Individual

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.

This grant can be used for a conservation accredited professional advisor to develop a maintenance plan for a privately owned historic property, built in 1945 or earlier, in one of eleven villages in Renfrewshire.

The scheme is designed to work with the grants for repairs to privately owned historic buildings.

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 can’t apply for the grant if:

• the property is not your primary residence
• the property has previously received a maintenance planning grant
• the property has previously received a grant to repair a privately owned historic building
• you have an unpaid or outstanding debt with the council.

If you’re applying for a constituted voluntary or community organisation or a business, you can’t apply for the grant if:

• your organisation owns or rents 3 or more premises
• you previously received a grant to repair to a privately owned historic building for this property
• the property has previously received a maintenance planning grant
• 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
• your property is a place of worship.

You can only use the grant towards the costs, excluding VAT, of hiring a conservation accredited professional advisor to:

• undertake an external survey of the property
• prepare a fully illustrated building maintenance plan based on that survey which prioritises tasks according to urgency
• list indicative costs for the tasks listed in the building maintenance plan
• list indicative additional costs associated with different maintenance strategies.

You need to complete all four actions above to be awarded the grant.

What you cannot use the grant for

You can’t use the grant for:

• an external survey which has already taken place
• an internal survey

Your building maintenance plan must:

• be based on a current external survey
• prioritise tasks according to urgency
• be fully illustrated
• include estimated costs for each piece of work
• include any additional estimated costs for different types of maintenance strategies.

See also: help with essential repairs to tenement buildings.

You could get up to 90% of eligible costs, excluding VAT, up to a maximum value of £1,500.

For example, if the costs for a maintenance plan were £1,250 before VAT, the maximum grant you could apply for is £1,000.

However, if you are awarded a grant, it may not be the full amount you applied for.

If you’re applying for a shared ownership property, like a tenement building, the maximum grant will be £1,500 per building, not £1,500 per flat or individual residence.
 

What you need to include in your application

You’ll need to include quotes and ownership and leaseholder information. 

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.
 

Quotes

You will need to get a quote from 2 different conservation accredited professionals. 

You can find lists of conservation accredited members on the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) website and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) website.

Where possible, get quotes from professionals based locally in Renfrewshire.

Ownership and leaseholder information

You must include evidence of who owns or leases the property in your application.

If you lease the property, you must also have a signed letter from the owner to do the proposed works.

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 maintenance planning 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 2 weeks of the closing date. 

How we assess your application

We’ll assess your application based on the impact of the proposed maintenance plan.

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:

• if the property is occupied, when and how it’s occupied
• whether the property has a long-term sustainable function, such as a home or business premises
• how many owners there are of the property
• evidence of the owner or leaseholder’s commitment to repair and maintain the property.

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

If we can’t offer you a grant at this time, we’ll let you know why. 

We can keep your details on file and let you know if funding is still available, and you can apply again.

If we approve your application

If we approve your application, we’ll make you a provisional offer of a grant. We’ll send you an ‘offer of grant’ letter to sign. 

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

This includes a date for completing the maintenance plan, usually 3 months after the date of the letter. There may be scope to extend the schedule if necessary.

Conditions of the grant

You must make sure you have:

• enough money to pay the conservation accredited professional advisor in full before they start any work
• provided us with proof of the leaseholder or owner
• provided us with proof of insurances.

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

The maintenance plan must be the same as what was agreed when you were awarded the grant.

If the maintenance plan is not completed by the expiration date, we may withdraw the offer of the grant. 

However, applying or receiving this grant does not affect an application for a grant to repair a privately owned historic building.

We’ll pay you the grant when you have sent us:

• a copy of the maintenance plan
• proof of payment by bank or building society transfer (BACS) to the conservation accredited professional advisor
• a receipted invoice from the advisor.

You must send these to us no later than 1 month after the completion date. 

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:

• the name of your bank
• your name
• your bank account number and sort code
• the debit, credit, and balance columns
• the name of the 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.

We aim to pay you within 28 days of receiving your maintenance plan, invoices and receipts.

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 for fund allocation. 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.

Young people between 12 and 25

Anyone aged between 12 to 25 in Renfrewshire can apply.

A young person can apply on their own or in a group with other young people aged 12 to 25.

They’ll need to have the support of a voluntary or community organisation to apply.

Contact our Connected Communities Team if your school is not making an application and you’re looking for a suitable group to work with.

