Support and assistance

We are looking for volunteers to deliver a new parenting programme called Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC) to other parents and carers in your community.

Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC) courses helps parents and carers to learn how to:

• use a range of positive parenting skills
• better understand their children's feelings
• listen, communicate, and interact more effectively
• nurture closer, warmer parent-child relationships
• develop more resilient families.

EPEC courses consist of 8 two-hour sessions facilitated by two trained and accredited Parent Group Leaders.

Each course session is interactive and involves a blend of small and large group discussions, role play, demonstrations, information sharing and reflection.

Parents get to practice and use new skills in everyday life to achieve specific goals.

You can become a Parent Group Leader if you: 

• are over eighteen
• a parent, carer, or someone with recent experience of parenting
• would like to help other parents in your local community.

Parent Group Leaders deliver the EPEC courses locally to small groups of parents of 2 to 11 years olds to help them:

• become more confident parents
• develop their parenting skills
• increase their understanding of positive parenting.

As a Parent Group Leader, you can help other families with:

• attachment and parent-child relationships
• understanding and managing children's feelings and parents' emotional regulation
• parenting roles, expectations, and culture
• parent listening, communication, play and interaction skills
• positive behaviour management and discipline strategies
• managing parent and family stress.

If you'd like to know more about volunteering for the EPEC programme first, you can get in touch by 

• email at epeclinwood@gmail.com
• phone on 01505 331931.

You can apply online to become a Parent Group Leader volunteer on the Engage Renfrewshire website.

What training you will get

We will give you training and accreditation to become a Parent Group Leader. You will get comprehensive training and ongoing supervision and support.

The training is delivered one day a week for 10 weeks.

We will arrange the training days to suit parents and carers who volunteer. We can also arrange the training at evenings or weekends for people who work during the week.

We will also provide you with free childcare if you need it during the training.

Where to find a DigiZone

There are 22 DigiZones across Renfrewshire:

You can find DigiZones at:

DigiZones may operate at different times. You should contact the DigiZone in advance of visiting.

While we try to evaluate the suitability of DigiZones for digital inclusion, we are not responsible for the delivery of services either offered or delivered from each DigiZone.

Apply to become a DigiZone

Organisations in Renfrewshire can apply to become part of our growing network of DigiZones and support local communities.

Find out how you can apply to become a DigiZone.

DigiZones are places in Renfrewshire where you can get free help and support to get online.

At a DigiZone, you can get:

• internet access
• digital skills support 
• helpful advice
• digital devices to use, such as a laptop, PC, or tablet.

DigiZones raise awareness of the digital supports available to everyone and help promote digital and data inclusion in Renfrewshire.

DigiZones are funded by Renfrewshire Council and supported by OneRen and Active Communities. 

We use icons to show what access and support is available at a DigiZone.

You can see the icons on stickers and posters in DigiZones. 

You can bring your own device to a DigiZone but you should contact a DigiZone to check what support it offers before you visit.

Some DigiZones may be restricted to particular groups, such as young people, older adults, or customers of the DigiZone. 

If you're looking for support for a young person or someone with additional needs, you should contact the venue to check their support and safeguarding arrangements.

If you are experiencing loss or dealing with grief following the death of someone close to you, or the loss of something that is important to you, you can get support from us.

We are a network of local organisations including:  

• ACCORD Hospice
• Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership
• Renfrewshire Council

By joining up in this way, we can respond more quickly. 

We can also give more specific support, tailored to your personal circumstances.

If you're an adult living in the Renfrewshire area, we can help you.

We'll listen and help you find the most appropriate advice, guidance, and counselling available for your situation. 

If you are referring yourself or someone else to our network, we’ll need to know your:

• contact details
• details of the bereavement
• if you’ve had support from any other organisations.

If you’re a professional and referring someone else, we’ll also need to know:

• if the person is aware of the referral, and if no, what the reason is
• your referrer details.

Make a referral

You can complete and send us a Renfrewshire Bereavement Network self-referral form.

If you're referring someone to us, complete and send us the Renfrewshire Bereavement Network referral form for professionals.

We’ll contact you by phone or email to arrange support or to direct you to another appropriate support service.

Mediation can help you resolve disputes with your neighbours. 

It helps you make practical agreements that work for both you and your neighbour.

The mediation process gives you a way to reach agreement with your neighbour and provides a safe environment for you to discuss your concerns.

Mediation needs you and your neighbour to be willing to talk and find a solution.

Mediation is an equal process so that everyone is treated fairly. Each person is listened to and gets the chance to hear the other person's point of view.

If both you and your neighbour agree to mediation, we'll arrange either joint mediation or shuttle mediation.

