Engage Newsletters
Keep up to date with Engage Renfrewshire
Engage Update - 16 March
Whole Family Wellbeing Fund
A £20 million fund for charities to deliver help that is tailored to the specific needs of families living in poverty or at risk of poverty. This will help them connect with the services and support in their communities that can make a difference.
The third Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, 'Bringing Hope, Building Futures', sets out that Whole Family Support means making sure families get the right support:
- when they need it
- where they need it
- for as long as they need it
Third sector organisations or partnerships can apply for a share of £20 million in funding for 2026/27. We expect that funding will continue and move to a multi-year basis from 2027/28, subject to future confirmation.
Applications close at midnight on Thursday 7 May.
Find out more
We’re helping people get online and cutting e-waste!
We’re excited to share E-Quality Access, a new initiative that will help more people across Renfrewshire get online while giving old devices a new purpose.
Residents can now donate unwanted phones, tablets and laptops at four libraries in Renfrewshire: Ferguslie Library, Johnstone Library, Paisley Central Library and Renfrew Library. Once donated, devices will be securely wiped and refurbished by Renfrewshire-based charity Pachedu, before being passed on to individuals and families who need them the most.
Having access to a suitable device can open the door to online learning, job opportunities, public services and staying connected with friends and family. By giving pre-loved devices a second life, we’re helping more people benefit from digital access while also reducing electronic waste.
The project is funded through Renfrewshire Council’s Fairer Renfrewshire programme and builds on all the great work already happening to help people get online across the area such as Digital Champions and DigiZones in libraries and community venues.
We’re thrilled to see this project come to life thanks to everyone working together. It's a win-win for people and the planet—reducing landfill, cutting carbon, and opening doors to opportunity.
Find more information, visit Renfrewshire Council’s website, or Pachedu’s Facebook page. You can also get in touch by contacting esther.misajel@pachedu.org
Billy McClean
Chief Officer, Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership
In this week’s Vlog, I talk about:
- Renfrewshire’s ‘Place Brand Masterclass’.
- The NHSGGC One-Year Summit.
- My regular thanks to staff for their great work. This week I mention some congratulations for Chris and Margaret from Podiatry, and feedback for Rebecca, Jess, Sian and Leslie who work in the Psychology Department and for Ellie, who supported someone and their family at end of life.
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…
Diabetes Scotland, are hosting a type 2 diabetes webinar on Wednesday 01 April 6pm – 7.30 pm.
This will be an opportunity for people living with or at risk of type 2 diabetes to find out more about care and treatment in Scotland. Laurie Eyles, Scottish Government Advisor, will be speaking about type 2 prevention &remission and weight loss pathways, Prof Naveed Sattar will speak about the increasing use of SGLT2i and GLP-1Ras and our wonderful supporter, Andy Nolan, will speak about his lived experience of type 2 diagnosis and remission.
There will be a Q&A session and people are invited to submit questions ahead of the event.
We would be extremely grateful if you could promote this event through your networks. https://type2diabetesinscotland.eventbrite.co.uk
Lead Scotland are looking for disabled people, neurodiverse people, blind or visually impaired people, D/deaf people or people who have long term physical or mental health conditions to complete a short survey, telling us about their experiences with cyber crime and online safety.
- The survey has 22 questions, and will take about 15 minutes to complete.
- You DO NOT have to have had an experience with cyber crime to complete the survey.
The survey is open until 31st March 2026
If you would like to take part in the research, please complete the survey which can be found here: https://www.lead.org.uk/2026/03/10/cyber-research/
Beatson Cancer Charity’s “Living with Uncertainty” group programme supports people to live as well as possible with the uncertainty that cancer brings. The group sessions focus on developing practical skills to manage challenging experiences, thoughts and emotions as well as taking actions towards living a valued and meaningful life.
The programme is led by a Health Psychologist and Group Facilitator.
The group takes place over six sessions and is offered in-person at venues across Glasgow. There is also the option to join an online version of the group.
Living with Uncertainty is for adults aged 18 and over who are living with a cancer that cannot be cured.
Some feedback from previous group participants:
- “The course was very helpful. I can’t speak highly enough of the whole experience.”
- “I really enjoyed the course and I 100% feel in a much better position with my thoughts and emotions.”
- “I really appreciate how much [the group] has helped and how some little things can make such a difference.”
- “[The facilitators] made me feel so relaxed and they supported me to find ways to allow me to accept what is happening and how to move forward.”
- “A lot of useful tips points and ideas that have helped me enormously.”
If you are interested in finding out more about Living with Uncertainty or joining one of our groups, see our website Living with Uncertainty | Beatson Cancer Charity, call 0141 212 0505 or email supportservices@beatsoncancercharity.org