Community and neighbourhood issues

Our DigiZones provide free access to digital skills support, internet, and digital devices for people in Renfrewshire.

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

By joining, you can:

• help tackle digital exclusion and support people to get online
• promote the digital services you already offer
• join a network of organisations working together across Renfrewshire
• access resources, branding and promotional materials
• connect with partners and share learning and good practice.

Our DigiZones have seen:

• over 161,000 visits
• more than 47,000 public devices accessed
• nearly 91,000 public Wi-Fi sessions accessed.

Any organisation based in Renfrewshire can apply to become a DigiZone.

This includes:

• community groups, charities, and voluntary organisations
• libraries and community hubs
• schools, colleges, and learning providers
• housing associations and public sector organisations
• businesses and social enterprises.

Your venue must offer at least 1 of the following:

• free internet access
• free access to devices
• free digital skills or online safety support.

Apply online to become a DigiZone

We’ll ask you to provide:

• information about your organisation
• details of your venue
• information about the digital support you currently offer.

Your application will be reviewed by members of the DigiZones Sub-Group.

Contact us

If you have any questions about DigiZones or about becoming a DigiZone, contact us by:

• email: digital-inclusion@renfrewshire.gov.uk

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.

Research

It is important to research any historic information relevant to the building that can provide details of original design and materials. 

Photographic archive records are a useful source of information and may be available from the Renfrewshire Heritage Centre.

Small scale works

If the proposed work is very small scale, for example renewal of timber windows or painting works, then you may prefer to organise and administer the project yourself. 

You should aim to get competitive quotes from 3 separate contractors, but where this has not been possible 1 or 2 quotes will be accepted. 

You should also confirm what consents are required for all repairs with our Development Standards team. You can email them at dc@renfrewshire.gov.uk or phone 0300 300 0144.

If you’re obtaining the quotes from contractors yourself, you should make sure that you give each one the same information, so that you can compare the quotes fairly. 

If possible, get recommendations from someone who has had similar work carried. Ask contractors or builders for references and check these out. 

If you’re a qualified and experienced professional, you can do the work yourself provided we approve your plans. However, you can’t use the grant to pay your own professional fees.

Consultants and professional advisors

For larger and more complex repair projects, you need to get professional advice from a qualified architect, or a surveyor with relevant conservation experience, before you apply for the grant. 

Professional advisors must be members of a recognised professional body. For listed buildings and buildings in conservation areas, they should ideally have an accreditation in conservation.

You can find a: 

• list of architects and conservation accredited architects in Scotland on the Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) website 
• register of accredited building conservation surveyors on the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland (RICS) website

You will need a professional advisor for:

• all projects with a total value over £8,000
• projects with a value of £8,000 or less with significant design elements.

Your professional advisor will guide you through the construction process including: 

• surveys and condition report
• research, analysis, and archaeological investigation of the fabric
• developing detailed drawings or specifications for the project
• submitting drawings for consents such as planning, listed building consent, or building warrants
• advice for other professionals involved with the work, like, structural engineers or quantity surveyors
• preparation of information required to tender the project
• inviting tenders from suitable contractors and preparing a tender report
• advising on an appropriate form of building contract 
• contract administration and inspection or valuation of the works on site
• liaising with funding partners
• advising on health and safety
• liaising with the principal designer in accordance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (Health and Safety Executive website).

We’ll let you know when you apply if you need a professional advisor.

To use the grant towards professional fees, you should aim to get 3 competitive fee bids from suitably qualified professionals. 

You can choose not to use the lowest quote. However, the difference between this quote and the lowest quote will not be funded. 

Contractors 

Your project should be carried out by a competent contractor with relevant experience. They should have experience of working in older and historic buildings and be a member of an appropriate trade association or registration body. Ask your professional advisor for recommendations for suitable contractors.

You should aim to get at least three tenders or quotes for the proposed work. We recommended you get quotes from at least four or five contractors in case some do not submit. 

