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Wellbeing Network News - July Newsletter
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Drawings of Castle Semple Loch, made by attendees of the Renfrewshire Wellbeing Network's 'Walk and Talk' in Lochwinnoch |
Dear Renfrewshire Wellbeing Network,
I hope you are all well and enjoying the summer. These days, when we receive more 'out of office' replies than actual responses, it can feel like you're the only one not off on a sunny beach or exploring a new city. But the community sector doesn’t pause just because the days are brighter-there’s still an abundance of activity happening across Renfrewshire. From family events to crafting and walking groups, there's undoubtedly something for everyone.
As we near the end of July, I also want to remind all of you in the third sector that the deadline for submitting your Note of Interest for the multi-year Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is August 1st. This is mandatory if you plan to apply for two-year funding. You can find the Note of Interest form and funding guidance here.
As ever, the newsletter is full of opportunities, activities and news from wellbeing projects across Renfrewshire.
Enjoy!
Network Events
Time for Transformation – a national conference hosted by Bipolar Scotland
Thursday 9th October, 9am-4.30pm
COSLA Centre, Haymarket Edinburgh
This one-day event will bring together professionals, academics, clinicians, and those with lived experience to explore urgent issues facing people with bipolar in Scotland – from 10- year diagnostic delays and gendered health inequalities to workplace stigma and human rights
concerns. Visit the ticket link for more information.
Renfrewshire Climate Action Network (RenCAN)
Friday 29th August – Erskine library
Tuesday 16th September – Glenburn Library
Tuesday 28th October – Renfrew library
'Roving Library Sessions' coming up across locations in Renfrewshire to inspire groups to get outdoors, take climate action, and feel great ! If you are a community group from any of these places, get in touch with Lucy on lucy@myleapproject.org to book your space and see how getting outdoors can benefit your own volunteers and service users.
Lochwinnoch repair drop-in and mending circle
Wednesday 27th August, 6-9pm
LEAP Workspace, 39 High St, Lochwinnoch
Come and fix your broken items with a dedicated repairer giving support and guidance. Or join our sewing corner to mend your textiles and seek advice. Contact svenja@myleapproject.org for more information
Finding you Feet - AmpuT in the Park
FYF Charity Hub, St James Street, Paisley, PA3 2HQ
Saturday 27th September
AmpuT in the Park is coming to Paisley! Join us on Saturday 27th September as we turn the FYF Charity Hub Garden into a mini festival with ten brilliant live acts, great food, garden games and good vibes. Every ticket helps Finding Your Feet support people affected by amputation or limb absence across Scotland. Grab your ticket now and join the fun www.findingyourfeet.net/festival
Menopause Goals
Start Date: 18th September (for eight weeks)
SMiSA Stadium, PA3 1RU
Our programme is designed to help women aged 40+ in Renfrewshire navigate the menopause with expert advice, real-life tips, and in a safe space.
Each session covers a different topic, aiming to equip you with the knowledge/skills, coping strategies, and techniques to manage symptoms.
This will run each Thursday for eight weeks, with attendance required each week.
Peer Supporters Practice Exchange-
A Peer Connects event from Scottish Recovery Network.
Tuesday 16th September, 11am-2:30pm
thestudio... 67 Hope Street Glasgow G2 6AE
Are you a Peer Supporter based in Scotland? This practical event is an opportunity to learn from different Peer Leaders!
It’s a chance to deepen your peer practice and connect with other peers as we continue to build a thriving peer support community across the country.
Full Peer Connects event brochure here
FFIT – Football Fans In Training (free fitness)
Start Date: 15th Sept (Men) | 17th Sept (Women)
SMiSA Stadium, PA3 1RU
Starting September, FFIT is a free 13-week programme designed to help you improve both your physical health and mental wellbeing. Who can take part? Men & women, aged 35 to 65, with a waist size of 38 inches or belly size of at least 40 inches. Please contact foundation@stmirren.com if you need more info.
Wellbeing News
6 Weeks to Wellbeing
Starts Tuesday 2nd September, 10am-12pm
Foxbar Community Centre, Amochrie Road, Paisley, PA2 0LB
Join us in Foxbar and connect with new people as you discover new ways to improve your wellbeing!