Voluntary groups, community organisations, and charities

Any voluntary group, community organisation, or charity that provides services to young people in Renfrewshire can apply.

The organisation must:

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

Individuals

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

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.

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. This includes the pupils, teachers, and parents.

The school will need to evidence their work with the parent council and show how they’ve involved young people in identifying a project they want funding for.

Examples of evidence can include:

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

Community planning partners

Community planning partners can submit applications for funding  but cannot submit applications for projects that are regarded as core functions.

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 these priorities selected by local young people. 

Physical and mental health and wellbeing

Physical and mental health and wellbeing such as:

• projects that support positive mental health and emotional wellbeing - helping young people build confidence, resilience, and self-esteem
• activities that improve access to support services, advice and guidance - ensuring young people can get the help they need
• initiatives that promote healthy lifestyles through physical activity, social connection, and wellbeing-focused activities
• programmes that help young people manage anxiety and stress - providing practical tools and coping strategies to improve wellbeing.

Safety in schools and communities

Safety in schools and communities such as:

• projects that address bullying, intimidation, and violence between peers - helping to create safer and more inclusive environments
• activities that increase feelings of safety in schools, neighbourhoods, and public spaces.
• initiatives that respond to community concerns and promote positive behaviour around schools and other local facilities
• programmes that encourage respect, positive relationships, and support young people to make safe and informed choices.

Cost of living

Cost of living ideas such as:

• projects that support young people and families experiencing financial pressures and the impact of rising everyday costs
• activities that reduce barriers to participation by providing affordable or low-cost opportunities
• initiatives that improve access to services, activities, and opportunities for those facing financial hardship
• programmes that help people build financial resilience, reduce social isolation, and improve wellbeing during periods of economic pressure.

Improving youth and community spaces

Improving youth and community spaces such as: 

• projects that create welcoming, youth-friendly facilities where people can meet, socialise, and take part in activities
• activities that improve access to safe, inclusive, and accessible community venues for all young people
• initiatives that provide positive spaces for young people to connect, build relationships, and participate in their communities
• projects that involve young people in the design, development, and improvement of local spaces and facilities.

More things to do

More things to do such as:

• projects that provide recreational, social, and creative activities for young people aged 12 to 25
• activities that offer positive opportunities during evenings, weekends, and school holidays.
• initiatives that help young people develop new skills, build confidence, and pursue their interests
• programmes that bring young people together through social events, community activities, and shared experiences.

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 to fund a project in any of Renfrewshire's 7 Local Partnership areas:

• Paisley North, West & Central – a large central urban area
• Paisley East – the eastern part of Paisley
• Gleniffer – south‑west of Paisley
• Renfrew – a town near the River Clyde
• Inchinnan, Erskine, Bishopton & Langbank – northern riverside communities
• The Villages – smaller rural settlements like Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch
• Johnstone & Linwood – western towns and nearby areas.

Applications for one Local Partnership area

You can apply for up to £3,500 to deliver activities within a single Local Partnership Area.

You can submit up to 2 applications per Local Partnership Area for different projects.

Applications for multiple Local Partnership areas

You can submit multiple applications if you’re applying for more than one Local Partnership area.

These can be for one project across several Local Partnership areas, or different projects in different Local Partnership areas.

Each application:

• must clearly explain how local young people will benefit in that specific area
• must relate to a specific area
• clearly demonstrate local need, youth involvement and the expected impact of the project.

Higher funding for priority areas

Through consultation with local partners and young people, we have identified three areas where there is currently limited youth provision:

• The Villages
• Gleniffer
• Paisley East.

There is a higher level of funding is available for projects in these areas to help increase opportunities for young people there.

You can apply for maximum grant of £5,000, rather than £3,500, per application.

Your application must:

• clearly demonstrate how it will benefit young people in these communities 
• address local needs.

Information you need to include in your application 

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 at celebratingren@renfrewshire.gov.uk 
• 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.

Apply for the Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund

If you’d like help with completing your application, contact Kellie Howard on 0141 487 1508 or email the Celebrating Renfrewshire team at celebratingren@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

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

Support sessions will take place online using Microsoft Teams. 

The dates for the online support sessions are:

• Friday 21 August at 11am
• Tuesday 25 August at 2pm
• Wednesday 26 August at 6pm
• Friday 28 August at 11am
• Tuesday 1 September at 11am
• Wednesday 2 September at 6.30pm

Register for an online support session

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

Make sure you have read the detailed guidance above on how to complete and submit an application.

