Engage Update - 21 September

Single Year Funding for 2027 available

The Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is now welcoming application for its sixth year, covering activity and projects in 2027. The fund has a strong focus on prevention and early intervention and aims to support grassroots community groups in tackling mental health inequalities and address priority issues of social isolation and loneliness, suicide prevention and tackling poverty and inequality. 

The fund will be open until 30 October and successful groups will be notified by the end of December 2026. 

The Guidance and Funding Examples can be found on our dedicated webpage – Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund
Application Form

Remember that Engage is currently offering Application Writing Training and Bookkeeping training to the sector. See our full calendar of training and events: https://engagerenfrewshire.org/calendar/

Newsletters

Trading Standards Scotland Bulletin 17 September

TFN - September 2026

Discover Renfrewshire

The new DiscoverRenfrewshire.com website is now live, creating a shared platform that brings together the attractions, experiences, events and local businesses that make Renfrewshire special.  

What makes Renfrewshire different isn't just the variety of experiences on offer. It's how easy it is to discover something new while you're here. A coffee becomes a country walk. A family day out becomes an unexpected adventure. A visit to an event becomes a reason to stay a little longer. 
 
That's the role of Discover Renfrewshire: helping more people uncover those connections, discover new experiences and see the area in a different way. 
 
The campaign has been shaped by industry from across Renfrewshire. Throughout the development process, people told us they wanted something that felt inclusive, flexible and rooted in real experiences. Most importantly, they wanted something that industry could pick up, use and make their own. That’s the intention with Discover Renfrewshire and we’d appreciate it if you could show your support. 

How you can support the campaign 
 
Over the coming months, there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved in the campaign. Right now, you can support us by:  

• Following @DiscoverRenfrewshire on Instagram 
• Sharing your stories, recommendations and visitor experiences by using #DiscoverRenfrewshire and tagging @DiscoverRenfrewshire in your social content 
• Adding the Discover Renfrewshire logo to your promotional materials  
• Sharing your stories, recommendations and visitor experiences 

As the website is newly live, we'd also appreciate your help in making sure information is accurate and up-to-date by:  

• Submitting events for inclusion on our website, VisitScotland and The List websites 

 If you have any questions or can’t find something you expect to see on the site, simply get in touch at hello@discoverrenfrewshire.com and we'll be happy to help. 

Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 ROCCO Awards will take place on Friday 13th November at Ingliston Country Club & Hotel.
 
Engage Renfrewshire are once again sponsoring the Community Champion Award and we invite all charities, community groups and individual community leaders to consider entering. The ROCCO Awards are an opportunity to highlight and celebrate your work locally.
 
ROCCO Award for Community Champion – Sponsored by Engage Renfrewshire
 
To enter the ROCCO Awards, simply click the category name above to download an application form. Please complete the form digitally and return it to awards@roccoawards.com.
 
If your application is selected for shortlisting, you will be required to present to the judges at some point during the week commencing Monday 26th October 2026.
 
Full list of ROCCO Awards are on the website.
Click this link to be taken to the Chamber of Commerce website.

Vaping Awareness Session

This session is aimed at parents, carers, and staff who work with young people across the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.
The training aims to:

• Provide up-to-date information on vapes and their use among young people.
• Increase knowledge of the health and environmental impacts of vaping and build confidence in discussing these issues with young people.
• Signpost participants to further information and resources.

Session details
Training: Vaping and Young People Training (online)
Date: Thursday 8 October
Time: 10:00am to 12:00 noon
Registration link: https://link.webropolsurveys.com/EP/A1A3E5A9006D7778

HSCP Chief Officer's Vlog

I’m pleased to share my latest Vlog with you below. 

In this week’s Vlog, I talk about: 

• The Community Planning Partnership and discussions around ‘Your Voice Matters’.
• An update from the Strategic Planning Group and our work on participation, engagement and communication.
• My regular acknowledgement of feedback on our services.  

