Engage Update - 12 January

Happy New Year Everyone!

Just a January reminder that as a Member of Engage you can access help from us for any or all of the following:

Funding

Finding Volunteers

Training

Governance

Setting up as a Social Enterprise

The Toolkits on our website contain a wealth of information on Legal Structures, Introductory Guides and Policy Templates.

It's free to be a member of Engage. Simply complete the form here

Can we ask you just ONE question?

We know that all of the themes below matter for your organisation or group — but thinking about the year ahead, please identify your 2026 priority

Financial sustainability / funding security

Workforce, volunteers, or governance capacity

Responding to increased demand or complexity of need

Partnership working and influence

Service development, innovation, or digital change

Whole Family Wellbeing Fund

Applications from the Third Sector Now Open

The Scottish Government aims to ensure that every family gets the right support at the right time for long as it is needed, to fulfil children’s rights to be raised safely in their own families.

It introduced the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund in 2022 for the duration of this Parliament to help families to overcome challenges before they reach crisis point, and to significantly reduce the number of children and young people in care by 2030.

The Scottish Government’s ambition is that by 2030 at least 5% of all community-based health and social care spend will be on preventative whole family support measures.

The key aims of the Whole Family Wellbeing fund therefore are to:
support the whole system transformational change required to reduce the need for crisis intervention

shift investment towards prevention and early intervention

Read the full guidance and complete the application form here

All applications must be emailed to ruth.wallace@renfrewshire.gov.uk by the 30 January 2026 and a decision will be made by 27 February 2026.

 

Renfrewshire Community Food Education Small Grants

Renfrewshire Community Food Education Small Grants is a £10,000 fund for organisations based in Renfrewshire to deliver food education sessions that increase understanding and confidence to make healthier food choices and improve practical cooking skills.
 
The funding is available to voluntary sector organisations, community groups, food pantries and local food initiatives. Applications can be made for grants of up to £1,000 to support embedding community food education within organisations. This may be through developing a new project or incorporating food education into an existing project or initiative. Successful applicants must commit to attending a Training for Trainers (T4T) session before delivery. The T4T will include topics such as food groups, reading food labels, portion sizes and cooking on a budget with minimal equipment. Following the T4T, slide packs and facilitator notes will be provided to enable the organisation to deliver their own food education sessions.
 
The aim of the fund is to promote healthier eating habits through improved food literacy and practical cooking skills, in line with the Good Food Nation Plan and local health improvement priorities. Initiatives should empower communities to make informed food choices and reduce health inequalities.
 
Guidance Document
Application Document
 
The fund opens on 14th January. The closing date for applications is 4th February at 12noon. 

 

Meet local and national funders, learn about current opportunities and get practical guidance at the Renfrewshire Funding Fayre on 28 January 2026

Register on Eventbrite

Renfrewshire's LEP Employability Grants Programme

We welcome proposals for delivery of employability related activity between April 2026 and March 2027 across 8 different themes that have been identified following a robust needs assessment process.
 
Full details of the themes as well as guidance documents and application form (2 part) can be accessed via this link.

https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/community-and-neighbourhood/commissioning-employability-services
 
PLEASE READ THE FULL GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS BEFORE ATTENDING AN INFORMATION SESSION AND BEFORE COMPLETING THE APPLICATION.
 
The closing date for applications is midnight Sunday 01 February 2026.

Links to information sessions via Teams are provided within the  guidance document.

Any queries should be directed to kay.mcintosh@renfrewshire.gov.uk and keren.ferguson@renfrewshire.gov.uk

We will both be on leave until the New Year however we will be checking emails throughout that period.

If it’s urgent you can call on 07955387405.

Renfrewshire HSCP Chief Officer's Weekly Vlog

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

• My thanks to all our staff who were working over the festive period.
• How we’re incorporating the year of the horse into our strategic thinking.
• Emerging work to develop a new strategic plan for the HSCP.
• My regular thanks to staff for their great work. This week I mention some feedback for Liam from our Social Work Locality team, the Community Meals team and the Hospital at Home team.  

 
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
 
I hope you enjoy this week’s update…



Billy McClean
Chief Officer, Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership

RenConnects

The RenConnects activity service are back week beginning the 19 January 2026.

We are back in our new refurbished space at 1 Sandyford Road PA3 4HP.

Please feel free to pass on the leaflet to anyone who you think would be interested.