If you’d like help with completing your application, contact Kellie Howard on 0141 487 1508 or email the Celebrating Renfrewshire team at celebratingren@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

We’ll let you know within 3 weeks after the closing date if your application has been successful or not, and if it will go forward to the voting stage.

Details of how young people can vote for the shortlisted projects will be available soon thereafter. 

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 have been spent.

We’ll 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. 

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.

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

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

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a weekly payment of £30, paid directly to young people aged 16 to 19 who continue in full-time education at school.

You'll need to apply for EMA each academic year.

You can get EMA if you're aged between 16 and 19 and are continuing your education at school.

You can apply for EMA if:

• you go to a school in the Renfrewshire area
• your household earns less than the income thresholds set by the Scottish Government, listed below
• your course is at least 21 hours of guided learning per week
• you agree and sign a valid learning agreement with your school.

A learning agreement sets out what's expected of you around attendance and coursework.

You can find out more about learning agreements in the ‘After you apply’ section below.

Household income

We look at the income of your parents or carers who live with you when awarding EMA.

To qualify for EMA, your household income must be no more than: 

• £24,421 per year before tax, if there’s 1 dependent child in full time education
• £26,884 per year before tax, if there’s more than 1 dependent child in full time education.

For EMA applications for the 2026 to 2027 school year, we'll assess your parents' or carers' household income for the previous financial year (April 2025 to April 2026).

EMA and benefits

EMAs will not affect any Tax Credit or other benefit payments your family receives from the government.

It will not affect any money you earn from a part-time job either.

Who cannot get EMA

You cannot get EMA if:

• you're under the age of 16
• you’re over the age of 19
• you have left school and are attending college – you should apply directly to the college for EMA.

If your application is approved and you’re awarded EMA, you'll get an EMA payment of £30 per week.

This will be paid every 2 weeks. Each payment covers the 2 weeks that just passed.

You'll only get paid if you meet the agreed attendance in your learning agreement.

EMA is not paid during school holidays in October, Christmas, Easter, or the summer holidays. It’s only paid when you’re at school during term time.

You’ll continue to get EMA payments if you’re on work experience during term time, but only if the work experience is a pre-arranged part of your course.

Your EMA is paid directly into your bank account. If you do not have a bank or building society account, you'll need to open one.

Your account must be able to accept BACS payments (these are payments that are paid electronically from one bank account to another). Check with your bank if you're not sure.

You can get EMA for up to 3 years. Vulnerable young people may receive support for up to 3 years within a 4-year period.

See when you can start to receive EMA during the 2026 to 2027 school year:

You can submit your EMA application early, even if you’re not entitled to receive payments until January.

If you're aged 16 or over and you have not yet applied for EMA:

• if you send your application before 30 September 2026, your payments may be backdated to the start of the school year
• if you send your application between 1 October 2026 and 28 February 2027, your payments will begin from the date we receive your application.

If you will turn 16 years old between 1 October 2026 and 28 February 2027, your payments may be backdated to the start of the January 2027 term. You must apply by 28 February 2027 to receive backdated payments.

We will not accept any applications for the 2026 to 2027 school year after 31 March 2027.

You'll only receive backdated payments to the August or January terms if you have met the conditions or your learning agreement.

Otherwise, payments will be made from the date we received your application.

Payments after summer exam period

S4 and S5 students returning for a further academic year

If you’ll remain in school for the next academic session, you’ll be eligible to receive EMA payments to the end of the academic year (usually June), if you meet the requirements of your learning agreement.

S4 and S5 students leaving school at the end of the academic year 

If you’re in S4 and S5 and do not plan to remain in school after the exam period is over, you’ll be eligible to receive an EMA until the end of the exam period.

S6 students leaving school at the end of the academic year 

If you’re in S6, you’ll be paid until the end of the exam period. 

You'll need to provide:

• your Qualifications Scotland Scottish Candidate Number (SCN)
• their contact phone number and email address
• the name of the school and your year of study
• the name, sort code, and account number of your bank or building society – this needs to be your own account and cannot belong to someone else.

Your parent or carer will need to provide: 

• their name, address and relationship to you
• their contact phone number and email address.

Your parent or carer will also need to provide evidence of household income, including one of the following:

• a P60 or a statement of earnings
• a statement of self-employment (Inland Revenue form SA302).

They must also provide proof of any benefits, Universal Credit, or pensions they receive.

They can upload files from a computer or laptop. Or they can use a camera enabled device, like a smartphone or tablet, to take photos of the documents and upload them.

