Wellbeing Network News - May 2025

Dear Renfrewshire Wellbeing Network,

Mental Health Awareness Week has just come to a close, and this year’s theme, Community, reminded us how powerful connection and a sense of belonging can be for our mental health and wellbeing.

Here in the Renfrewshire Wellbeing Network, every one of our members helps build that sense of community. Whether it is through a choir, a cricket club, a sewing group or any other kind of gathering, you are creating welcoming spaces where people can feel safe, supported and valued.

For someone who is struggling, your group might be the highlight of their week. It could be a chance to connect, to feel included, and to know they are not alone. That is something truly worth celebrating. Let us keep recognising and supporting these vital spaces and the difference they make every day.

As always, this edition is packed with inspiring wellbeing updates from across Renfrewshire. You’ll also find new funding opportunities and upcoming training sessions towards the end, so be sure to have a good browse and see what might be relevant or useful for you and your group.

Enjoy!

Network Events

Renfrewshire Volunteer Appreciation Event
Wednesday June 4th, 6pm-8pm
Tannahill Centre, Ferguslie Park
Join us at the Tannahill Centre, Ferguslie Park, on Wednesday 04 June, from 6-8pm to celebrate the incredible achievements of local volunteers throughout Renfrewshire. Enjoy a night of food, drinks, and music as we spotlight the remarkable local and national awards that voluntary groups and individual volunteers have achieved throughout the past year. We’ll also celebrate our incredible youth volunteers and shine a light on the Saltire Awards, Summit Awards, Duke of Edinburgh, Positive about Youth, and much more. Book here

Renfrewshire Volunteer Fair
Monday June 2nd, 12pm-2pm
Tannahill Centre, Ferguslie Park
Looking to start volunteering or want to learn more about local opportunities? Come along to our Volunteer Fair at the Tannahill Centre on Monday 2 June, drop in between 12-2pm. We will be joined by organisations such as Guide Dogs, Paisley Rugby Club, St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation, Bipolar Scotland, Active Schools and many more! Meet local organisations and get involved!

RENCAN- Small Grants Network Gathering
Tuesday 17th June, 9:30am - 12:15pm
Finding Your Feet, 25 St James Street, Paisley PA3 2HQ
Shining a spotlight on the amazing work made possible by the Small Grants Fund. Some of our 2024 - 25 recipients will be delivering short presentations on the projects they delivered with their funds, and on their wider work.
 Also, we’re currently preparing for the next round of the RenCAN Small Grants Fund, and we’d really value your input - what worked well, what could be improved, and how we can make the fund more accessible and impactful going forward.
Tea/coffee & light lunch provided. Book here

Community Energy Workshop, with Glasgow Community Energy
Thursday 5th June, 12pm -1.30pm
Paisley Central Library
Delivered by Joe Smee, this workshop is aimed at community organisations and individuals in Renfrewshire to explore what energy challenges their communities are facing and what type of projects might help address them. We will look at examples that have been successful in other communities and work together to decide whether any of these models could be successful in our communities.
Light lunch provided. Book here

Buds Bootcamp -St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation
Each Monday & Wednesday at 6.15pm-7.15pm
The SMiSA Stadium, St Mirren Park, Greenhill Road, Paisley, PA3 1RU
New and improved! With fitness testing, upgraded sessions, energising workouts, and a whole lot of motivation, there's never been a better time to get involved. Whether you're returning or joining us for the first time, join the team and enjoy every step of your fitness journey! Book here

Wellbeing News

Scottish Mental Health Art Festival 2025
The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF) is taking place from Monday 20 October to Sunday 9 November, exploring the theme ‘Comfort & Disturb’.
 If you are interested in delivering creative activity in Renfrewshire that supports wellbeing as part of the festival, please contact James McGuire to discuss: james.mcguire@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Fibromyalgia Action UK
May is Fibromyalgia Awareness Month, raising awareness for the condition and of what the charity FMA UK does to support, advocate and advise for sufferers and their families.
With 'Light up for Fibro' buildings across the UK lit up Purple on Monday 12^th May, to raise awareness for the chronic illness.

Paisley North Church
Our Ferguslie Park Wednesday Drop In crew enjoyed a wee day trip to Largs yesterday 14 May. The weather increasingly got better as the day went on with the crew enjoying the walk along the beach front, the fresh air, time together and the lovely ice cream. Who says the simple things in life can’t be shared?