Joint mediation

Our Mediation Officers will meet you and your neighbour together at a neutral venue.

At the meeting, the mediation officer will help you and your neighbour share information and hopefully reach a solution.

Shuttle mediation

If appropriate, the mediation officers will arrange shuttle mediation instead of joint mediation.

This is where we help you and your neighbour exchange information without having to meet each other. 

The mediation officer will communicate between you and your neighbour to help resolve the situation.

Mediation for noise issues

Sometimes neighbours are unaware that the noise from their home is causing an issue.

We can work with you and your neighbours to find a level of volume for television, music or games equipment that is acceptable to both of you. 

We may ask our Noise Enforcement Team to help us. They can measure the noise level at each property to see if it's above or below the permitted level for the time of day.

We will not decide what level of noise is acceptable, you and your neighbour will need to agree this.

For noise issues with dog barking, children, burglar alarms, industrial or commercial noise, see our noise nuisance page.

For concerns about shouting, swearing, fighting or verbal abuse, see our antisocial behaviour page.

If you would like us to mediate for you:

• call us on 0300 300 0380
• select option 1
• ask for Mediation

You can also email our Renfrewshire Community Safety Partnership team at rcsp@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

One of our Mediation Service Team will contact you as soon as possible. We'll contact you to arrange a suitable appointment at your home.

We'll listen to your view of the situation, ask you what you would like for the future and discuss how we can help.

If we think mediation is right for you and you agree to proceed, we'll contact your neighbour.

If they are also willing to try mediation, we'll arrange an appointment to visit them at their home. 

If you and your neighbour do not reach an agreement following mediation, you can get advice from Citizens Advice Scotland about neighbour disputes, including noise, antisocial behaviour, boundary and garden disputes or damage and repairs.

The service is free, and our mediation officers are specially trained and impartial. 

What the service does

Our educational psychologists work with staff to make sure that education is a nurturing experience and to reduce any barriers to learning that may exist for children and young people.

Some of the ways that EPs can help to reduce barriers is by:

• looking at how children learn
• finding out more about a child’s strengths and what engages them in learning
• talking with you, your child and their teachers
• making suggestions on things that may need to be adapted to support learning in the classroom or playroom.  

The educational psychologist will ensure that your child’s views and your views are part of the information that helps any assessment of need. 

Who can use the service

The service supports children and young people who experience a wide range of additional support needs (ASN). For example, children and young people who may:

• find communicating and interacting with others a challenge
• need support to learn
• need support with their wellbeing
• have a physical or sensory need that acts as a barrier to learning
• have been care experienced.

How we become involved

Your child’s nursery or school will already have a system in place for monitoring or reviewing their progress.  

The nursery or school will gather assessment information and support your child through their staged intervention process before asking for educational psychologist involvement.  

An educational psychologist may become involved when support is needed to work out what is getting in the way of your child’s learning or development, and what could help them.  

You’ll need to give consent to the nursery or school before they can ask for educational psychologist to get involved in your child’s learning and development.  

The nursery or school will then discuss the request for support with an educational psychologist. The educational psychologist may agree that it would be helpful for them to become involved. 

How to use the service

Requests for the service are made by schools, nurseries, or other educational establishments after you have given consent.

You can contact our Educational Psychology Service by: 

• email reps@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone 0300 300 0170 – Option 4 (Educational Psychology Service)

More information

You can find out more about the work of our Educational Psychology Service, reports and publications, and further resources (Glow Scotland).

Our Educational Psychology Service helps to improve wellbeing, learning, and the development for children, young people and families in Renfrewshire.

Our educational psychologists work closely with parents, teachers and other professionals to help children. access the curriculum and flourish during their time in education.

We use evidence-based psychology theory and a knowledge of child development to:

• provide advice and guidance to schools and nurseries
• work collaboratively with others in education settings to support children and young people, particularly those who have additional support needs (ASN)
• provide training and development for education staff.

The service aims to support the implementation of the "Getting it Right for Every Child" (GIRFEC) within Renfrewshire. 

More information

For more information about the Instrumental Music Service and how your child can learn a musical instrument read our Renfrewshire Instrumental Music Service information leaflet:

You can also contact our Music Development Officer by:

• email mark.traynor@renfrewshire.gov.uk   
• phone 0141 487 2496

Read our Renfrewshire Instrumental Music Service guidelines:

Authority ensembles

Renfrewshire Instrumental Music Service authority ensemble programme provides opportunities for young musicians to meet, develop, and enhance their musical experiences and learning.

Our ensembles are open to children and young people up to the age of 19, who play a musical instrument at the appropriate level and:

• attend a Renfrewshire Council school
• attend the Saturday Music Centre or,  
• live in Renfrewshire.  