If your parents or carers are self employed

If your parents or carers cannot provide the relevant documentation to confirm their income details, we’ll process your application as a provisional award. 

We’ll make weekly payments for any provisional award but only for part of the academic year. 

This award will then be put on hold until we receive the relevant finalised income details. 

If we assess your award provisionally, you must give us the final income details no later than 31 May 2027.

If you need further information on providing documentation, email us at ema.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Apply for EMA online

Applications for EMA for the 2026 to 2027 school year will close on 31 March 2027.

Applications for Education Maintenance Allowance for the 2025 to 2026 school year closed on 31 March 2026.

Applications for the 2026 to 2027 school year will open in June 2026.

We'll email you with a case reference number, and we'll assess your application.

We'll contact you if we need any more information.

We'll aim to let you know our decision within 28 working days.

If you apply before school starts in August, we'll let you know by email if you have been awarded EMA.

We'll start to send award packs by post from August. The award pack will contain a learning agreement and a letter telling you what you need to do with the learning agreement.

If you apply at any other time during the school year, we'll send you an award pack by post if your application has been awarded.

You must return your learning agreement within 3 weeks of receiving your award pack.

You'll start receiving EMA payments after you’ve signed your learning agreement with your school and we’ve received the signed agreement from them.

Learning agreement

To receive EMA payments, you must have signed an EMA learning agreement. It must also be signed by your parent or carer and your school.

If you are disabled or have additional support needs (ASN), you do not need to sign the learning agreement.

A new EMA learning agreement must be completed for each academic year.

We will only pay you if you meet the conditions set out in the learning agreement.

We may stop EMA payments if the school informs us that you have failed to meet the conditions of your learning agreement.

If you have a programme of learning at more than one school, you’ll need to have a separate EMA learning agreement signed by each school you are registered at.

If your programme of learning changes and you start another course at school, the EMA learning agreement will be changed. This will need to be signed by you and the school. 

If you change school during the year, a new EMA learning agreement will need to be signed by you, the school, and your parent or carer.

We will not accept learning agreements for the 2026 to 2027 school year after 31 May 2027.

Why an EMA payment may be stopped

Your school may recommend that we stop paying an EMA. This could be based on a number of reasons, including:

Absence

We may stop payment if you do not maintain 100% attendance at school

If you’re sick or cannot attend school, you’ll need to provide evidence. 

You should collect self-certificates from the school office on the first day you return from sickness and return this to the school office within 3 school days. 

You can self-certify for up to 5 full days or 10 half days of sickness in the academic year.

After this, you’ll need to produce a medical certificate. You should send a medical certificate to your school as soon as possible.

If your medical absence extends over 3 weeks, it will be reviewed by the headteacher. The school will consider your individual circumstances.

If you’re absent for reasons other than illness – for example, for interviews, dental appointments, or hospital appointments – you should tell your school immediately.

Persistent late coming

You’ll receive a warning after 5 unexplained or unacceptable late comings to school. 

After a warning, if you have a further 2 late comings in any one week, we’ll stop payment for that week.

Conduct

We may withhold payment if you breach the school’s discipline policy – for example, if there are 2 behaviour referrals during a fortnight.

Exclusions

We will not make payments if you have been excluded from school.

Reassessment of an EMA decision

You can ask us to reassess our decision if:

• your earlier EMA application was unsuccessful
• your household income falls during the year to within the income thresholds.

You must ask us for a reassessment and provide evidence to confirm the change in circumstance and the current level of household income. 

To do this, email us at ema.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

We will not reassess your EMA if your household income rises during the year.

More information

If you need more information on EMA or eligibility, email us at ema.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Free school meals 

You can get free school meals for your child at secondary school if you get certain benefits. 

All children at an Additional Support Needs (ASN) school get free school meals in secondary school for each school day. You'll also get meal payments during the holidays for your child if you're on certain benefits. 

School meal payments during the holidays 

You can also get payments for meals for your child during the school holidays if get certain benefits.

Your child in secondary school can get free meals in school and holiday payments if they go to a Renfrewshire school and you get: 

• Universal Credit (where your monthly earned income is not more than £995)
• Income Support
• income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
• income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

If you're applying for a child who has not previously attended a Renfrewshire Council school, we cannot process an application until their enrolment has been completed. This is usually during the early part of August. 

If you live in Renfrewshire and your child goes to a special school or special unit that is not within Renfrewshire, and if you meet the eligibility criteria, you can get the free school meal holiday payments.

