Resources for the Cost-of-Living Increases

Renfrewshire Council Energy Management Unit can offer help with:

• Energy advocacy

• Referral to home energy improvement schemes

• Help contacting fuel providers

• Fuel debt advice and support

• Access to grants and for clearing debt and potential access to fuel vouchers

Further information can be found on the Energy Advice - Renfrewshire Website. Self-referrals and professional referrals can be made.  

Telephone: 0300 300 0300

Email: emu@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Advisors offer free, impartial advice on energy saving, keeping warm at home, renewable energy, greener travel, cutting water waste and more. Home Energy Scotland’s mission is to help people in Scotland to reduce their bills and help tackle climate change. 

Visit the Home Energy Scotland website for more information on all that they offer.  

To book an existing workshop or to arrange one for your group or workplace go to Partner with us and help others or email HES_Partnerships@est.org.uk. 

If someone you work with is a housing association tenant and they are having trouble with finance for fuel payments and fuel debt, you should contact their housing association directly to discuss energy assistance support and advice. 

A full list of Housing Associations in Renfrewshire can be found here on the Renfrewshire Council Housing Associations webpage.

Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau can offer energy advice in several ways:  

• Help to understand bills, tariffs and switching  

• Help with debt owed to your supplier (for example: Negotiating with your supplier and arranging repayment plans) 

• Accessing supplier & government help such as The Warm Home Discount Scheme 

• Provide you with tips on how to cut your energy costs  

• Help you to contact your supplier via our specialist Adviser Only teams located within certain energy companies 

• Help to locate and access hardship funds to help with energy costs

Further information on fuel can be found on the CAB website. You can also click to download the Energy Best Deal booklet.

Telephone: 0141 889 2121

Email: bureau@paisleyCAB.casonline.org.uk   

Vouchers can be issued by services for anyone who is in food crisis. They offer free access to food/toiletries/cleaning items/baby items/pet food to anyone in Renfrewshire experiencing food insecurity. In order to get a food parcel, a voucher must be issued by a local agency, these include Advice Works and Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau. 

Clients bring their voucher to a foodbank distribution centre where it can be exchanged for three days' supply of emergency food.  

If you are in crisis and need a voucher to allow you to pick up a food parcel, please contact one of these agencies. 

• Advice Works: call 0300 300 1238 or email adviceworks@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• Renfrewshire Citizen’s Advice: call 0141 889 2121 or visit https://www.renfrewshirecab.org.uk/

Website: http://renfrewshire.foodbank.org.uk  

Email: info@renfrewshire.foodbank.org.uk

The Community Pantry at Station 7 is a subsidised food store, which helps people and families in our community shop smarter and save money. Membership is open to people living in Johnstone, Linwood and the villages, for a one-off charge of £1. Each shop is just £2.50 with members free to choose from our well-stocked shelves. We estimate people will save at least £15 per shopping trip.                                                                           

Pantry open: every Wednesday 10am-1pm

Visit their Facebook page to learn more.

Darkwood Crew, in partnership with The Tannahill Centre, host a community market provision. A nominal charge of £3.50 allows visitors to collect up to £15 worth of shopping. Additional advice and support services including Welfare Rights, Social Security Scotland, Home Energy Scotland and others are also available on the day.

Community market open: every Thursday from 11am.

Website: https://darkwoodcrew.co.uk/

Visit their Facebook page to learn more.

Food Train’s shopping delivery service ensures vulnerable older people have access to fresh and affordable groceries, delivered direct to their home on a weekly basis. The service aims to allow anyone over the age of 65 who has difficulty getting their grocery shopping to enjoy fresh food and a well-balanced diet and to remain in the comfort of their own home in their community without the worry or carrying heavy shopping. Volunteers can unpack and put shopping items away where needed.

The service costs £7 per delivery paid alongside the cost of the groceries. There is a £1 annual membership to pay, which also allows access to other Food Train services when available in the local area.

Website: www.thefoodtrain.co.uk
Telephone: 0141 887 2557

Visit their Facebook page to learn more.

Kairos Women+ host Community Soup on Tuesdays, 12:30pm – 2:30pm. Join them, for a blether and a hot bowl of soup with bread on the side.

Kairos Women+ also have a free shop with clothes and household items for adults and children, plus a small pantry with food and toiletries. In our bathroom, you can find free contraception and period products.

Opening Times: Tuesday-Friday 9:30am – 5pm (groups may be delivered outside these times).

Website: www.kairoswomen.org/whats-on

Telephone: 0141 3785078

Email: info@kairoswomen.org

Lochwinnoch Community Larder redistributes surplus food to the local community and surrounding areas, reducing food waste and providing free dignified food provision while helping to build community resilience. We also provide a safe and welcoming space to share a chat and any issues or concerns, helping to reduce isolation.

Larder Open:

Monday: 12:00pm – 1:30pm

Tuesday: 10:00am – 2:00

Thursday: 10:00am – 2:00pm

Saturday: 10:30am – 1:00pm

Email: communitylarder@myleapproject.org

Visit their Facebook page to learn more

Renfrewshire Council provides free period products in a number of public venues and community locations, including all libraries. These products are environmentally friendly, plastic-free period products. You can also order period products to your home address if you can't access products from a public venue or community organisation, because you:

• live in a rural area
• have a disability
• don't live near a place with free period products
• have another reason why you can't access free products

To order a three-month supply delivered to your home, complete the online order form here.

Some community organisations also hold products - click here to learn more.

For recipe idea videos which are simple to follow and easy to get ingredients for, please visit our Youtube page.

You will find a selection of great videos created by local organisations including Kairos Kitchen and STAR Project and information about healthy, budget friendly, sustainable food recipes created locally.

If you or someone has benefits issues, are struggling with debt or are having difficulty managing their budget, Advice Works can provide advice. They offer free, confidential and independent advice on money and debt issues including budgeting, negotiating with creditors, and mortgage and rent arrears - as well as checking you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to.  

Advice Works also work with various partners on projects such as with Macmillan Cancer providing support to those with a cancer diagnosis or INVEST for clients who are looking for employment.

To make an appointment call Advice Works on 0300 300 1238 or email adviceworks@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. Some providers call them ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ broadband.

They are delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price. Amid rising living costs, Ofcom is encouraging companies to offer social tariffs to help customers on low incomes.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs-and-billing/social-tariffs

CEMVO Scotland's Financial Capability programme supports people from Ethnic Minority Communities with their finances and develop their money management skills.  The support is delivered in workshops and on a one-to-one basis. If participants need money advice, CEMVO Scotland can support them to do this with trusted local partners. In Renfrewshire, this is Advice Works and Renfrewshire Citizens Advice.

You can read more about their Financial Capability programme and how to refer people to their service here.

RACA is made up of a variety of organisations in Renfrewshire who have come together to help you and those you work with access fair and affordable forms of credit. 

We have come together to champion fair and honest finance and ensure everyone, no matter their income level, has better options that help reduce the risk of them falling into problem debt.  

The website has detail on opening bank accounts, improving credit scores and has information on ethical providers of credit such as credit unions and Community Developed Finance Initiatives (CDFI’s) and non-cash alternatives to help vulnerable people access household goods in emergencies. 

Contact RACA if you are a practitioner, work with volunteers or run a group supporting vulnerable people to book a session on affordable credit with our Affordable Credit Officer where we can talk about fairer ways to borrow money when in need and illegal money lending prevention.

Website: https://www.raca.org.uk/

Telephone: 0141 887 7707

Email: info@engagerenfrewshire.com. 

Renfrewshire CAB is a local, independent charity which provides free, impartial and confidential advice, advocacy support and information to give you the tools needed to sort out issues or problems. They offer support and information with a range of issues such as benefits including a full benefit check, money and debt advice, advice on employment and housing, work and family advice, legal advice and consumer advice. 

To book an appointment:

Telephone: 0141 889 2121

Website: www.renfrewshirecab.org.uk

There are five credit unions covering Renfrewshire, all independent of each other and of varying membership sizes. Credit unions are savings and loans co-operatives or mutual organisations – meaning it is owned by their members and benefits their members. Credit unions offer a range of products related to saving and borrowing so take a look at the variety of financial support they each offer. 

You can join a credit union under a common bond of either living working or studying within a boundary. We have listed this information below. 

• Gleniffer Credit Union - To join Gleniffer Credit Union, you need to live or work in the PA1, PA2 or PA3 postcode areas.
  18 Skye Crescent, Glenburn, Paisley, PA2 8El 
  Telephone: 0141 583 4905
  Email reception@gleniffercreditunion.co.uk 

• Johnstone Credit Union - To join Johnstone Credit Union, you need to live in Renfrewshire. 
  26 Church Street, Johnstone, PA5 8DU  
  Telephone: 01505 327148 
  Email: enquiries@johnstonecu.co.uk 

• Right Way Credit Union - To join Right Way Credit Union you need to have a PA, G, ML or KA postcode.
  41 High St, Paisley PA1 2AH 
  Telephone: 0141 889 7442 
  Email: info@rwcu.co.uk 

• Scotwest Credit Union - To join Scotwest Credit Union their common bond is for people who live or work in the West of Scotland, Stirling, Perth & Kinross, Dumfries & Galloway or Highlands. 
  They are based at 13 Elmbank Street, Glasgow G2 4PB but all membership services can be made online or using their handy app.
  Telephone: 0141 227 2390 
  Email: office@scotwest.co.uk 

• White Cart Credit Union - To join White Cart you need to live in Renfrewshire. 
  73 Neilston Rd, Paisley PA2 6NA 
  Telephone: 0141 889 3005 
  Email: admin@whitecartcu.co.uk 

Before contacting Social Security Scotland, if someone needs help with finances then contact can be made to Advice Works or Renfrewshire Citizens Advice for support (details above).  

Social Security Scotland benefits require the completion of an application, and the range of benefits available can be found here: Social Security Scotland - Benefits.

Council Tenants

If someone you work with is a Council tenant and is having difficulty paying rent or other bills, please contact Renfrewshire Council’s Housing Department during office hours. They can help tenants to sustain their tenancy and offer other support like foodbank vouchers, and referral onto other agencies such as Energy Management Unit and Advice Works as appropriate.

Telephone: 0300 300 0222

Email (area dependent): 

• paisley.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• renfrew.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• johnstone.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Housing Associations

If someone you work with is a Housing Association tenant and is having difficulty paying rent or other bills, it can be useful to contact the Housing Association for support. Most have teams who can help people with benefits and other support such as around energy bills and foodbank vouchers. A full list of Housing Associations in Renfrewshire can be found here on the Renfrewshire Council Housing Associations webpage.

Private Tenants

If you are working with someone who is a private tenant, there is some helpful information on the Renfrewshire Council website that can be accessed by clicking here. If they are in an emergency situation with rent arrears, eviction, food or energy, Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (details above) may be able to help. The Bureau also have a legal advice service.

Provide support and advocate for people with disabilities or support needs to apply for Social Security Scotland benefits only and they will work alongside the services such as Advice Works and Citizens Advice. Please see the website link for more information: VoiceAbility | Support to access benefits in Scotland.

The website is translatable and there is an option for 'read aloud'. You will also find videos to support accessibility. 

Young Scot provide information for young people in Scotland aged 11 to 26 years old and they have created this page due to the increasing costs of living and to support issues particular relating to young people. It links to helping with saving money, terms used to explain living costs, savings which can be made by young people and many more links to supports and information. They will continue to update the page and is a good resource to share with the young people you work with.

Website: https://young.scot/campaigns/costcrisis/