RenConnects Activities Leaflet

Contact the team at renfrewshireinclusionteam@turningpointscotland.com or our office number is 0141 840 2299 if they are interested in coming along for a taster

Loud n Proud

We have worked for over 2 years converting a fire damaged building demolishing, constructing, painting, building and wiring then equipping the studios with pro level sound gear and now…

Our studio is Rebuilt, Re-imagined and Ready to Rock.
We have: -

• 4 State of the Art Sound Production Studios
• A Professional Podcast Studio
• 4 Teaching Rooms
• A Drum Room
• A Digital Workstation Lab fully loaded with Pro Logic
• A Video Editing Suite
• A Seminar Room

More opportunities, more space, more equipment and more live music for 2026.
 
HERE IS OUR NEW 2026 PROGRAMME
 
Music Lessons
Loud 'n Proud is an exciting place for young people to:
Learn, Create and Perform Music.
We teach Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keys and Vocals.
When you are ready, we can put you in a band and get you ready to gig.
 
The Pad Room
We are delighted to announce that our weekly Pad Room Session starts in January 2026. The class will be taken by highly skilled drummers every week.
Rudiments, Drum Patterns and Funky Grooves in a Fun and Entertaining Session That Will Give You Great Hands and Improve Your Play – A must if you are serious about drumming.
 
Podcast Course
Hey, Young Innovators! Start Your Vlog or Podcast Channel Today!
Unleash Your Voice, Share Your Stories!
Are you ready to make waves in the world of Vlogging and Podcasting? Dive into a realm of creativity, expression, and endless possibilities! This is a free course and is funded by Youthlink Scotland.
 
Sound Production Course
Learn all about Sound Production with the professionals. Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced. Get a start on Pro-tools and Logic that will help with your songwriting and get you into Music Production.
 
Build a Band
This is a band programme designed to help young people play in a band and play live on a stage. This would suit those who can play a tune and can master a few chords or have basic knowledge in their instrument. So, if you can play a bit, play a bit more in a band.
 
Wednesday Music Club
Our club is for those who can play and would like to jam, get together with other musicians or write songs and or maybe you would like to have a go at drums or something else. This is free and is funded by Renfrewshire Council’s Winter Connections Every week at 12 to 2pm.
 
Song Club
This is a fun get together with people who are already writing songs or would like to start. It is a collaborative group setting and working together is key. A great way for you to understand music theory, composition and arrangement techniques.
 
Trad/Fusion Project
This programme is for young musicians interested in forming a band and blending traditional Scottish instrumentation such as Fiddles, Pipes, Whistles, Bohrain, Accordion and and anything else such as Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Electronic elements and maybe even a DJ. This funded by Renfrewshire Council’s CHEF Fund.
  

Event Management Course
This Event Management Project is for young people who want to be able to take part in or organise their own community events and help young people gain a college space or university develop a career in event management or entrepreneurship. Learn all about Live Pa, Stage Lighting, Show Production, Marketing and Event Safety. This is a free course and is funded by The National Lottery’s Young Start Programme.

Dreamers Wanted
Have a dream you want to share? Got an idea? Want to talk to someone about your music, a show or something way outside the box? Come and see us.
 
CONTACT – Email tommy.mcgrory@loudnproud.org or message us on Facebook at Loud n Proud School of Rock
 

VillageHallsWeek2026 runs 16–22 March 2026! Celebrate the vital role your hall plays in your community’s health and wellbeing. This UK-wide campaign is run by ACRE, in partnership with Scottish Rural Action and  WCVA.

Register by 13 January to receive free bunting, badges, and posters for your events.
Highlights of the week:

• Thematic events: Scottish Rural Action and Social Enterprise Scotland will run two events for Community Spaces Network members. Sign up to the network and receive registration details: Thematic Social Enterprise Networks - Register your Interest. 

• Launch: ACRE’s launch event is at Mere Brow Village Hall, Lancashire, on 13th March (if you happen to be nearby!). Details on the ACRE website.

• Resources: SRA and partners will release useful resources including the latest Village Halls Handbook edition, with guidance on governance, facilities, funding, net zero, and more.

• Local celebrations: Share photos & stories of your hall using #VillageHallsWeek to be featured! Keep an eye on the Local Events map to see what's happening in your area. 

How to get involved

• Follow us on social media: Share your volunteers’ stories and activities & tag #VillageHallsWeek.

• Host an event: Open days or existing activities are perfect for engaging your community. Free campaign materials for registered halls!

• Write to your MSP: Show the impact of your hall and invite them along.

• Contact local journalists: They love community stories — or invite them to your event!

We can’t wait to hear your stories — get involved and showcase your hall! 

We'd also like to take this opportunity to remind you that the next Community Spaces Network meeting is on 28 January at 10am-11.30am, and will focus on youth participation. Click here for more details and to register.