Who cannot get it

If you do not meet the benefits criteria listed, you cannot get free school meal holiday payments. Find out where to get money and benefits advice.

You can apply for free school meals and a clothing grant at the same time. Find out about clothing grants.

You'll need to provide us with:  

• your National Insurance number 
• evidence of your household income - you can upload the proof  
• evidence of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction - you can upload proof, or ask us to verify your housing benefit or Council Tax Reduction entitlement using our systems
• evidence of your Scottish Child Payment
• details of the child or children you're applying for - full name, gender, date of birth and the school they'll attend during the school year that you're applying for
• the bank or building society account details - holiday meal payments are paid directly into a bank account.

Applications for free school meals open on Monday 1 June 2026 and close on Monday 31 May 2027.

You only need to apply once in each school year. Apply as early as you can as we do not back date any applications. 

Apply for free school meals and clothing grants

If you're eligible for the free school meal payments, you'll also get a clothing grant. You can apply for both on the same form. Find out about clothing grants. 

You can only apply online. 

If you need help to apply: 

• contact your school
• or phone us on 0300 300 0300, Monday to Thursday from 8:45am to 4:45pm and Friday from 8:45am to 3:55pm.

Applications for free school meals open on Monday 1 June 2026.

How we make a decision 

We'll check the evidence you provide. If it meets the eligibility criteria, you'll get money added to your ParentPay account and the holiday meal payments will be paid into the bank or building society account that you gave us. 

You should speak to your school if you do not have a ParentPay account. 

How we pay it 

Holiday meal payments are made directly into your bank account 4 times in a school year, in: 

• October for the mid-term holiday
• December for the Christmas holiday
• February for the mid-term holiday
• March or April ­­for the Easter holiday
• June for the summer holiday (the 6-week summer payments are for children who have applied the previous year - so you need to have applied by the end of June to get the summer payments). 

We do not back date payments - they start from when you apply. 

You get a payment of £2.35 per weekday per child during the holidays.

Free school meals 

All children at primary school in P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5 get free school meals every day they're at school. You do not need to apply for this. 

If you're the parent or carer of a child at primary school in P6 and P7, and you get certain benefits, you can apply to get free school meals. 

School meal payments during the holidays 

If you're the parent or carer of a child at primary school, and you're on certain benefits, you can get payments for meals during the school holidays. You need to apply once in each school year.

You do not get payments during the holidays if your child in is P6 and P7 and your only benefit is the Scottish Child Payment.

Your child can get free meals payments during the holidays and free school meal in P6 and P7 if they go to a Renfrewshire school, and you get:

• Universal Credit (where your monthly earned income is not more than £995)
• Income Support
• income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
• income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Your child can get free school meals at school (but not the payments in the holidays) in P6 and P7 if they go to a Renfrewshire school, and you get: 

• Scottish Child Payment.

If you're applying for a child who has not previously attended a Renfrewshire Council school, we cannot process an application until their enrolment has been completed. This is usually during the early part of August.

If you live in Renfrewshire and your child goes to a special school or special unit that is not within Renfrewshire, and if you meet the eligibility criteria, you can get the free school meal holiday payments.

Who cannot get it

If you do not meet the benefits criteria listed, you cannot get free school meal holiday payments. Find out where to get money and benefits advice.

You can apply for free school meals and a clothing grant at the same time. Find out about clothing grants.

You'll need to provide us with:  

• your National Insurance number 
• evidence of your household income - you can upload the proof  
• evidence of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction - you can upload proof, or ask us to verify your housing benefit or Council Tax Reduction entitlement using our systems
• evidence of your Scottish Child Payment
• details of the child or children you're applying for - full name, gender, date of birth and the school they'll attend during the school year that you're applying for
• the bank or building society account details - holiday meal payments are paid directly into a bank account.

Applications for free school meals open on Monday 1 June 2026 and close on Monday 31 May 2027.

You only need to apply once in each school year. Apply as early as you can as we do not back date any applications. 

Apply for free school meals and clothing grants

If you're eligible for the free school meal payments, you'll also get a clothing grant. You can apply for both on the same form. Find out about clothing grants. 

You can only apply online. 

If you need help to apply: 

• contact your school
• or phone us on 0300 300 0300, Monday to Thursday from 8:45am to 4:45pm and Friday from 8:45am to 3:55pm.

Applications for free school meals open on Monday 1 June 2026.

