Engage Newsletters
Keep up to date with Engage Renfrewshire
Engage Update - 09 September
Application period for Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is now open
Closing date: 5pm, 31st October 2024
The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults (the Fund) was established in October 2021 and to date has distributed around £51 million to community initiatives supporting mental health and wellbeing across Scotland. In Renfrewshire the fund has seen over £1.5 million distributed to organisations, community groups and community projects.
New and previously funded groups/projects are eligible to apply.
Click to find the full guidance and application pack
Image credit: 'Deep Breathing' by Razieh Sarafraz
Newsletters
Does someone you know need support to get online? People Know How can help
The Digital Switchover - What You Need to Know
CyberByte September 2024
The UK and Scottish Governments have both announced that from this year, the Winter Fuel Payment will only be paid to those households in receipt of qualifying low-income benefits.
Thousands of pensioners in Renfrewshire could be missing out on receiving Pension Credit that they are entitled to, with an income boost on average up to £3,900 per year.
If someone is over State Pension age (currently aged 66), they may be eligible to claim Pension Credit, even if they own their home or have savings. People who claim Pension Credit may also be able to get:
- The Winter Fuel Payment and other help with heating costs
- Help with rent and Council Tax
- A free TV Licence for those aged 75 or over
- Help with the cost of NHS services, such as NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments.
Renfrewshire Council’s Advice Works team and Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (RCAB) are encouraging everyone to check that they’re getting all the benefits they are due, and check with family members, friends and neighbours whether they should be receiving any additional financial entitlement.
For those aged 66 or over, there are several benefits, including the new Scottish benefits, that they could be entitled to that help toward supporting them, especially if their income is low.
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction
- Attendance Allowance
- Funeral Support Payment
- Discretionary Housing Payment
Advice Works and RCAB can offer an appointment for a benefit check and other benefits help. Appointments will last up to 60 minutes and will usually take place by phone.
In recognition of the national Pension Credit ‘Take-up Week’, book an appointment between the 09 and 13 September online by visiting https://advicerenfrewshire.youcanbook.me/
Alternatively, if anyone would rather call, or make an appointment during a different week, call Advice Works on 0300 300 1238 or Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau on 0141 889 2121 and ask for a benefit entitlement check.
We know working out what to claim can be confusing, but we have trained advisers there to ensure everyone is getting everything they should be!
Why not make an appointment today
Renfrewshire's Events Strategy Consultation
Please take the time to give us your feedback on Renfrewshire Council’s events. It will take just a few minutes to give your views, and your feedback will be used to inform the programme and priorities of events for 2025 and beyond. We would appreciate it if you could complete the questionnaire no later than Monday 23rd September.
Renfrewshire Council currently deliver a successful programme of events each year, including visitor events, which attract visitors from out with the region: Paisley Food & Drink Festival, Sma’ Shot Day, Renfrew Pipe Band Competition, Paisley Halloween Festival, Paisley’s Christmas; and local events, which appeal predominantly to residents, including: Renfrew Gala Day, Barshaw Gala Day, Renfrewshire Doors Open Days, Renfrew Christmas Lights Switch-On, and Johnstone Christmas Lights Switch-On.
We want to hear about which events you have attended, and which events you value most. Events provide lots of positive opportunities for communities and the council has several priorities it wants to achieve through its events programme, and we want to hear your views on these priorities.
Your feedback will be included as part of ongoing financial planning, to ensure the council invests in the right services for local people and can continue to protect vital, essential services such as health and social care, education, and neighbourhood services. Like household costs, the costs of running events are increasing sharply. To balance the council’s event budget, we want to review our events programme and strategy to ensure it continues to deliver benefits for local communities and businesses. The council wants to hear your views and to understand what events are most important to you. Feedback will be used to help the Council design a new strategy for future years and help shape the programme of events.
Community Justice
Renfrewshire Council is working with Community Justice Scotland to understand the local support available to people who are justice experienced.
People who are accused or convicted of offences sometimes need help with complex needs. Support that addresses substance misuse, unemployment, social exclusion and health disadvantage can assist with their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration.
We know we’re really lucky in Renfrewshire to have such a motivated and skilled third sector that looks out for local communities. We’d like to hear from you if your work has benefitted people who are justice experienced, or if you’re interested in finding out how you might be able to help this population in the future.
Longer-term, we’d like to identify all available local supports and where appropriate identify them in Community Justice Scotland’s Community Interventions and Support Directory. We hope this will showcase the quality support our valued partners can bring to our justice population.
Please get in touch with Jamie Gardyne, Community Justice Lead Officer at Renfrewshire Council if you have experience you’d like to share. You can contact him via email at Jamie.gardyne@renfrewshire.gov.uk or call 0141 487 1550. Jamie’s also eager to understand what might help you diversify to better target your work to support people who are justice experienced, so please contact him if you have any ideas or aspirations.
Renfrewshire Council is working with Community Justice Scotland to understand the local support available to people who are justice experienced.
People who are accused or convicted of offences sometimes need help with complex needs. Support that addresses substance misuse, unemployment, social exclusion and health disadvantage can assist with their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration.
We know we’re really lucky in Renfrewshire to have such a motivated and skilled third sector that looks out for local communities. We’d like to hear from you if your work has benefitted people who are justice experienced, or if you’re interested in finding out how you might be able to help this population in the future.
Longer-term, we’d like to identify all available local supports and where appropriate identify them in Community Justice Scotland’s Community Interventions and Support Directory. We hope this will showcase the quality support our valued partners can bring to our justice population.
Please get in touch with Jamie Gardyne, Community Justice Lead Officer at Renfrewshire Council if you have experience you’d like to share. You can contact him via email at Jamie.gardyne@renfrewshire.gov.uk or call 0141 487 1550. Jamie’s also eager to understand what might help you diversify to better target your work to support people who are justice experienced, so please contact him if you have any ideas or aspirations.
Scottish Recovery Network
Peer Connects webinar: Embedding a peer support workforce
8 October, online (MS Teams) from 10:00-11:00 – free but booking required.
Book your place
Are you or do you work with Local or National Policy Leads, Service Leads or Managers working in mental health and wellbeing? Are you a strategic thinker or someone driving forward the implementation of mental health and wellbeing strategy and delivery?
Lived experience roles are an integral part of the mental health workforce. This includes Peer Workers, Peer Managers and Lived Experience Strategic Leads. We’re bringing together learning from Scotland and England to explore ideas and considerations around implementing these roles.
From Scotland. Dr Linda Irvine Fitzpatrick, Strategic Programme Manager with Thrive Edinburgh will share learning around their Peer Supporters roles. A key part of guiding people to the right support for their mental health.
From England. Francesca Lepori, Trust Head of Lived Experience Workforce. Fran will be sharing learning from the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust approach to embedding a peer workforce.