This is a 6-week programme packed full of different activities. Learn some new skills or rediscover old ones whilst having fun.
Places are limited and must be booked by emailing:
healthandwellbeing@renfrewshire.gov.uk
For those aged 18+.
Quarriers - Brain Injury Community support
Do you, or a loved one, have a brain injury.
Quarriers Brain Injury Community Support can provide advice, information and support for adults who have sustained a brain injury and their families and carers. The service is here to help rebuild lives and restore hope – across Renfrewshire, we are funded by the Renfrewshire council.
Contact headinjuryservice@quarriers.org.uk / 07498843421 for more information or click below.
The Preshal Trust Paisley
Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9am-3pm.
Old St Luke’s, 20 Neilston Road, Paisley, PA2 6LN
Wheelchair access available
An exciting new chapter for the work of the Preshal Trust began last June with the opening of a drop-in centre at Old St Luke’s Church, Neilston Road in Paisley. The Trust has run a very successful drop-in centre in Govan over the last 23 years and the vision is to now extend this work into the Renfrewshire area.
A number of activities take place throughout the day including, pool, dominoes, quizzes, arts and crafts, bingo, cooking and sewing classes.
Tea, coffee and toast is served between 9am-11am and a two course lunch is served at midday (costing £2)
Contact admin@preshaltrust.org.uk for more information.
Renfrewshire Climate Action Network (RenCAN)
August 2025 - April 2026
Tree planting trips are coming up again, starting in August and running all the way to next April. We've got two a month, available on a first come first served basis. They are open to all Renfrewshire community groups, we can have up to 16 people in a group, and times are usually 10am - 2pm. Kids from age 8 are welcome. Contact lucy@myleapproject.org to join.
Cost of all expenses including transport, support worker and lunches are covered.
FORC Recovery Café starting in Renfrew
Fridays 10am-3pm from 1st August
YMCA, 3 Dunlop Street, Renfrew, PA4 8PG
FORC - Renfrew’s very own ‘5-0 Recovery Café’ is launching on the 1st of August 10am -3pm!
FORC is open to individuals with a current or previous drug / alcohol dependency.
A variety of activities and refreshments will be on offer such as crafts, groupwork, relaxation, rolls and sausage, quizzes and more …. For more information contact 0774 860 5854/ hope@nehemiah.org.uk
Free Weekly Walking Group - OneREN
Linwood: Wednesdays, 11.00am, Meeting at On-X Leisure Centre
Johnstone: Wednesdays 12.15pm, Meeting at Thomas Shanks Park (Carpark)
New low- level walks added to our program of entry level health walks. Not everyone can manage a 60-minute walk so we are keen to cater for those starting out or recovering from illness. Join us now for a 30-minute walk. Accessible for all.
No booking required
Any queries contact Senga: healthandwellbeing@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Phone-07776 473 814
Training and Funding
suicideTALK: suicide awareness
Monday, August 18, 2pm-4pm
Engage Renfrewshire, 10 Falcon Crescent Paisley PA3 1NS
suicideTALK is a 1.5-hour introductory session designed to raise awareness about suicide and highlight the important role each of us can play in preventing it. Hosted by Choose Life, this session creates a safe space for learning and open discussion.
This session is intended for third sector community groups interested in gaining a better understanding of suicide and how they can contribute to creating a more informed, compassionate, and supportive environment.
Creating Hope with Peer Support in Renfrewshire: workshop
Thursday 30 October, 10am - 4pm
Finding Your Feet Hub, 25 Saint James' Street Paisley PA3 2HQ
Want to build confidence & skills providing peer support to people affected by suicide? Make a real impact & create meaningful connections!
Scottish Recovery Network are partnering with Engage Renfrewshire to facilitate a one day Creating Hope with Peer Support workshop.
Lunch and refreshments provided.
Spaces are limited to maintain a supportive atmosphere.
Scottish Recovery Network supports the #CommunicationForAll campaign. If you have any accessibility or communication needs that would help you take part, please let us know.
To book BSL interpreters or Electronic Notetakers we need two weeks’ notice. If you have any further questions contact 0300 323 9956 or info@scottishrecovery.net
Leadership for Well-being: Supporting Mental Health for Healthy Teams
Join this 3-hour workshop for managers to learn how to support team mental health while meeting performance goals using practical tools, real-life examples, and effective management techniques.