The contractor will submit a price based on tender information from your professional advisor and any other professionals, such as a quantity surveyor. This information should include:

• specifications, which can include drawings
• bills of quantities on larger projects. 

You will need a tender report from your professional advisor for projects over £8,000. 

If we approve it, you can accept your contractor’s quotation and agree a date to start works on site following the completion of the grant award process. Your professional advisor should help you set up a contract appropriate for the size of your project.

You should also be aware that as a client you have duties for health and safety under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (Health and Safety Executive website).

Quotes for costs

You should list all the items clearly in each quote so we can compare them. You might find it useful to prepare a scope of works for potential contractors when you are asking them for quotes.

If you are getting quotes for different types of work in your repair plan, you should aim for 3 quotes for each type of work.

For example:

• up to 3 separate quotes for roofing
• up to 3 separate quotes for stonemasonry 
• up to 3 separate quotes for carpentry.

Make sure your quotes are from legitimate contractors or suppliers with the necessary specialist skills. Where possible, get quotes from local contractors based in Renfrewshire.

Planning consents and building warrants

Before you start works on your property, you will need to check if you need planning consent and a building warrant. 

If your property is listed, you may also need Listed Building consent (which may need to be referred to Historic Environment Scotland). If your property is in Lochwinnoch, Kilbarchan, Bridge of Weir or Houston you may need Conservation Area consent.

You can apply for the grant even if your planning permission application is in progress, however you will need to give us written confirmation that it’s been granted, or that it’s not required, before we can award you the grant.

It can take several months for planning consent or building warrants to be processed. 

We recommend you get advice on your proposal about:

• planning consent from the Development Management team at dc@renfrewshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 0144.
• building standards, listed buildings and conservation areas from the Building Standards team at bc@renfrewshire.gov.uk or 0300 300 0144.

Scale drawings

You do not need to submit scale drawings for a small grant application, but it may help support your submission. 

For a standard grant application, you should submit scale drawings if you can.

If submitting drawings, they must:

• be to scale and include relevant plans, elevations, and cross-sections to best explain the scope of works
• make clear what work will be done and correspond to the specification of works, and quotes for the work.

A professional advisor can help prepare drawings for you.

Owner and leaseholder details

You must include evidence of who owns the property, or a formal lease, with your application.

If you lease the property, you must also have written permission from the owner to do the proposed works.

If you’re a shared owner, you’ll need to nominate one person to apply on behalf of all the shared owners.

You’ll also need the contact details of each shared owner for the application including their name, address (floor or flat number in the building), phone number, and email address.

The nominated person could be your factor or property manager.

Other guidance on repairs and maintenance

You can find other guidance and information on repairing and maintaining historic buildings, including:

• our guide to development in conservation areas
• help with essential repairs to tenement buildings
• advice on repairing traditional buildings from Historic Environment Scotland
• publications from Historic Environment Scotland including conservation guidance leaflets
• common repair and retrofit support for tenement owners on the Under One Roof website.

Before you apply for a repairs grant, make sure you have read the guidance below on:

• research
• small scale works
• consultants and professional advisors
• contractors 
• quotes for costs
• planning consents and building warrants
• scale drawings
• owner and leaseholder details
• other guidance on repairs and maintenance.

You can apply for a grant to repair a privately owned historic property in 1 of 11 Renfrewshire villages. 

The scheme encourages the use of materials, repair methods and techniques that fit with the age and construction of the property.

You can use the grant for structural and external repairs, reinstatement of external architectural details, or professional fees.
This grant works in conjunction with the maintenance planning grant for private historic buildings.

Before you look at repairs to your building, you should consider applying for the maintenance planning grant first.

Maintenance planning grant

You can apply for the grant if you are the owner of an historic property, and your property is in or around the centre of:

• Bishopton
• Bridge of Weir
• Brookfield
• Crosslee
• Elderslie
• Houston
• Howwood
• Inchinnan
• Kilbarchan
• Langbank 
• Lochwinnoch

Who cannot apply for the grant

If you’re a private individual or a joint owner, you cannot apply for the grant if:

• the property is not your primary residence
• the property has received a grant for which works are not complete
• you have an unpaid or outstanding debt with the council.

A constituted voluntary or community organisation or a business cannot apply for the grant if:

• your organisation owns or rents 3 or more premises
• your organisation or business has an unpaid or outstanding debt with the council
• your organisation or business’s turnover was more than £1,000,000 in the previous tax year
• the property has previously received a grant for which works are not complete
• your property is a place of worship.

For structural and external repairs

You can use the grant for repairs to roofs, leadwork, rainwater goods, walls, structural works, windows and doors, fixing damp or rot.

Roofs

This can include re-roofing with natural, traditional materials to match the historic roof covering. This should include re-using sound existing materials where possible. 

It also includes repairs to chimneys, including lining or rebuilding if structurally necessary. The chimney must be reinstated accurately to the historic height and profile. This could include replacement of the historic style of pot or can.

Leadwork

Repairs or replacement of leadwork, to the conservation standard of the Lead Sheet Association.

Rainwater goods

This includes repair or replacement of rainwater goods to match the historic material and sections. These are typically cast iron or sometimes lead, timber or stone.

Walls

You could use the grant towards:

• repair of external stonework or brickwork, including decorative elements, to an appropriate specification
• selective rebuilding of existing stonework or brickwork if structurally necessary, which usually involves using salvaged or new matching materials
• structurally necessary re-pointing, which is kept to a minimum and uses appropriate mortar – you can’t use the grant for comprehensive re-pointing for cosmetic reasons
• external render, stucco, or harling repairs and limited areas of renewal to an approved specification – you may be able to reinstate these types of coating if it has removed in recent years to the detriment of the performance and appearance of the building
• repair or reinstatement of retaining walls, boundary walls or railings that contribute to the stability of the building or enhance the character of the wider village.

Structural works

You could use the grant towards:

• consolidation or reinforcement of the existing structure using the most practicable conservative approach
• limited reconstruction in line with the existing structure, if unavoidable and supported by documentary evidence
• appropriate repairs to timber frames, roof structure, beams, floor joists, and other structural timbers - but it must be based on a careful and comprehensive survey of the existing structure.

Windows and doors

You could use the grant towards the repair or, if necessary, replacement of external windows, doors and other external joinery which contributes to the character of the building. 

The original pattern and detail should be retained or reinstated. 

We will also consider the installation of well-designed secondary glazing.

Damp and rot

You could use the grant towards dry rot eradication and appropriate conservation approved timber preservation treatments. 

These must: 

• be based on an analysis and specification by an independent consultant with conservation expertise - whose fees are also eligible for the grant
• use non-destructive techniques and non-toxic applications where possible.

You can also get damp-proofing done by traditional methods, where damp is causing structural damage to the building. 

It is better to take damp eradication measures, such as improved drainage or the lowering of ground levels, where practical.

For restoration of external architectural details

You could use the grant to reinstatement external architectural detail, where the building is in otherwise good condition or will be repaired as part of the project, for example: 

• ornamental metal work
• decorative tiling
• timber details
• stone details.

Towards professional fees

You can use the grant towards professional fees providing the professional advisor:

• inspects the work in progress
• is responsible for certification
• has conservation experience and is a member of a recognised institution like the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) or the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

For contingencies

This could include an extra amount set aside in the budget to deal with any unexpected costs, for example a repair job that requires more work than initially estimated.

What you cannot use the grant for

You cannot use the grant for:

• improvements to the fronts of shops, businesses, or commercial premises - see the Retail Improvement Scheme for this type of proposal
• routine maintenance and other minor repairs
• alterations, extensions, and internal work
• demolition of historic fabric
• upgrading or renewal of services, including underground drainage
• stone cleaning and other similar treatments
• a phase of works underway prior to approval of grant
• professional fees incurred prior to grant approval
• obtaining consents
• paying VAT on anything associated with the repair.

Contact the Regeneration and Place Team at regenerationandplace@renfrewshire.gov.uk to ask about repairs you think the grant would cover.

See also: help with essential repairs to tenement buildings.

Small grants

You can apply for a small grant of up to 60% of eligible costs for repairs costing between £3,000 and £8,000 (excluding VAT). 

For example, if the cost for repairs work was £6,000 excluding VAT, the maximum grant you could apply for is £3,600.

Standard grants

You can apply for a standard grant of up to 50% of eligible costs for repair works valued over £8,000 (excluding VAT). 

This includes the cost of professional advisors to plan, prepare or arrange consents, tenders, and repairs; not just the repairs work itself. 

We will only pay the professional advisor fees if a grant application is successful, and the conditions of the grant are fully met.

The maximum amount awarded for standard grants is £25,000. 

Grants more than £25,000

If you're planning to apply for more than £25,000, contact the Regeneration team at regenerationandplace@renfrewshire.gov.uk first.

If you’re applying for a shared ownership property, like a tenement building, you can apply for up to £25,000 for the building, not for each flat.

Your proposed repairs

Before you apply for the grant, you should contact us at an early stage to discuss your ideas for the property. You should have a clear idea of the extent of works and the potential cost, either from estimates or professional advice.

We can give you guidance on eligibility, what supporting information you need, and how long it will take to process your grant application. We may also visit your property to discuss your proposals for repairs.

Email us with any questions you have at regenerationandplace@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Guidance to support your proposal

Before you begin your application, read the guidance on:

• research
• small scale works
• consultants and professional advisors
• contractors 
• quotes for costs
• planning consents and building warrants
• scale drawings
• owner and leaseholder details
• other guidance on repairs and maintenance

When you are ready to apply, make sure you have:

• at least 1 quote for each type of professional advice or work in your plan, but you should aim to have up to 3 quotes
• ownership or leaseholder information of the property.

You may also need to get:

• scaled drawings
• planning or building consent 
• listed building consent
• conservation area consent

Guidance to support your proposal

Data Protection

We need to collect certain information to process your grant application and to contact you about it.

See our privacy policy on how we use your data and rights.

Apply for a repairs grant

You cannot save your application and go back to it later.

Make sure you're prepared and have all the relevant information once you begin filling it out.

Email us at regenerationandplace@renfrewshire.gov.uk if you:

• need help with your application
• need to send us additional details or documents
• are sending us evidence of completion.

We'll review all applications within 4 weeks of the closing date.

How we assess your application

We apply a scoring system to determine if you will get the grant and how much you will get.

We'll assess your application based on the impact, quality, and delivery of the proposed repairs work.

This will include if the property is: 

• a listed building - you can check on the Historic Environment Scotland website
• on the Buildings at Risk Register
• in a village conservation area
• prominently placed within a village
• of historical significance to the local community.

It will also depend on:

• input from a professional advisor 
• the contractor's experience of working on heritage buildings
• specification of materials appropriate for the conservation of the building
• if the property is occupied, when and how it's occupied
• how many owners there are of the property
• evidence of the owner or leaseholder's commitment to repair and maintain the property
• whether the property has a long-term sustainable function, such as a home or a business premises.

This will determine if you get the grant and how much you get.

As funding is limited, you may not get the full amount you applied for. 

If you are awarded a grant, you can't apply again until the repair works are complete, and you've been paid the full amount. 

If you've previously been awarded a maintenance planning grant, it does not guarantee you will get this grant.

If we approve your application

If we approve your application, we'll make you a provisional 'offer of grant' and send you a 'contract of grant' to sign.

When we've received your signed contract, and you've met the conditions of the grant, we'll send you a 'permission to start' letter.

The date of your 'permission to start' letter will determine when works must start, usually 3 months after the date of the letter. There may be scope to extend the plan if necessary.

If the repairs are not completed by the expiration date stated in your contract of grant, we may withdraw the offer of the grant.

During the repairs, you must clearly display boards where the public can see them, acknowledging the Council's grant. We will supply you with notice boards to do this.

If we cannot offer you a grant at this time, you may be able to submit your application again at a future round, providing there is still funding available.

Conditions of the grant

Your project must be completed:

• to what was agreed when you were awarded the grant
• with any statutory consents that were required for the work.

You must make sure you have:

• all relevant planning permissions or building consents, in line with the approved grant scheme
• enough money to pay in full the contractors and any conservation accredited professional advisors before they start
• provided us with proof of the leaseholder or owner
• provided us with proof of contractor's insurances.

You'll also need to provide us with evidence that the contractors and any other professional advisors you've hired have invoiced you and have been paid. 

We won't pay the grant until you have met all the conditions of the offer.

You must send us the receipts for this work within a month of completing the project. 

How we pay the grant

We will pay the grant when the works have been completed to a satisfactory standard, following an inspection by us, and you have sent us:

• a copy of your Completion Certificate (if applicable)
• proof of payment by bank or building society transfer (BACS) to the contractors and any other professional advisors you've hired
• the receipted invoices from your contractors and any other professional advisors you've hired
• evidence of all necessary planning permissions or building consent, or written confirmation that these are not needed.

We can't award the grant for cash payments to your contractors or professional advisors.

We'll make the payment to your nominated bank or building society account.

If you have an online bank statement, make sure this information is visible on every page:

• name of your bank
• your name
• your bank account number and sort code
• the debit, credit, and balance columns
• name of the professional advisor and the amounts paid to them
• the footer, showing the webpage.

We can only accept proof of original receipts or statements. We can't accept screenshots.

You can scan and send us your:

• original receipts
• print outs of your bank statements.

If we have all the relevant information with your completed application for payment, we aim to pay you within 28 days of receiving your application.

Interim payments

We can't make interim payments on small grants up to £8,000.

We can only make interim payments on standard grants up to £25,000.

You'll need to provide us with proof of payment, invoices, and any required consents outlined above for each payment request.

If you need an interim payment towards materials for the work, we may be able to give you up to 25% of the costs of the materials.

We can only make any other interim payments towards work done on the site. This will only be up to 90% of the amount of your grant.

If you need a building warrant for the work, we will pay the final 10% of the grant when we receive a completion certificate from you.

Email us at regenerationandplace@renfrewshire.gov.uk if you:

• need help with your application
• need to send us additional details or documents
• are sending us evidence of completion.

Grants to develop a maintenance plan or carry out repairs

You can apply for a grant to plan maintenance or carry out repairs on a privately owned historic building in 1 of the listed Renfrewshire villages. 

The scheme encourages the use of local conservation professionals, materials, repair methods and techniques that fit with the age and construction of the property.

There are two grants available. However, funding for these grants is limited. Each application is assessed against the criteria of the grants, so we can't guarantee you'll get a grant or get the amount you've applied for.

A high hedge is a hedge that is: 

• formed wholly or mainly by a row of 2 or more trees or shrubs 
• rises to a height of more than 2 metres above ground level 
• a barrier to light - unless gaps in the hedge significantly reduce its overall effect as a barrier to light at heights of more than 2 metres above ground level. 

Individual trees or shrubs or areas of woodland that form a barrier to light are not a high hedge. 

If the hedge does not meet the definition of a high hedge, as stated in the High Hedge (Scotland) Act 2013 , you cannot apply for a high hedge notice.

High hedge notices

You can apply for a high hedge notice if: 

• it meets the definition of a high hedge 
• you believe it interferes with the reasonable enjoyment of your property 
• you’ve already attempted to resolve the dispute yourself. 

You can read the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 (Legislation.gov.uk). It governs how we handle high hedge notice applications. 

The Scottish Government also have detailed guidance explaining how high hedge notice applications are handled by local authorities.

What you should do first 

A high hedge notice is intended to be a last resort for the minority of cases where the people involved cannot settle the dispute themselves.  

If you have an issue with a neighbour about a high hedge, you must try and resolve it between you first. 

Unless you can show you’ve attempted to resolve the issue with the hedge owner, we cannot consider requests for a high hedge notice. 

We have a free mediation service that can help resolve disputes with neighbours. 

If it’s a high hedge issue in a public area, you can tell us online about an overgrown hedge.

You can only apply for a high hedge notice if you’re the owner or occupier of a residential property.  

However, any owner of land or property where the high hedge is an issue, including other residential, business, industrial, or commercial properties, can be served a high hedge notice. 

If your property and other neighbours’ properties are affected by the same hedge, you must all apply for a high hedge notice individually.  

We’ll assess each individual property. If any action is required, we’ll issue a notice for each property affected by the high hedge.

Before you apply, you must have made at least 2 attempts to resolve the matter with the hedge owner in the last 6 months. 

You must be able to provide evidence of this, for example, you’ve sent 2 letters to the hedge owner informing them you are applying for a high hedges notice. The evidence must be provided in written format. If you’ve sent letters by post to them, you must also include proof of delivery. 

You should read the guidance on high hedge disputes on the Scottish Government website before making an application. 

On your application, you’ll need to tell us: 

• eligibility to apply for a high hedge notice 
• your details - address, contact information, and the address of the property affected by the high hedge (if it’s different from your address) 
• location of the high hedge and the owner’s details 
• what impact the high hedge has on your property, including a plan showing what you consider to be the high hedge and its relationship to your property – you can also upload photos 
• what steps you’ve taken to resolve the issue 
• fee details, and evidence to support a fee reduction if you believe you’re eligible.

If you cannot provide all the information required, we will not be able to accept your high hedge application, and it’ll be returned to you.

Apply online for a high hedge notice

We’ll review your application within 5 working days to: 

• see if it is eligible 
• check that all the required information has been submitted. 

If it’s eligible and there are no grounds to dismiss it, we’ll acknowledge the application as a valid and complete submission and begin our assessment. 

We’ll send a copy of the application to the owner of the hedge in question once we have removed any sensitive or personal information.  

The owner can then choose to provide justification as to why they think a high hedge notice should not be served.

Our decision 

A case officer will review all the information provided to decide whether the hedge has a detrimental effect on the enjoyment of the property which you could reasonably expect to have. 

We’ll weigh up how the hedge affects what the applicant can reasonably expect to enjoy about their property, against the value and enjoyment of the hedge owner and the surrounding area. 

If the hedge has a detrimental impact, we’ll decide if we need to take action. We’ll only intervene where it is reasonable, proportionate, and necessary. 

If we do, we’ll serve a high hedge notice on the hedge owner, telling them what action needs to be taken and how it will be carried out. 

We’ll notify you and the hedge owner of the outcome.

How long it’ll take 

There are no set timescales for determining a high hedge application. We’ll assess your application in a timely manner and as soon as reasonably possible. 

However, timescales will vary depending on each case. In some more complex cases it may take longer to assess and process the application.

If you’re not happy with our decision

If you’re not happy with our decision not to serve a high hedge notice, you can appeal to the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA). 

You cannot appeal if we refuse your application:  

• because the definition of a high hedge has not been met  
• you have not made sufficient attempts to resolve the issue yourself. 

It costs £200 to apply for a high hedge notice. The fee applies to each owner or occupier of an affected property applying for a high hedge notice.  

Some people may qualify for reductions we’ll consider this when you make a submission. 

Refunds 

You’ll get a full refund if we decide at the initial inspection that your application is not eligible. This means we consider: 

• the hedge does not meet the definition of a high hedge 
• you have not taken all reasonable steps to resolve the matters before applying 
• we consider the application to be frivolous or vexatious (for example, the application is being made because of a neighbour dispute). 

You’ll get a full refund if you withdraw the application before we have started processing it.

How to contact us using a BSL video call

If you’d like to contact us, phone 0300 300 0330 through Contact Scotland BSL.

Make a BSL video call (Contact Scotland website)

Health information

You can view health information in BSL on the NHS Inform website.

View health information in BSL (NHS Inform website)

999 for BSL users

Phone the emergency video relay service for Deaf people.

Phone 999 for BSL users (999 BSL website)

How to make a complaint to the council

Watch the British Deaf Association's BSL video on how to make a complaint to your council.

Learn how to make a complaint to your council (YouTube)

BSL courses

Research online courses, such as the one below, if you’re interested in learning BSL.

Learn BSL online (british-sign.co.uk)

Other websites

Here are some BSL-related websites that you may find useful:

• RNID (non-council website)
• British Deaf Association (non-council website)
• National Deaf Children’s Society (non-council website)

British Sign Language (BSL) is the most common form of sign language in the UK.

This guide lists some resources available for BSL users and people who want to learn more about BSL.

Who the plan is for

Renfrewshire’s BSL Plan is relevant to anyone who is a BSL user. This includes but is not limited to people whose first or preferred language is BSL and people who receive the language in a tactile form due to sight loss.

We acknowledge that the majority of BSL users are deaf or deafblind and that there are many deaf and deafblind people who do not use BSL.

The plan is also relevant to anyone with a connection to BSL, such as family members of deaf people who are BSL users, parents of deaf children, and more.

Why the plan matters

The BSL Plan is important because it promotes equality and inclusion for the Deaf community, ensuring they have equal access to services and opportunities. Our plan helps to address barriers faced by BSL users in various aspects of life.

How to read or view the plan

In English

You can download the Renfrewshire BSL Plan:

In BSL

You can view the plan in BSL videos:

Contact us

We welcome feedback on our BSL Plan from anyone, including residents, organisations, community and voluntary groups, and members of the public.

We want to ensure that the plan's actions are relevant and responsive to BSL users over the plan's timespan. Whether you’re an individual or part of a group, we’re happy for you to get in touch with us, and we’ll arrange a suitable way to collect your feedback.

Email Astrid Smallenbroek, the equalities development officer, at astrid.smallenbroek@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

If you’re a BSL user, contact Astrid Smallenbroek, the equalities development officer, through Contact Scotland BSL (non-council website) on +44 141 487 3212.

The British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 requires us to publish a BSL plan every 6 years showing how we’ll promote and facilitate the use and understanding of BSL. 

Our BSL Plan helps us better meet the needs of BSL users. The actions in the plan cover a range of council services, such as improving BSL content on the website and encouraging BSL-using parents to take part in parent councils.

The plan was developed in consultation with BSL users and follows the Scottish Government’s BSL National Plan (Scottish Government website). The BSL National Plan’s ambition is to make Scotland the best place in the world for BSL users to live, work, visit, and learn. The BSL National Plan commits the Scottish Government to several actions under 10 priority areas. We framed our plan in Renfrewshire around the same long-term goals as the BSL National Plan where these areas are relevant to the council.

Learn more about BSL in Renfrewshire

Learn more about:

• Renfrewshire's BSL Plan
• BSL resources.

British Sign Language (BSL) is the most common form of sign language in the UK.

BSL is the first language for many Deaf and Deafblind people in Scotland. It involves a combination of hand shapes and movements, lip patterns, facial expressions, and shoulder movements. BSL has its own grammar and structure that is completely different from English. 

BSL was recognised as its own language in 2003 and as an official language of England, Wales, and Scotland in 2022.

2% of people in Renfrewshire are BSL users, according to Scotland’s Census data.