Engage Update - 31 August

Engage Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire HSCP are hosting another Tobacco and Vaping event on Wednesday 7 October, 10am–1pm, with lunch provided at Engage Renfrewshire.
 
The event will provide an opportunity for organisations who are supporting communities affected by tobacco and vaping to share and learn about what we can do to prevent or reduce these harms in our communities. It will also be an opportunity to hear updates on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and the changes we may see from as early as October 2026, as well as consider what these changes could mean for our work.
 
To register your interest, please email kwilkinson@engagerenfrewshire.com or call 07927 534 968.

Newsletters

Trading Standards Scotland Bulletin 27 August

Circular Communities Scotland E-News August 2026

Third Force News August 2026 

Thirty years. Our final edition | Safety NETworks

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.
 
ROCCO Award for Renfrewshire’s Favourite Business
 
To nominate your favourite business in Renfrewshire, please email awards@roccoawards.com by midnight on Friday 11th September. Please include ROCCO AWARD in the subject header. In the email, please include the name of the business you wish to nominate and why in <100 words, and include your own name, address and phone number.
 
Full list of ROCCO Awards are on the website.
Click this link to be taken to the Chamber of Commerce website.

The Everyday Strength Podcast

My name is Martin McKellar, founder of Get Active Coaching CIC, a community-based social enterprise in Paisley with a simple mission: to help everyday people build strength, confidence and longevity through resistance training, improving public health at a community level. We've recently launched The Everyday Strength Podcast
 
The podcast is designed to make strength training simple, accessible and less intimidating for beginners. Every week, we release a practical episode packed with actionable advice that helps people understand why strength training matters and how they can confidently get started, regardless of their age, experience or fitness level.
 
We believe that better public health starts with better education, and by removing the myths and barriers surrounding resistance training, we can help more people live healthier, stronger and more independent lives. We have some amazing guests lined up across the world of health, fitness and public health from leading managers, CEO's and researchers to talk all things beginner strength. 

The Podcast is here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TpxZlIyzsMaeh2fxKLeLD

 

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

• The Renfrewshire Localities Conference.
• An update from our HSCP Budget Working Group.
• 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…


 

We’re looking for young women to take part in the next phase of our award-winning YOUNG WOMEN KNOW programme!  This is a unique opportunity for young women aged 16–18 to build on our existing work and help shape Scotland’s response to digital violence against young women.

Participants get the chance to influence national policy and lead a cultural shift in public understanding of digital rights, consent, and AI-enabled violence. You don’t need any prior knowledge or expertise in these topics.
This opportunity is open all young women (including trans women), and people of marginalised genders who feel comfortable in a space that centres the experience of young women and girls, aged 16–18 who live in Scotland.

Programme dates
Across this year-long project young women will participate in two in-person ‘Hackathons’ (venues TBA) and two online sessions:

• Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th October 2026 (all day, in person) 
• Tuesday 1st December (evening online session) 
• Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th February 2027 (all day, in person) 
• Tuesday 23rd February (evening online session) 

We will cover travel costs for the in-person sessions as needed. The venues will be decided and communicated once we know the geographical spread of the participants.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Deadline: Thursday 17th September 2026 at 9am

We’re committed to ensuring that all young women’s voices are heard. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from all backgrounds but particularly those from underrepresented groups or marginalised communities. If you would like to discuss any accessibility requirements or request more information on the programme, please contact our Programmes Coordinator, Sarah Johnston, at sarah@youngwomenscot.org

Greater Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Intergenerational Network Meeting

Tuesday 6th October 2026, 10:00am - 12:00pm
St Andrews Church Barrhead, Ralston Road, Barrhead, G78 2QQ

Join us for the next Greater Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Intergenerational Network Meeting on Tuesday 6th October at St Andrews Church, Barrhead.

Our meetings are informal, welcoming sessions for anyone interested in intergenerational work and bringing generations together in local communities. They’re a great chance to connect with groups and organisations running IG projects, share good practice, spark new ideas, and explore potential partnerships. We encourage participation from those working in the voluntary sector, education, health and social care, community development, housing, environmental organisations, and local community groups.

Whether you’re just starting out or already experienced, come along to discover what’s happening locally, nationally and internationally — and find out how GWT can support your intergenerational practice with guidance, practical resources, activities, events, publications and training.

To book your place click here. For more information contact corrina@gwt.scot

 

 
This years theme is I AM HERE....SEE ME.
 
12.30 doors open
12.30 - 1.15 - Lunch and Catch up with new and old Faces
1.15-2.15 RenConnects Drama show - We want to be seen in Parliament
2.15-3pm - Scottish Assembly Lived experience and your stories
3.00-4pm Cake Cuppa and sing along
 
Everyone Welcome!
 
The drama group have been working really hard on their scenes where they will discuss whats important to them and what they want to change. The Assembly is supported by Values into Action and are coming along to share their lived of experience of their lives and hear from you all how you want to be seen.
 
We really hope you can join us! Please feel free to share with anyone you think may be interested in attending.