Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund

Celebrating Renfrewshire is a fund designed by and for young people aged between 12 to 25, where they have a direct say on which projects are funded in their local area.

The Celebrating Renfrewshire fund uses a participatory budgeting model. This is a democratic process in which community members decide how to spend part of a public budget and is a way for people to have a direct say in how local money is spent.

All young people aged 12 to 25 who live, go to school or work in Renfrewshire can vote on the projects they want to see delivered in their Local Partnership area. We’ll do this in partnership with community groups, organisations and schools.

If you are a group or organisation and have young people who wish to vote, you can contact celebratingren@renfrewshire.gov.uk for a support pack and voting guidance for all your young people.

Voluntary or community organisations

Anyone aged 12 to 25 or any organisation that provides services to young people in Renfrewshire can apply.

A young person can apply on their own or as part of a group with other young people aged 12 to 25. need to have the support of a voluntary or community organisation to apply.

The voluntary or community organisation must:

• be based in Renfrewshire
• have a constitution
• have a bank account
• be managed by members of the community.

Schools

Renfrewshire schools can apply through their parent councils for projects that will benefit young people and the wider community if they have endorsement from their pupil council.

Community planning partners

Community planning partners can submit applications for funding, but they should not submit applications for projects that are regarded as core functions.

Group guarantor

An individual or a group who does not have a constitution can apply but you must have a guarantor from a constituted group who have a bank account in the name of that group.

Council services

Renfrewshire Council services and teams cannot apply.

We are looking for projects and ideas that will:

• benefit young people aged 12 to 25 years
• demonstrate real benefit to the local area by improving or complementing existing services
• encourage equal opportunities.

Project priorities for applications

Projects should contribute to one or more of the priorities selected by local young people. 

Reducing isolation and improving mental and physical wellbeing including:

• projects which can allow young people to create friendships which will support their wellbeing
• projects that encourage young people to leave their homes and reduce loneliness and isolation by creating an environment that encourages good mental wellbeing.

Cost of living including:

• help to provide young people with food and clothing
• providing a warm space for young people to get together
• help with financial problems through financial education
• free projects to reduce stigma and remove barriers for inclusion.

Employability and life skills including:

• help with writing CVs and cover letters
• opening bank accounts and dealing with everyday bills etc.
• help to apply for college and university
• help give young people access to driving
• support for school leavers to gain access to the workplace.

Staying safe including:

• educating young people on how to be safe in the community and online
• safe youth drop ins which are inclusive places to talk openly and share views or ideas.

Substance use and addiction:

• educating young people about the harm caused by vaping and substance use
• courses or training sessions on mindfulness or safety and harm reduction tactics
• projects for young people to escape substance use at home and talk openly.

What the funding cannot be used for

Funding cannot be used for:

• activities that have already happened
• projects that exist mainly to further religious or political beliefs
• trips abroad or hospitality to other organisations.

You can apply for staff and running costs, but this is capped at a maximum of 40% of the total amount you are applying for. The remaining 60% must be for project costs.

You can apply to fund a project in any of Renfrewshire's 7 Local Partnership areas.

The maximum award is £3,500 for your Local Partnership area, and up to £1,000 for each additional Local Partnership area.

If you have a project that covers more than 1 Local Partnership area, you’ll need to apply separately for each one.

The amount you apply for under each Local Partnership area must add up to the total amount you are requesting from the Celebrating Renfrewshire fund.

Each application must outline specifically how young people will benefit from the project in that area.

If your project exceeds the maximum amount available, you’ll need to tell us how you plan to fund the remaining amount.

When the fund opens

You’ll need to attend an online support session to discuss applying for the fund.

Support sessions will take place online using Microsoft Teams. 

We'll send you an application form after you have attended the support session.

You should read the detailed guidance below on how to complete and submit an application.

Applications from young people

If your school is not making an application, contact our Youth Services team If you’re aged between 12 to 25 and are looking for a suitable group to work with.

Applications from individuals

Contact Engage Renfrewshire or our council team if you’re an individual and you need a constituted group to work with.

Engage Renfrewshire

• email: info@engagerenfrewshire.com
• phone: 0141 887 7700                  

Renfrewshire Council - Building Communities

• email: john.kennedy@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone: 0797 999 5413

Applications from schools

We only accept one application per school parent council.

Each school is responsible for deciding which application from the parent council should go forward for a public vote.

Schools will need to evidence their work with the parent council and show how they’ve involved young people as part of the process.

Some examples of evidence are:

• the signatures, names, and roles of the young people involved on the application form
• photos of the sessions
• minutes of the planning meetings.

Guidance for completing the application form

Section 1 - organisation details

We’ll need these details about your organisation:

• name of organisation
  • if you’re a voluntary or community organisation, this must be the same name that appears on your constitution, annual accounts, and bank accounts
  • If you are a school, your parent council must apply on your behalf.
• the registered address of your organisation
• contact name - this person should have authority to submit the application for the organisation and be contactable throughout the duration of the application process
• a contact number and email address
• position in organisation - the role of the person within the organisation, such as the chairperson, secretary, or another position
• a brief statement - no more than 100 words - of the overall purpose and aims of your organisation or group
• your legal status
• if you’ve received Celebrating Renfrewshire Funding last year and if you’ve submitted an evaluation of last year's project - if you haven't, contact the Celebrating Renfrewshire team
• required documents if your application is successful
• if your project will support and benefit the care experienced community - your application must encourage equality of opportunity.
• your organisation’s child protection policy or PVG registration if you have one.

Section 2 - project proposal

We need this information about your proposal:

• which Local Partnership area you’re applying for – if it’s more than one, you’ll you need to submit the proposal for each Local Partnership you’re applying in
• the amount you are applying for each Local Partnership area - it must add up to the total amount you are requesting from the Celebrating Renfrewshire fund
• how you will evidence the number of young people who will benefit from your project in each area selected
• name of project
• the dates you estimate when your project will start and finish - the project must be completed by 31 March 2026
• the purpose of your project and how it meets the priorities for Celebrating Renfrewshire - outline how the project will benefit young people in each Local partnership you’re applying for
• how you have identified the need for your project, such as local data or plans, or how you have involved young people in the development of your project
• a short summary less than 100 words that explains the advantages and benefits of your project idea
• how many of the Celebrating Renfrewshire priorities your project will contribute to
• total cost of your project
• how much funding you’re applying for.

Section 3 - declaration

This section should be completed by the person who has the authority to submit the application on behalf of the organisation applying for funding.

It should also include details of a young person who knows your organisation and supports the project idea in your application.

If you’re awarded funding

If your organisation is awarded funding, we'll make grant payments by BACS transfer to the organisation's bank details included in your application. 

We will not make payments to individual or personal accounts.

You cannot transfer the grant to another organisation or entity.

Conditions of the grant

You must accept and comply with the grant conditions. You’ll also need to report back on the impact the project has had once the funds are spent.

We may ask for receipts or invoices as evidence the grant has been spent or when it has been spent as detailed in your project application.

Evaluation of your project

When your project has been completed, you'll need to show us it's outputs and outcomes. 

This will help measure the difference that Celebrating Renfrewshire funding has made in your community.

Outputs are the tangible results of an activity, service, or project. They show the completion of your project's activities.

Outcomes are the overall impact or value created by your project. They show how you've achieved your project's objectives.

We’ll let you know how you can tell us about your project's outputs and outcomes.