How we make a decision 

We'll check the evidence you provide. If it meets the eligibility criteria, you'll get money added to your ParentPay account and the holiday meal payments will be paid into the bank or building society account that you gave us. 

You should speak to your school if you do not have a ParentPay account. 

How we pay it 

Holiday meal payments are made directly into your bank account 4 times in a school year, in: 

• October for the mid-term holiday
• December for the Christmas holiday
• February for the mid-term holiday
• March or April ­­for the Easter holiday
• June for the summer holiday (the 6-week summer payments are for children who have applied the previous year - so you need to have applied by the end of June to get the summer payments). 

We do not back date payments - they start from when you apply. 

You get a payment of £2.35 per weekday per child during the holidays.

Some children get free meals at nursery.

They may also get a daily portion of milk and a healthy snack if they attend nursery or childcare for more than 2 hours a day. Speak to your nursery about the specific meals, snacks or milk they provide.

If your child is eligible for funded early learning and childcare they can get a free meal on the days they go to a Renfrewshire Council early learning and childcare nursery and in approved funded provider settings.

If your child attends a Renfrewshire Council nursery and is not eligible for a funded early learning and childcare place, you can get a free school meals if you get:

• Universal Credit (where your monthly earned income is not more than £995)
• Income Support
• income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
• income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

You do not need to apply if your child is eligible for funded early learning and childcare, they will get a meal automatically.

You need to apply if your child does not get a funded place and you meet the eligibility criteria.

Apply for free school meals 

Applications open on Monday 1 June 2026.

Scottish Child Payment, a four-weekly payment to help with costs for children under 16.

School Age Payment, a one off payment for when children normally start school.

A clothing grant is money given to you so that you can buy school uniforms for your child.

Depending on when you apply in the school year, you can get a payment in the summer for the start of the school year and another payment in the winter.

Your child can get a clothing grant if they go to a Renfrewshire school, and you get:

• Housing Benefit
• or Council Tax Reduction.

Your child can get a clothing grant and free meals in school and meal payments during the holidays, if they go to a Renfrewshire school and you get:

• Universal Credit (where your monthly earned income is not more than £995)
• Income Support
• income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
• income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

If you're applying for a child who has not previously attended a Renfrewshire Council nursery or school, we'll be unable to process an application until their enrolment has been completed. This is usually during the early part of August.

If you live in Renfrewshire and your child goes to a special school or special unit that is not within Renfrewshire, and if you meet the eligibility criteria, you'll get the grant.

Who cannot get a clothing grant

Children at nursery are not entitled to a clothing grant.

If you do not meet the benefits criteria listed, you cannot get a clothing grant.

Find out where to get help with money and benefits.

You can apply for a clothing grant and free school meals at the same time.

You'll need to tell us:  

• your National Insurance number
• evidence of your household income - you can upload the proof to this form.
• evidence of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction - you can upload proof, or ask us to verify your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction entitlement using our systems
• details of the child or children you're applying for - full name, gender, date of birth and the school they'll attend during the school year that you're applying for
• your bank or building society account details - clothing grants are paid directly into a bank account.

Applications for clothing grants open on Monday 1 June 2026 and close on Wednesday 31 March 2027.

Apply for a clothing grant and free school meals 

If you're also eligible for the free school meal payments, we'll tell you after you apply. You can apply for both on the same form. Find out about:

• free school meals and holiday payments for primary pupils
• free school meals and holiday payments for secondary pupils.

You can only apply online.

If you need help to apply:

• contact your school
• or phone us on 0300 300 0300, Monday to Thursday from 8:45am to 4:45pm and Friday from 8:45am to 3:55pm.

Applications for clothing grants open on Monday 1 June 2026 and close on Wednesday 31 March 2027.

It usually takes 3 weeks to process a successful application.

For children who are 16 and could leave school after June - after your application, we may need to verify they have returned to school after the school year begins.

How we make a decision 

We'll check the evidence you provide. If it meets the eligibility criteria, you'll get the clothing grant payments.

How we pay it

The amount of clothing grant for each eligible pupil is:

• £120 for primary aged children, and a winter payment of £50
• £150 for secondary aged children, and a winter payment of £50.

Make sure to apply as early as you can so that you also get a payment in October for the winter. We do not back date claims.

Scottish Child Payment, a four-weekly payment to help with costs for children under 16.

School Age Payment, a one off payment for when children normally start school.

Background

The Scottish Government aims to ensure that every family gets the right support at the right time for long as it is needed, to fulfil children's rights to be raised safely in their own families. 

It introduced the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund in 2022 for the duration of this Parliament to help families to overcome challenges before they reach crisis point, and to significantly reduce the number of children and young people in care by 2030. 

The Scottish Government's ambition is that by 2030 at least 5% of all community-based health and social care spend will be on preventative whole family support measures.

The Renfrewshire Children's Services Partnership (RCSP)

Renfrewshire's Children's Services Partnership (RCSP) is responsible for ensuring that services delivered to children, young people and their families in Renfrewshire are the best they can be.

Membership of the RCSP include the council, other public sector organisations, and the third sector. Together, we identify local priorities and plan how we can join up to add value and deliver services to children, young people and their families that make a real difference to their lives.

One of the aims of the RCSP is for family support to be readily available to families that need it. We want to make sure that families can access the help they need, where and when they need it. 

We want parents to be able to access holistic support which addresses the needs of children and adults in a family at the time of need rather than at crisis point. This will help families to flourish and reduce the chances of family breakdown, and of children entering the care system.

The Scottish Government has provided an amount of Whole Family Wellbeing Funding to the RCSP to build local capacity for transformational system change and to scale up and drive the delivery of holistic whole family support services.

We know from local data that 18% of Renfrewshire's children live in families affected by poverty. Our communities face further challenge through a cost-of-living crisis, with the cost of heating our homes and buying food and basic provisions increasing. Some parents can feel isolated without a strong network of family support, not knowing who to turn to for help.

More and more of Renfrewshire's children and young people are seeking support with their mental health and wellbeing. We understand the link between adverse childhood experiences and the risk this presents to mental health and wellbeing. We also appreciate that the impacts of these events can sometimes carry through to adulthood, and that parents and carers might struggle to cope and respond positively to certain situations or challenges. 

This reinforces our approach to early intervention, and developing ways to work with children, young people, and their families to help them cope before reaching a crisis.
Third sector and community organisations can play a vital role in supporting families within their local communities and are able to use knowledge and connections to build a network of support around vulnerable families.

National principles for holistic whole family support

The 10 principles of holistic family support are:

1. Non-stigmatising: Support should be promoted and provided free from stigma and judgement. Services should be as normalised as accessing universal services.
2. Whole Family: Support should be rooted in GIRFEC and wrapped around about the whole family. This requires relevant join up with adult services & whole system, place based, preventative addressing inequalities.
3. Needs based: Support should be tailored to fit around each individual family, not be driven by rigid services or structures. It should cover the spectrum of support from universal services, more tailored support for wellbeing and intensive support (to prevent or in response to statutory interventions). Creative approaches to support should be encouraged.
4. Assets and community based: Support should be empowering, building on existing strengths within the family and wider community. Families should be able to 'reach in' not be 'referred to'. Support must be explicitly connected to locations that work for local families and the community, such as schools, health centres, village halls, and sports centres.
5. Timely and Sustainable: Flexible, responsive, and proportionate support should be available to families as soon as they need it, and for as long as it is required, adapting to changing needs.
6. Promoted: Families should have easy, well understood routes of access to support. They should feel empowered to do so and have choice about the support they access to ensure it meets their needs.
7. Take account of families' voice: At a strategic and individual level, children and families should be meaningfully involved in the design, delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement of services. Support should be based on trusted relationships between families and professionals working together with mutual respect to ensure targeted and developmental support.
8. Collaborative and Seamless: Support should be multi-agency and joined up across services, so families don't experience multiple 'referrals' or inconsistent support.
9. Skilled and supported workforce: Support should be informed by an understanding of attachment, trauma, inequality, and poverty. Staff should be supported to take on additional responsibilities and trusted to be innovative in responding to the needs of families.
10. Underpinned by Children's Rights: Children's rights should be the funnel through which every decision and support service is viewed.

Key aims of the fund

The key aims of the Whole Family Wellbeing fund are to:

• support the whole system transformational change required to reduce the need for crisis intervention
• shift investment towards prevention and early intervention.

In accordance with The Promise, the Scottish Government recognises that we need whole system change in line with the 10 Principles for Holistic Family Support incorporating the following core components of how holistic, whole family support is delivered:

• Children and families at the centre of design - a children's rights-based approach to improved family wellbeing, with services designed with children, young people, and their families' needs at the centre, supporting all families to flourish and thrive.
• Availability and access - all families know how to and can access multi-sectoral, holistic, whole family support.
• Leadership, workforce, and culture - cross-sectoral commitment to collaboration and innovation which empowers and supports the workforce to provide family-centred holistic support.
• Whole system approach – a collaborative, multi-agency and multidisciplinary approach to the funding, commissioning, and delivery of family support.