The ensembles rehearse from September to April.

Read more about how your child can participate in the authority ensemble programme with our information leaflet - and see when the ensembles rehearse with the rehearsal schedule:

Renfrewshire Instrumental Music Service offers no cost instrumental music lessons to primary and secondary pupils in schools.  

The service is delivered by instrumental music teachers. They work in partnership with schools and music departments to deliver a curriculum that enables children and young people to be successful, confident, responsible, and an effective contributor.

The choice of instruments available will vary from school to school, but lessons are provided on:

• bagpipes
• brass
• guitar
• percussion
• pipe band drumming
• strings  
• woodwind.  

Learning through music provides children and young people with a wide range of opportunities and experiences that develop and prepare them for life at school and beyond.

As well as the musical benefits, learning to play a musical instrument can:

• develop self-esteem and confidence
• enhance co-ordination, memory, and social skills
• improve concentration and discipline
• positively impact health and wellbeing
• teach your child how to work as part of a team and contribute to the life of the school and wider community.

The service offers instrumental music lessons to primary and secondary pupils in schools in Renfrewshire.

Learning a musical instrument is open to pupils from Primary 5 (strings only) and Primary 6 (depending on staff availability and resources). This may vary from school to school.  

Your child will have an initial presentation from the Instrumental Music Service about what instruments are available to learn at their school.

As there is often more demand for instrumental lessons than availability, it may not be possible to offer every pupil the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

What a justice social work report is

If someone is convicted of an offence, the court may ask for a justice social work report (JSWR).

This is a social background report requested by the sentencing Sheriff to help the court know more about you and your life before deciding on a sentence.

The report is written by a social worker and includes:

• information on your background, previous offences or involvement in offending, your current situation, and any support needs you may have
• your attitude to, and understanding of, your offence
• an assessment of your risk of re-offending
• considerations on the impact on the victim and community  
• a review of the likely sentencing options, considering the most effective to reduce re-offending.

The aim is to reduce the chances of further offending.

The report will help decide if you are suitable for a community sentence, such as a fine or a Community Payback Order.

When reports are asked for

A court may request a report for many reasons but not for every case.

Reports are always prepared for:

• anyone under 21 years of age and convicted
• anyone who could be sentenced to custody for the first time
• anyone who is already subject to supervision.

Justice social work report interview

If a report has been requested, you’ll likely be asked to come into the justice social work office.  

If you need a second interview, it may be at your home, or some other suitable place.  

Our social worker may ask for information on:

• the offence(s) which led to you appearing in court, as well as any previous offending
• your current circumstances, such as where you live and who you live with  
• your financial situation
• your physical and mental health
• any past or current involvement with social work services.  

The social worker writing the report will look at this information alongside other information that has been made available to them.

Information from other people

They will explain to you who they will contact for more information.  

This could include:

• other agencies and access to social work records
• your GP  
• a family member or partner.  

The information you and other people provide will be treated confidentially.  But you need to know that information from the report could be discussed during your court appearance.  

Sometimes, journalists are in court. They are not given a copy of the report but can share news on any case which is discussed in an open court.  

The report will also be seen by the Sentencer, Procurator Fiscal (the prosecutor) and your solicitor.

Information you share with us

It’s your choice what information you share with the social worker.

The court relies on the report to help make a decision on your sentencing. If the report writer does not have enough information to complete the report, a letter will be sent to court explaining the reasons why a report is not available.  

If you're unsure or have questions, you can speak with the social worker. For independent advice, speak to your solicitor.  

When your report is complete

Your solicitor will be provided with a copy of your Justice Social Work Report.  

If you do not have a solicitor, a member of the court social work team can provide a copy.

Sometimes, the social worker who prepared your report may speak with you about what is in it. This is to help you understand the content and to answer any questions you may have.  

When you appear in court

You should attend court on time and meet with your solicitor if necessary.  

You will be sentenced at court. The outcome may involve working with justice social work services as part of a community-based sentence.  

This could start on the same day you are sentenced. If not, you will get information to help you understand what is expected and what happens next.  

More information  

If you want to find out more, contact our justice social work service by: 

What throughcare is

Throughcare is a service provided to prisoners both during and after their sentence.

It aims to:

• help prisoners and their families to prepare for their release from prison and to reintegrate successfully in the community
• increase community safety and public protection by providing services aiming to reduce reoffending
• ensure that high-risk offenders are supervised and monitored after their release from prison.

Depending on the length and type of sentence the court has imposed, a person may be required to undertake a period of supervision upon their release from prison. This is known as statutory throughcare.

