Renfrewshire Council

Families First Renfrewshire

What Families First is, what they can help with, local Families First teams in your community, Families First Clubs.

What Families First is

We want Renfrewshire's children to grow up happy, healthy and ready to learn. A key factor in this are the families and people who surround them, who love and care for them.

In difficult times it's not always easy for families to give their children the start in life they might have hoped for.

Families First is a programme for families that will help them to build a better future for their children. It brings together a range of existing council, health and voluntary services together under the Families First banner to make them easier to find and easier to use for those who need them most.

What Families First can help with

From time to time families can run into difficulties, emotionally, financially or even physically, stopping them from doing even the simplest of things.

Whatever the issue, big or small, our team offers support at home, in school, can help with attending classes or just be there for a friendly chat.

Families First can help you with

  • School
    • Planning for the school day
    • School Clothing Grant
    • Homework                                                   
  • Health
    • Eating well
    • Keeping Fit
    • Sign posting you to the right place for a referral
  • Home
    • Budgeting advice
    • Establishing a family routine
    • Preparing healthy meals
    • Positive relationships
  • Money
    • Reviewing your benefits
    • Debt and energy advice
    • Dealing with bank statements and letters
    • How to start saving
  • Childcare
    • Finding a nursery
    • Information about childcare
    • Mother and baby or toddler groups

Local Families First teams in your community

We're continuously looking into new ways of working so that together with our community planning partners we can deliver families a better service. We have established five teams to support families in these communities:

  • Ferguslie - contact Frances Robertson, Ferguslie coordinator
  • Linwood - contact Clare Dooris, Linwood coordinator
  • Foxbar - contact Vicki Speirs, Foxbar coordinator
  • Gallowhill - contact Pamela McKechan, Gallowhill coordinator
  • Johnstone - contact Kelly McGarvey, Johnstone coordinator

You can find the contact details for each local Families First team at the bottom of this page.

Families First Clubs

Children in Primary 1 to Primary class 4 who are already in receipt of a school clothing grant are invited to attend Families First Clubs during most school holiday periods. Children take part in a programme of activities and receive a hot meal during the daily Families First Clubs. 

Older siblings in Primary 5, 6 and 7 classes at the same school can also attend the free camp when accompanied by their sibling in Primary 1, 2, 3 or 4 class. 

Eligible families will receive a letter of invitation to the clubs when they are scheduled. You'll need to complete the consent form and return it to the school office to make sure suitable arrangements are in place before the clubs start.