Applications are open to voluntary and community groups and organisations that have a constitution bank account, such as:

• registered charities
• groups or clubs
• not-for-profit companies
• community interest companies
• community councils.

We are looking for projects focusing on community step change.

Your proposal must be a newly developed innovation for your organisation which will engage more parent and families - not just based on the families you are currently working with.

Projects and activities should be:

• open to all families across Renfrewshire, free and easy to access
• inclusive, welcoming, respectful, and safe
• able or willing to provide connections to other services and supports
• flexible in its provision of support to include evenings and weekend where required.

Examples of projects and activities might be:

• out of school and weekend clubs for children with disabilities where children can have fun, and their parents can have some respite time
• organisation to release a member of staff to be trained and to deliver high quality parenting programmes
• parenting support groups for parents / carers of children with autism using a toolkit recommended in the Autism Toolkit
• support in setting boundaries for families of children displaying distressed and risk-taking behaviour through a training programme such as those promoted in the Council Parenting Strategy
• activity group programmes for families to build family cohesion, have fun together and learn new skills around a particular area such as cooking, gardening, arts and crafts etc.

The funding could also be for staffing and related costs that provides a range of supports. 

This could include but is not limited to 

• advice and guidance
• practical help and support
• befriending support
• group work focused on specific outcomes.

What you cannot use the funding for

You cannot use funding for:

• one-off activities, like an open or fun day
• activities that are not free
• events to raise funds for other charities
• costs for activities that have already taken place
• applications to support individuals.

What your application should include

Your application should describe:

• the work the organisation wants to host
• how it meets the needs of families who are in one or more of these categories:
  • families of children with a neurodevelopmental disorder, for example Autistic Spectrum disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) either pre or post diagnosis
  • families of children aged 0 to 8 requiring parenting support or support for distressed behaviours
  • families of children aged 11 to 16 displaying distressed or risk-taking behaviour
  • families of children with disabilities.

Your application should be in line with the 10 principles of holistic family support.

You must also make sure your application demonstrates your family engagement and safeguarding procedures.

Email ruth.wallace@renfrewshire.gov.uk before 12noon on Friday 30 January 2026 for an application form.

Information you need to include with your application

Once you have submitted your application form, you’ll need to send these documents to ruth.wallace@renfrewshire.gov.uk:

• an activity plan and schedule for your proposed project
• a copy of your safeguarding policy
• a copy of your Public Liability Insurance certificate (if applicable)
• a bank statement less than 3 months old (unless you are applying as an individual)
• a copy of your most recent annual accounts or an income and expenditure statement - these should be less than 15 months old, dated and signed as approved - you can include a link to the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) or to a Companies House submitted file
• a signed, dated copy of the organisation’s Constitution or Memorandum and Articles of Association - you can include a link to the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) or to a Companies House submitted file
• a photocopy of your ID - either a passport, birth certificate or driving licence (for individuals). This data is to verify the applicant's ID only and will not be retained by the Council beyond our eligibility checks.

Include your organisations title and Whole Family Wellbeing in the subject line of the email.

How we make a decision

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of staff from Renfrewshire Children's Services Partnership before a decision is made.

The scoring panel will meet in February.

We may visit you to gather further information about your project before making a final decision.

Final decisions will be made by the end of February 2026.

Conditions of the grant

If you are awarded funding, you must accept and comply with Renfrewshire Council's standard grant terms and conditions.

The funding must demonstrate impact and added value for families. We are required to report to the Scottish Government on how we are positively effecting transformational change for families.

We’ll ask you to submit quarterly reports on progress against your objectives. We’ll create a form to do this and provide you with ongoing support to ensure you have the appropriate data sets in place.

If you’re applying to fund a staff member to be trained and to deliver an evidence-based programme, you must commit to that staff member engaging in the coaching and supervision programmes that we offer, and to the recording and reporting of relevant data which shows impact on family wellbeing. 

The funding must be spent by the end of March 2027.

Ongoing support for successful projects

A WFWF Community of Practice will be set up for the successful bidders to be able to collaborate and share ideas throughout the duration of the lifespan of the fund.

If you would like to discuss the priorities or application process, email ruth.wallace@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

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