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…

Improving Access to digital mental Health 

Third Sector organisations play an essential role in helping people access mental health support in ways that work for them. However, we know that limited access to devices, connectivity, digital skills, confidence or accessible support can prevent some people from benefiting from digital mental health tools and services.
 
We are inviting practitioners working across Third Sector mental health organisations to participate in Digital Inclusion Champions Training for Mental Health. Funded by the Scottish Government, the training aims to improve equitable access to digital mental health support and therapies, and strengthen digital inclusion across community mental health support.
 
Why participate?
 
During the session practitioners will explore:

• Digital inequality, inclusion and mental health
• Barriers that can affect access to digital therapies
• How to have inclusive, person-centred conversations about digital therapies
• What self-referral digital therapies are available and what they involve
• Practical ways to support people with low digital confidence or accessibility needs
• Signposting to additional digital inclusion support and resources

 
The training is intended for staff and practitioners working in Third Sector mental health organisations. No specialist digital knowledge is required.
 
The training follows the principle of ‘digital choice’. It is not about replacing face-to-face support or assuming that digital mental health supports and therapies are suitable for everyone. Instead, it will help practitioners identify barriers, discuss available options, and support people to engage with digital mental health when they choose to do so.
 
To take part
 
Training will take place on Zoom with two options to join on either 30 September or 01 October and is led by Mhor Collective.
To register to attend please follow this link: Digital Inclusion | Support for Digital Therapies
 

Exploring Renewable Energy for Your Home | Heat pumps, solar PV, battery storage, and funding
 
Could renewable technology help you reduce your energy bills?
Join Home Energy Scotland for a free webinar with our expert Home Renewable Advisors and discover more about renewable technologies and how they could benefit your home or property.
Whether you’re a homeowner or private sector landlord, you may be considering moving away from fossil fuel heating and want to understand what options are available.
 
During the webinar, we will provide an overview of:

• Heat pumps
• Solar PV
• Battery storage

We will explain how these technologies work, their potential benefits and the funding opportunities that may be available to help you make the move towards a more energy-efficient home.
There will also be an opportunity to ask our expert questions during a live Q&A.
 
Choose from two sessions on Wednesday 7th October:

• Morning session | 10am–11am
• Afternoon session | 2pm–3pm

Click here to book your space.

'How to Thrive in Adversity' Workshop, Wednesday 30 September, 11am - 1pm, Paisley Central Library
Are you affected by experiencing or hearing about issues related to climate breakdown, food insecurity, or recent attacks on immigrants? Join us for this participatory workshop with Pachedu about collective wellbeing and mutual support. Tickets can be booked here.
 
 
People’s Emergency Briefing Community Screening, Wednesday 30th September, 4pm & 7pm, McKillop Institute, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4AJ
A film based on the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster, which was featured by ITV, Channel 4 and The Times. The event is hosted in collaboration between Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust, RenCAN and Lochwinnoch Force For Nature, with facilitated discussion by Becky Duncan. Seats are free but limited, so please book in advance. Tickets can be booked here.
 
 
RenCAN Annual Network Gathering, Friday 2nd October, 9:30am - 2pm, at The Wynd Centre, Paisley. A great day of connection, inspiration and celebration with others working towards a greener, fairer Renfrewshire. The day will feature:

• Talk on the Wellbeing Economy
• Launch of Renfrewshire’s new Green List Directory
• Community food panel
• Workshops and plenty of networking
• A quiz
• Renfrewshire’s first official Climate Cafe

Lunch provided. For catering purposes, tickets must be booked in advance here.

Weekday WOW Factor - Communities Day 

Thursday October 1st 10am to 2pm

GRID Braehead and Scotland’s charity Weekday Wow Factor are celebrating Communities Day in style with a brand-new activity or lunch package, for one day only and from just £5!

No matter your age or ability, the whole family is welcome to join in on the fun.

Weekday Wow Factor and GRID Braehead have teamed up to bring you an experience that blends movement, creativity and community spirit. Together, we’re creating a space where older adults - and the people who love them - can enjoy a brilliant day out.

Find out more