Community and neighbourhood issues

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: 

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4 Flex) is a scheme with funding available to make eligible homes more energy efficient.

It is part of our commitment to reduce fuel poverty and meet our net zero commitments.

You can find out more about the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme(Ofgem website).

It applies to:

• some private housing in Renfrewshire
• fuel-poor households that do not meet criteria for other schemes
• low-income or vulnerable households that are vulnerable to the effects of the cold
• energy inefficient homes who may benefit from heating and energy saving measures.

It does not apply to Council Housing or Registered Social Landlords.

Homes with an Energy Performance Certificate bands of D, E F and G may be eligible for the scheme.

The routes for eligible households are outlined in the Council's ECO4 flex Statement of Intent.

An approved ECO installer or energy provider can refer a household for the funding.

Or a potentially eligible household can apply through:

• Home Energy Scotland
• Renfrewshire Council
• an ECO installer

The installer must get an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and evidence that the property meets the qualifying criteria.

The Council will then send it to Ofgem for approval. If it is approved, the funding can be used for insulation and energy efficiency improvements to the property.

We'll let the installer know and they can carry out the approved works and provide an EPC when the work is complete

We have a number of grants available for community and voluntary organisations to apply for, including:

• Education - Leisure Grants
• Education - Out of School Care Grants
• Pre-five Voluntary Sector
• Local Partnership Grants
• Social Work Section 10 Grants
• Tenant Association Grants.

These grants are available for community and voluntary organisations in Renfrewshire.

We'll give you details and deadlines for applying for these grants.

What Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) are 

Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) is a legal framework that ensures different  organisations work together to robustly assess, monitor, and manage the risks of serious violent and sexual offenders.

Key organisations include Police Scotland, Scottish Prison Service (SPS), our justice social work service, other council services, and Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).  

These arrangements assess, monitor, and manage the safety risks posed by people convicted of serious crimes.  

These include:

• Registered Sex Offenders who are subject to notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003
• Mentally Disordered Restricted Patients
• Other Risk of Serious Harm Offenders.

These arrangements were established under the terms of the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2005. 

MAPPA reports

North Strathclyde area report

This report covers the North Strathclyde area. Renfrewshire is one of 6 local authority areas within this area:

National annual report

Read the 2024 to 2025 report providing a national overview (Scottish Government 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: 

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:

Who it's for

Summer of Fun includes free activities for everyone.

Summer of Fun is a programme of free activities and events for families, children, and young people in Renfrewshire during the school summer holidays.

The programme aims to deliver activities and events that are fun and easy to access.

Activities can be during the day, in the evenings, during the week or at weekends.

We have a Summer of Fun Programme Fund which voluntary and community organisations in Renfrewshire can apply to.

We have separate information available if you'd like to apply for the Summer of Fun Programme Fund.

Our Summer of Fun programme aims to deliver free activities and events for families, children, and young people during the school summer holidays.

Our Summer of Fun Programme Fund supports voluntary and community organisations in Renfrewshire to provide activities for low-income families and communities which may not have access to mainstream activities.

The fund is available to constituted voluntary and community organisations that have a bank account.

The fund is not open for applications to support individuals.

Grant funding of up to £3,000 is available for projects led by voluntary and community organisations to deliver activities for low-income families in Renfrewshire between July and August 2026.

Funding can cover single events or programmes of activities taking place in Renfrewshire. These can be for whole families or for children and young people of different age groups.

Activities can be during the day, in the evenings, during the week or at weekends.

Funding can cover costs such as:

• venues
• activity costs
• sessional staff or volunteer expenses
• food
• items to reduce costs for families, such as transport.

Funding can cover the total cost of a project or additional costs to make existing activities more accessible for low-income families.

Funding for day trips will not be prioritised, but these may be funded or part funded as part of a wider programme of activity that is being delivered through council or external funding.

Smaller awards are also available for organisations with existing activities over the summer to provide healthy snacks or meals.

Your application should describe the activity you want to host and how it meets the needs of the local community.

You must also describe how the project meets the following principles:

• activities must be free, with no hidden or additional costs
• healthy snacks should be provided, or lunch if the activity lasts all day
• activities should be inclusive, welcoming, respectful, and safe
• it must comply with requirements around safeguarding, child protection, and food hygiene, as appropriate
• it must be able or willing to provide connections to other services and support.

Your activities must also reach at least one of the following areas:

• families in the 6 child poverty priority groups: lone parents; families where someone in the house has a disability; black and minority ethnic families; families where the mum is under 25; families with 3 or more children; and families with a child under 1
• geographical areas where there are not many activities happening, or where it is difficult to access activities because of issues such as the availability or affordability of public transport
• age groups that might not feel catered for in other activities, such as pre-schoolers or older teenagers
• particular groups of children and young people, such as care experienced children and young people or those from equality groups
• any other gaps or barriers families, children, and young people may face.