Any person on remand or serving a sentence can also ask justice social work for support and advice after their release even when there is no legal requirement to do so. This service is called voluntary throughcare.

Statutory throughcare

Statutory throughcare is provided for people who have been sentenced to custody where there are legal requirements for supervision on release from prison.

It monitors and supports the person and their families during the custodial sentence and following their release from prison.

Justice social work provides statutory throughcare services to people who have been sentenced to 4 or more years in prison and released on:

• life license
• parole license
• non-parole license
• extended sentence
• supervised released order
• short-term sex offender license
• order of lifelong restriction.

A justice social worker will keep in contact during the prison sentence and attend integrated care meetings with prison staff during the person’s time in custody.  

The service provides assessment and review reports on the individual’s progress to court and the Parole Board.  

If a person does not comply with an order’s requirement, this must be reported. This could lead to a recall and return to prison.

Voluntary throughcare

If a person has been remanded or sentenced to custody, and there are no legal requirements imposed when they are released, they can ask for help and advice from our justice social work service.

A person is entitled to request throughcare when they are placed in custody. This can also run throughout a sentence and for up to a year after their release.

If you would like to request voluntary throughcare from our justice social work service after your release from custody, contact us by:

• email: swbscriminaljustice@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone: 0300 300 1199 

National throughcare service

Upside, Scotland’s national prison throughcare service, was launched in April 2025. It supports people moving from short-term custody (sentences under 4 years) or remand back into the community.

Upside has 8 charities involved in the delivery of the programme. In Renfrewshire, Action for Children is the lead delivery organisation and works closely with various partners.  

It can support people with any issues they may experience on release, such as:

• health
• housing
• finance  
• accessing wider community services.  

As well as helping with immediate practical challenges a person may face, Upside also helps to link a person to other supports that may help rebuild their circumstances with dignity and purpose. People can be supported for up to 12 months.

Find out more about Upside national throughcare service (Upside website). 

More information

If you want to find out more or discuss what services are available to you, contact our justice social work service by:

If you’re a commissioned care provider with Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, you can use this form to contact us about any financial issues related to care provision, such as invoices, client contributions, or payments.

You need to be a commissioned care provider with Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership to use this service.

If you want to ask a question about your own care, you can contact the adult services team.

You can use this service to ask us about missing care provider payments and changes to support or need, such as:

• rate changes
• underpayments
• shortfall in client contributions
• overpayments
• changes in support or need
• other financial queries.

If the financial issue will affect the care that you provide you must inform the relevant care manager within 1 working day.

When you contact us about the financial issue, you’ll need to provide:

• details about you as the care provider
• details about the service user, including their:
  • social care reference number
  • CHI number, if known
  • address
  • the type of care they get, such as care at home, supported living, care home, or day service
  • the care manager name and care manager team, if known
• what type of finance query you’re making
• any changes to care delivery
• discussions already held with Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership staff
• date when the issue was identified
• start and end dates for your query
• amounts expected and amounts actually received and the amount you’re looking to get
• evidence if you have any, such as invoices, reconciliations or contracts.

Contact us about a care provider financial issue

We’ll review your submission and send it to the appropriate finance, commissioning, or care management team.

What our Whole System Approach is

Our Whole Systems Approach provides social work services and support for young people who may come into conflict with the law.

By using a Whole Systems Approach, we aim to:

• focus on the wider needs of children and young people and their families
• help reduce offending behaviours
• divert children from criminal involvement where possible and it is safe to do so.

The approach is based on research, which suggests that better long-term outcomes for young people in trouble can be achieved by safely diverting them away from legal requirements, prosecution, and custody where possible.

Find out more about the Whole System Approach (WSA) to young offending (Scottish Government website), which is supported by the Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) framework (Scottish Government website).

What services we provide for young people

If you have been in conflict with the law persistently or significantly, our Whole Systems Approach can provide:

• interventions and intensive support
• court support
• support if you are leaving secure care or a young offenders’ institution
• support for your family.

Other services our Whole Systems Approach provides are:

• early identification through referrals made by police, schools or the public
• assessment reports to court and the children’s panel
• diversion and bail services
• risk assessment and case management services
• support for problematic drug or alcohol use
• supervision of court or children’s panel requirements
• public protection duties, including child protection, public protection and adult protection.

Who can get support

Our Whole System Approach (WSA) may support you if you are:

• under 18 years of age, or
• aged up to 20 years old, if you’re care experienced.

You may get support if you:

• are involved in offending behaviour
• are at risk of being, or are, subject to measures by the Children’s Hearing due to offending behaviour
• are at risk of being, or are, involved in the criminal justice system.

How to contact us

You or a family member can contact us for support by: