A volunteer who makes an outstanding contribution to diversity and inclusion in East Renfrewshire has been awarded the Provost Award to celebrate her community leadership.
Each year, East Renfrewshire Council honours a local hero with the prestigious Provost Award and names them Citizen of the Year, recognising the significant impact they have on the community.
For two decades, Jashwanti Mehta has been a driving force behind initiatives that foster community cohesion, cultural appreciation, and diversity education. As a founding member of the Fairweather Drop-in Group, Jashwanti has supported over-50-year-olds from minority ethnic communities through social activities, yoga sessions, cultural events, and community-building projects.
Jashwanti has played a pivotal role in organising East Renfrewshire’s annual Diwali festival and is also a founding member of the East Renfrewshire Faith Forum where she continues to promote interfaith dialogue and understanding.
For ten years, Jashwanti helped organise Diversity Day for primary schools across the area, introducing 200-300 children annually to sari heritage and cultural traditions. Jashwanti was also part of a Women Across the World group which brought women together from across East Renfrewshire, sharing and enjoying different cultures, fostering friendships and raising funds for good causes.
Most recently, Jashwanti contributed to the Mearns Matter Participatory Budgeting Steering Group and helped to engage more than 200 local residents in shaping community projects and future events. In 2024, Jashwanti also participated in the council’s International Women’s Day event, reinforcing her commitment to gender equality.
Earlier this year, Jashwanti collaborated with the Women’s Heritage Group and Thornliebank Primary School to create a film celebrating the area’s rich cultural heritage and promoting equality in education. Jashwanti continues to be a dedicated member of many other groups to this day, including the Hindu Welfare and Cultural Association of East Renfrewshire and Mother Earth Hindu Temple.
Provost Mary Montague said: “It is an honour and a privilege to present Jashwanti Mehta with the Provost Award and name her Citizen of the Year 2025. Jashwanti’s dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion has enriched our community in countless ways. There is lots to admire about Jashwanti, her work with various local groups, schools, and cultural events reflects the very best of East Renfrewshire – celebrating heritage, fostering understanding, and ultimately bringing people together.
“Despite her tireless efforts, Jashwanti remains humble and never seeks recognition for her work. Her quiet leadership has made a lasting impact on community life as she promotes inclusion across generations, and this is the why the judging panel unanimously agreed that the accolade should be given to Jashwanti this year. I must commend and thank Jashwanti for her outstanding contribution to East Renfrewshire.”
“Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a nomination for Citizen of the Year 2025. It was a real honour to sit down with the judging panel and hear all the inspiring stories from your nominations – we are lucky to have so many devoted volunteers across East Renfrewshire. If we’ve not chosen your nominee, then I’d encourage you to put them forward again next year when nominations open in October.”
Jashwanti who has lived in Newton Mearns for 32 years, added: “I would not have achieved this recognition, if I had not received an invite letter in 2004 from Kofi and Farkhanda at East Renfrewshire Council to discuss the needs of the ethnic minority community in the area, and this is where I became involved. We launched the ethnic minority Fairweather Drop-in Group in June 2005 and have been meeting once a week since. All the members are from different religions and cultures, and the group is doing very well. It is a teamwork that we are still here after 20 years.
“I enjoy my volunteering and helping our community, it gives me satisfaction to give something back. I enjoy meeting our brothers and sisters.
“I feel proud and honoured. I would not have done this without the great support from my family. I am a proud mother of three daughters, three grandsons and one granddaughter. This has made me happier. Thank you all.”