Apply for the Summer of Fun Programme Fund

We cannot guarantee that every application will receive funding due to the expected high number of applications, so we suggest that you submit your application as early as possible.

The fund will remain open until we have awarded all available funding.

If you need a paper copy or any support to apply, email andrena.faulkner@renfrewshire.gov.uk or alice.holmes@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Applications for the Summer of Fun Programme Fund are now closed.

How we decide who gets funding

A panel of staff from Renfrewshire Council, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, and Engage Renfrewshire will review your application.

We'll get in touch with you by email to let you know if your application has been successful or unsuccessful.

We may also get in touch to ask for further information about your application.

What happens if you're successful

We'll email you an award letter and standard grant terms and conditions which you must accept and follow.

We'll also ask for a copy of your constitution, a recent bank statement and a copy of your accounts (or income/expenditure statement) if we do not have a recent copy of these already on file. Return these to us quickly by email so we can process payment.

You'll be asked to report back on the impact your project has had once it has come to an end. We'll send you a feedback form to complete at the end of summer.

We'll carry out an evaluation of the programme using a mix of forms and visits to projects.

We'll also ask successful applicants to ask service users for their opinions on the activities provided.

If you would like to speak to someone about the application process or other funding opportunities, email andrena.faulkner@renfrewshire.gov.uk or alice.holmes@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

The Social Enterprise Small Grant grant is available to social enterprises and social economy organisations looking to grow or strengthen their enterprise activities and develop their organisations.

Successful applicants can receive up to £5,000.

You can apply for the grant if:

• you represent a social enterprise or social economy organisation
• your organisation is based in Renfrewshire
• your organisation's turnover is less than £500,000.

The grant can fund:

• capacity building work to acquire enterprise skills (developing skills, processes, and resources that your organisation needs to adapt and thrive)
• new equipment or resources related to delivering new products and services or extending your customer base - this could include staffing costs, IT office equipment, or improvements to your premises
• projects to create an economic impact, such as increasing revenue, reducing costs, or providing training opportunities
• part of the cost for a larger project or activity.

The grant cannot fund:

• work that has already happened
• individuals - you must represent an organisation
• projects intended to promote religious or political beliefs
• study visits (visiting other enterprising organisations and learning from them)
• the purchase of vehicles.

Before applying for the grant, you should make sure:

• your organisation has a written constitution and an appropriate governance structure, such as a management committee and board of trustees
• your organisation complies with the Equality Act 2010
• your organisation follows any relevant Disclosure Scotland and Protecting Vulnerable Group schemes
• you can show how you would manage the funds and use them constructively
• you can show how your proposed activity would support the types of projects described above.

See what other business grants and loans are available.

Contact our social enterprise officer about applying for the grant:

They will 

• talk to you about the application process
• give you any advice or support you need
• send you an application form.

We'll accept applications until the fund's budget is fully awarded, so apply as soon as you can so you do not miss out.

We'll review your application and aim to let you know our decision within 4 to 6 weeks.

This fund is for rural community-led groups to develop and run project-based activities that:  

• build connections with the Local Area Group network and the business sector to  
• make positive changes within their communities.

Organisations and groups who can apply are: 

• CICs
• SCIOs
• Development Trusts
• Community Groups
• Volunteer Groups
• Social Enterprises
• Businesses. 

We do not accept applications from individuals for this fund.

Your group or organisation must have a bank account.

The funding can be used for either revenue or capital spending. 

Revenue expenses are typically operating costs such as wages or costs for consultation or studies conducted as preparatory work. 

Capital expenses are typically fixed assets such as equipment or small-scale building works. 

Your proposal should demonstrate how it aims to meet the one of following GRI LAG priorities including: 

• encourage and support rural communities and villages
• address climate change
• increase and sustain local rural businesses, micro businesses and social enterprises
• address inclusion, diversity and equality and rural poverty issues (including child poverty, food security and support for working families)
• create specific opportunities for young people
• foster partnership working 

Your project must align with the:  

• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Scottish National Performance Framework
• one or more of the Scottish Government's current spending priorities:
  • eradicating child poverty
  • growing the economy
  • tackling the climate emergency
  • improving public services. 

You can find the full application criteria on the GRI LAG website.

Match funding

You are highly encouraged to seek match funding from the private, public and third sectors to maximise value for money and impact of the CLLD fund. Match funding must be confirmed before the project can start.

Enquires and expressions of interest

You can make enquires or expressions of interest about the Rural Community Led Local Development Fund in the Greater Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Local Action Group (GRI LAG) website.

You can find the full application criteria and details about how to apply on the GRI LAG website

Apply on the GRI LAG website

If you need help to apply, or information in another format, contact Keren Ferguson at keren.ferguson@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

We will let applicants know by Friday 19 June2026 if they will receive funding.

If you are awarded funding, you'll receive a follow up letter offering the grant within 7 days, along with the terms and conditions, which you'll need to to accept before starting your project.