caring for her family without taking on community work but she is passionate about making a difference.

She said: "The kids are at school and Maye is at nursery, I am not wasting my time. I am using it wisely, as long as the washing's done, the dishes are done, and the house is still standing and the kids are ok."

Claire said that she is also spurred on for her own health and wellbeing.

She said: "If I don't keep busy I might end up in a dark place, it's better being out talking to other people."

Claire is also on the committee of Port Glasgow East Community Council after being approached by another member of CLD and was asked along to the first meeting with Pamela MacDonald and ended up on the committee.

She is also doing a variety of online courses including child development and PDA politics course, so she can better serve on the community council.

Claire said: "I tended to shy away from politics so I'm doing a course to better understand how things work."

She said: "It's been a difficult journey to get to this stage but don't be frightened to fight for something, there's always one person feeling the same."

Claire is also community cook and is loving every minute of it.

She said: "I got six weeks training, it was fantastic and I've met a great bunch of girls. I've done my first gig at Newark Nursery.

"I'm not good at speaking out publicly and had to give up clear directions, it's been a major boost to my confidence."

She said: "I was a very quiet woman and wouldn't stand up for myself and had to put up with 13 years of horribleness, then one day I snapped and I told him to leave and I have never looked back."

She is also wants to reach out to anyone who has experienced domestic abuse.

Claire said: "I am quite approachable and I am happy to talk to anyone who has been in the same position."

Claire has also got plans to get a job when Maye goes to school next year.

She said: "I've got a pretty good CV now and I have started volunteering with Homestart and I have already hinted that I would love to work with them."

Sometimes her kids think she might spend too much time working in the community.

Claire said: "I always explain to my kids that trying to improve the community I am also bettering myself and better our family unit."