Ferguslie Learning Centre Communities Programme 2025
12th, 13th, 14th, 19th, 20th, 21st August
Ferguslie Learning Centre (near Tannahill Centre), 10 Falcon Crescent, Paisley PA3 1NS
Wheelchair access, disabled parking, ramp
We have short, certificated learning at beginner’s level in a friendly community environment, starting August: Photography, Criminology, Coping Strategies, Horticulture, Understanding Children’s Behaviours, Computing, Customer Service, Creative Writing & NEW – Sociology and Art!
For queries contact Kathleen Brown 0141 842 1015
Kathleen.brown@wcs.ac.uk
Small Grants Fund - RenCAN
Applications open 1st August
The Hub is distributing funding in the form of small grants to help community groups in Renfrewshire to deliver action for climate and nature in their local area. The total funding available is £15,000.
To apply for funding you’ll need to be a RenCan member and we’ll be looking for new and existing projects that aim to achieve at least one of the following outcomes:
- Mitigate climate change
- Protect, enhance or increase local biodiversity.
- Help communities adapt to and build resilience to climate change.
- Raise awareness of and prompt action on climate justice.
Link to application and guidance will go live on our website here, on 1st August.
The GRI LAG Rural Community Led Local Development fund (CLLD) grant programme is now open
The LAG is welcoming applications for Revenue projects with costs between £5,000 – £10,000
The aim of the CLLD Fund is to deliver community-based activity to meet one or more of the Scottish Government and GRI LAG priorities:
- Encourage and support rural communities and villages
- Address climate change
- Increase and sustain local rural businesses, micro businesses and social enterprises
- Address inclusion, diversity and equality and rural poverty issues (including child poverty, food security and support for working families)
- Create specific opportunities for young people
- Foster partnership working
If you would like to make an enquiry or have a project in mind please review the information on the website and submit an expression of interest via the link on the home page or via this link: Expression of Interest - grilag.com
Your project idea will be assessed and if thought to eligible you will be invited to complete a full application form.
The deadline for full applications is 24 August 2025. Find out more
Asks & Offers
Halloween Festival Fringe programme
Dates of event: 4-9pm 24th Oct & 2-9pm 25th Oct 2025
Programme registration form deadline: 28th August 2025
We are pulling together a fringe programme of events taking place across Renfrewshire during the festival, which will be included in the event promotion. If you are planning to run any Halloween themed events or activities, please let us know by completing this form by Thursday 28th August.
The centre point of the celebration will be a town centre wide parade at 7pm each evening, featuring professional artists, costumed and choreographed community groups, large puppets, sound and light. The festival will also offer family friendly entertainment, a live stage, street performances, lighting and projection displays and street food traders.
Click here for more information
Invitation to register your events and activities as part of the Paisley Christmas Fringe programme
Dates of switch on event: 15th November 2025
Fringe programme activities: 15th Nov – 31st Dec 2025
Programme registration form deadline: Thursday 25th September 2025
The programme will feature an outdoor stage with live acts, lighting installations, street performances.
We are pulling together a fringe programme of events taking place across Renfrewshire during the festive period, from Sat 15th Nov through until 31st Dec, which will be included in the event promotion.
If you are planning to run any Christmas themed events or activities, please let us know by completing this form by Thursday 25th September.
Network Member Showcase
Ralston Community Council
A Community Council is a voluntary organisation set up by statute by the Local Authority and run by local residents to act on behalf of its area. Ralston Community Council care about their community and want to make it a better place to live. They facilitate a wide range of activities which promote the mental health and well-being of the community, as well as representing the views of the community to Renfrewshire Council. They also play an important part in local democracy, bringing people together to make things happen.
Find out more
Paisley North Church
In August 2017, a small group of three began working in Ferguslie Park under the umbrella of our parent Church “Paisley North Church.” Through this fledgling group of people, they host a number of things in Ferguslie Park based around children’s work and working closely with adults through their “Wednesday Drop In” which meets weekly on a Wednesday and also less formally on a Friday. This groups membership includes people who are actively involved in various life controlling issues such as drug and alcohol addiction as well as mental health concerns.
Find out more