Engage Update - 08 June

Newsletters

Trading Standards Scotland Newsletter - 04 June

News, Training and Events from Generations Working Together

Billy McClean
Chief Officer, Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership

I’m pleased to share my latest Vlog with you below.
 
In this week’s Vlog, I talk about:

•  Volunteers Week and my visit to Roar.
• Quality Improvement and the Scottish Approach to Change.
• RAMH celebrating 25 Years of ‘Investors in People’.
• My regular thanks to staff for their great work.
• And a final reminder for HSCP Staff to complete this year’s iMatter survey.

If you have any feedback on this video or ideas for future topics, I’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch or email: HSCPcommunications@renfrewshire.gov.uk


 

Free Desks

We have two desks we no longer require.

Collection only.

If interested, please contact info@engagerenfrewshire.com

  

Surf Awards

The 2026 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration launched at a special online event.  You can read the press release here: https://surf.scot/2026-surf-awards-open-for-applications/
 
The SURF Awards are delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government, with additional support from Creative Scotland, ng homes, Scottish Procurement Alliance, South of Scotland Enterprise, and Scotland's Towns Partnership.
 
The purpose is to highlight, celebrate and share the achievements of initiatives that address physical, social and economic challenges in communities across Scotland.
 
​The 5 categories this year are:

• Community Led Regeneration
• Creative Regeneration
• Improving Scotland's Places 
• Removing Barriers to Employability 
• Housing and Regeneration

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 07 September. 
 
You may be interested in applying for an Award or you may know a project who might be interested in applying or who deserves an Award. 
 
You can download all of the application materials and find out more about the Awards here: https://surf.scot/surf-awards/surf-awards-2026/ We ask that you download and read the Information Paper with the full criteria and read the helpful hints box on the website. A recording of the Launch Event and a short film from previous winners are also available. 

Free Summer of Sport  Step Count Challenge

In a summer packed with sport, from the Football World Cup and the Women’s Scottish Open to the Commonwealth Games, we want to get Scotland walking and wheeling. The Walking Scotland Summer of Sport Step Count Challenge is a free, 4-week team walking challenge running from Monday 6 July until Sunday 2 August and welcoming teams of up to 5 people. This free, special edition of our Step Count Challenge is all about tapping into the summer buzz and feeling part of something big happening right across the country. And thanks to funding from Summer of Sport, we’re able to offer it at no cost!
 
The challenge is open to everyone aged 16+: groups, clubs, organisations and workplaces, universities and colleges, and families, friends and communities. You can join at any point and log steps for a few days, a fortnight or the full 4 weeks – the choice is yours!  Teams can be up to 5 people, but fewer is fine! And if all your teams were to enter the same workplace (organisation) name at the point of booking, then you could toggle the leaderboard to see just your teams.
 
The Summer of Sport Step Count Challenge is intentionally designed to be flexible, social and low-barrier, making it a strong entry point for those who may not engage in traditional sport offers. We’re encouraging people to start where they are and enjoy 4 weeks of fresh air, fun and friendly competition. 
 
We thought this inclusive, light challenge could be something your colleagues and members might really enjoy – an energising way to enjoy the longer, lighter summer days. Here’s a little bit more on how to take part:

• visit the Summer of Sport page on our website for more information
• sign up or log in to register your team of up to 5 for free 

MS Awareness Training Sessions

MS-UK are delighted to offer free MS awareness training sessions for professionals and volunteers.
 
Join us Wednesday 17 June at 10.00am 
 
The recording will also be sent to you after the event, or other dates are also available later in the year if you cannot make this one.
 
If this session isn’t for you, please pass it onto colleagues or organisations you think will benefit from the training.
 
Why should your team attend this session?
MS is the most common disabling neurological condition in working-aged adults, affecting over 150,000 people in the UK. In addition to physical challenges like mobility, balance, and strength, many people with MS experience invisible symptoms such as fatigue, bladder or bowel issues, and cognitive difficulties. These can impact daily living, employment, and overall wellbeing.

Professionals play a crucial role in supporting those with MS. MS-UK is here to help increase your team’s understanding of the condition and the support available to the MS community.
 
What will you learn?
This session will be delivered by an MS-UK team member, alongside a volunteer with lived experience of MS.

• What is MS?
• Myths and preconceptions
• Symptoms that may impact on wellbeing
• A lived experience of MS
• Symptom management tips
• The kind of support that people with MS may need on their MS journey

Who should attend

• Health and social care workers
• Community based professionals
• Professionals that work for a charity or voluntary organisation supporting people with a disability
• Support workers or home care workers
• Professionals that work in health or social care
• Teams that support people living with MS

 If you’re a care provider, social prescriber, or work in employment support (including the DWP), we recommend joining one of our specialised MS Awareness sessions tailored specifically for your role. Click the links above to find the session that’s right for you!
 
How to sign up
To join our free session click here. 
 
eLearning
We have eLearning available for everyone and a variety of online training sessions on Zoom for professionals.
I hope you find the session valuable. If you have any questions or need more details, don’t hesitate to reach out.