Community Circus Paisley is finally launching its new flying trapeze rig, opening up exciting opportunities for aerial arts, training, and performance. The rig is now open for classes, workshops, and creative projects, supporting the circus’s mission of inclusive, accessible, and community-driven arts. Find out more

Training

Equally Safe - tackling Violence Against Women and Girls

‘Equally Safe - tackling Violence Against Women and Girls’ is an interactive workshop, designed to raise awareness and deepen understanding of the various forms of violence women and girls face, with a specific focus on misogyny, coercive control and economic abuse.

Through discussion and interactive activities, participants will explore how misogyny underpins gender-based violence, including unpacking the often-invisible tactics of coercive control.

This training session is offered by ‘Youth Inspired’, a multi-disciplinary team of professionals who specialise in the mental and emotional wellbeing of young people and their families.

Book here

Become a Dementia Friend (awareness session)
Wednesday 4 June, 10am-11.30am
Foxbar Community Centre, Amochrie Road, Paisley PA2 0LB
This Dementia Awareness Week, learn more about dementia and the small ways you can help.
Many people affected by dementia feel that society fails to understand the condition they live with. Dementia Friends help by raising awareness and understanding, so that people living with dementia can continue to live in the way they want.
Delivered by Alzheimer Scotland.If you would like to find out more or register for a place, please contact: James McGuire - james.mcguire@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Funding

Children and families affected by Poverty
Boost Small Grants programme is for local community organisations across Scotland supporting children and families affected by poverty. 
Boost Small Grants will provide grants of £500-£3,000 to constituted groups and charities with an annual income of £50,000 or less. Unconstituted groups can apply for grants of between £250-£1,500

National Lottery Community Fund - Supporting Change: Carers

The National Lottery Community Fund for Scotland has launched a new funding programme for voluntary, community and public sector organisations in Scotland aimed at reducing health inequalities for unpaid carers through long-term and meaningful systems change.
Grants of between £500,000 and £2 million are available over 5 to 10 years. Organisations can also apply for £50,000 in development funding.
Deadline for applications is 28 August 2025

Asks & Offers

Active Communities 
Weekly Litter Pick – Gallowhill groups or residents
Weekly from Friday 23rd May, 9.45am - 11am (times may vary)
Meet point: shopping area, Netherhill Road.
I am Yvonne Hughes, and I am looking for residents of all ages to help with litter picking in Gallowhill.
All PPE and equipment will be provided. Please contact me if you have any mobility issues but would like to help out. We will see what we can do.
 From 12noon you are welcome to the free lunch, and social event at the Community Centre. Email Yvonne to register - Info@activecommunities.co.uk

Craft Club Leader Wanted (Sessional Role)
Roar Connections is looking for a creative, friendly person to run our Tuesday morning Craft Club (9:30am–12:30pm). Self-employed, paid role. No need to know every craft – full training provided! For enquiries contact rachel@roarforlife.org

Send us your (group) picture!
Paisley Museum is working on creating an interactive map and short films of Paisley and Renfrewshire. We have interviewed members of the public about what they like most about the area. The short film’s theme is community, culture and life in Renfrewshire.
We are looking for local groups and organisations across Renfrewshire who would be willing to share some photos of their community/group events and activities. The pictures will be included in the films, which focuses on the strong feeling of community typical of Renfrewshire and the importance of being part of and involved in your local community and culture.
Email your pictures to Camilla- camilla.crosta@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Deadline 09 June.

Tree Planting sessions
Organisations can book up to 3 tree planting slots when the season starts up again.
A minibus will be arranged to pick up volunteers to take them to a local site (within an hour's drive) to plant trees with our partner conservation charity Eadha Enterprises.Sessions are normally 10am to 2pm.  All tools, workwear, transport and lunch provided
Bookings open now, slots available from August 2025 through to May 2026. Contact Lucy for more information- lucy@myleapproject.org

Network Member Showcase

Barcraigs Open Water Swimmers
Barcraigs Open Water Swimmers is a constituted group of around 40 active open water swimmers who support the safe introduction to open water swimming to achieve the mental and physical benefits of cold water immersion in nature. Their aim is to provide more opportunity to swim outdoors as safely as possible for swimmers of all abilities. Find out more

Tannahill Centre
The Tannahill Centre is a hub in Ferguslie Park, bringing together the community through meaningful connection and support. Home to a range of essential local services and businesses, the Centre goes beyond its role as a community space to foster a thriving atmosphere with a diverse mix of community-led activities. Find out more