Not-for-profit

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. 

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.

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.

The Sustainable Communities Fund can provide investment for community organisations to identify, develop or sustain local projects that have a range of social, environmental, or economic benefits.

The fund can also support and enable local organisations to take on land or buildings through a Community Asset Transfer.

The aim of the fund is to support infrastructure and place-based projects across Renfrewshire that will:

• improve the lives of local people
• build resilient communities through sustainable activities.
• advance equality of opportunity and improve accessibility and inclusivity. 

Community and voluntary organisations

The Sustainable Communities Fund is open to any community or voluntary organisation who:

• are based in Renfrewshire
• has a constitution
• has an organisational bank account
• its members control the direction of the organisation.

Membership organisations

Membership organisations, such as sports clubs, can apply to the fund. However, your proposal must benefit to the wider community and not just the members of the organisation. 

The scale of benefit expected may mean that it will be challenging for member organisations to be successful in their application. 

Organisations interested in or applying for Community Asset Transfers

If you're looking at the feasibility of a Community Asset Transfer, your organisation doesn't need to be a Community Transfer Body. 

However, if you're applying for funding towards a Community Asset Transfer, or developing a transferred community asset, your organisation must be eligible as a Community Transfer Body. 

It's not a requirement for applying for this fund, but your organisation should be working towards this status. 

However, funding towards exploring or developing a transferred asset is not an indicator that your request for the asset transfer will be successful. Each request for a community asset transfer is considered individually and on its own merits.

Find out more about Community Asset Transfers.

Funding can be used for revenue costs, capital costs or both. 

Revenue funding can be used for: 

• certain types of one-off costs, such as professional fees, marketing, feasibility studies or business plans
• recurring costs such as salaries and overheads - however, this does not cover reoccurring costs after the first year.

Capital funding is for specific one-off costs, like building works, refurbishment or setting up a project with tools, equipment, furniture, technology or energy saving devices.

The fund is designed to support the progression and development of projects. So, you could apply to fund a feasibility study into procuring an asset, which could then progress to applying for capital funding for works to that asset. 

However, you cannot apply for funding of different projects in the same organisation.

Types of projects we will fund

Community capacity and wealth building projects

Community capacity and wealth building projects that empower local groups to explore asset transfer and develop place-based infrastructure initiatives. 

This can include:

• conducting feasibility studies into asset transfers
• encouraging volunteering
• reshaping local relationships and enhancing local infrastructure to promote well-being
• supporting skills development
• establishing community enterprises that deliver local benefits and opportunities.

Local natural spaces

Local natural spaces that support health and wellbeing and focus on benefiting communities in need of green spaces by:

• increasing access to nature including creating or improving green and blue infrastructure
• incorporating nature into wider public spaces  
• providing or increasing positive and healthy activities for local communities.

Place-based investments

Place-based investments that focus on improving community spaces and enhancing community assets by:

• boosting facility usage and accessibility or making physical alterations to community buildings or spaces
• new infrastructure projects
• building resilience against climate change through local projects and engagement that increase biodiversity, enhance active travel, promote local food growing or build knowledge of the climate emergency.

There are 3 tiers of funding you can apply for, depending on the size and scope of your project proposal.

If you’re applying for intermediate or large funding amounts, we’ll need evidence and information for the higher level of funding you’re applying for.

Small awards up to £10,000

Small awards could be used for:

• purchase of small items of equipment
• looking into projects to restore or regenerate property
• community engagement initiatives like surveys, information sessions or events
• volunteer development programmes
• small climate change interventions.

We'll also consider applications for small capital investments. 

You’ll need to provide either a: 

• minimum of one external quote
• detailed list of items you want to purchase, unit costs for each item and the names of the suppliers or retailers.

Intermediate awards between £10,000 and £25,000

Intermediate awards could be used for capital or revenue costs towards:

• feasibility studies or business plans for property development or community asset transfers
• project management costs.

You will need to provide either a minimum of 3 external quotes with your application for all costs, for example, commissioning consultants, building works or the process you will use to select. 

Large awards up to £100,000

Large awards could be used for capital costs towards plans to take ownership or redevelop land or buildings in your local community.

In your application, you’ll need to provide us with a 

• detailed brief
• minimum of 4 external quotes for all costs, as well as the process you will use to select providers.  

If you apply for more than £25,000 or more

You will need to meet with a funding officer  to discuss your application and its proposed outcomes to make sure it:

• aligns to the council’s plans and priorities
• is achievable and sustainable.

If you apply for £50,000 or more

You will need to demonstrate:

• there is a robust business case for the project
• your organisation has been successful in levering in  external funding for the project
• you have developed an overall financial strategy for the project
• you can commit to using any allocated funding within a period acceptable to the Council and to UK government funding requirements.

Your organisation needs to either:

• have undertaken extensive community engagement regarding the project, including establishing strong relationships and partnerships in the local area
• be recognised as a key strategic partner with Renfrewshire Council or has a formal Strategic Partnership Agreement with us.

Funding subsidies

Some funding may qualify as a subsidy under the UK Government Subsidy Control Regime.

A subsidy is where a public authority provides support to a business in a way that gives them advantage over a competitor.

If it does, you need to confirm if all the public grants your organisation has received in the last three years, including this fund, is less than £350,000.

Your proposal

You need to discuss your proposal with us before you make a formal application. This will help you know if your proposal is eligible and feasible.  We will give you initial feedback on your proposal and ask you for more information if we need it.
Email us at communityplanning@renfrewshire.gov.uk or phone us on 0141 487 1508.

Funding criteria

Your proposal should demonstrate how it aims to meet the following funding criteria:

Community engagement and participation

Community engagement and participation with:

• evidence of how you have involved the community in the development of your project, and they support your plans
• evidence of how the community will have a voice in the delivery and oversight of your project
• your commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, making sure that different types of people are supported and empowered to engage with your project.

Positive impact for local communities 

Positive impact for local communities by identifying:

• the community need for your project
• the changes your project will bring, setting out clear outputs and outcomes for your project
• who will benefit from these changes and what wider community benefits the project will have
• what actions you will take to measure, monitor, and evaluate positive change from your project.

Viability and sustainability

Viability and sustainability by demonstrating:

• how your project will continue after the grant has been used, including how you will fund activity going forward or implement proposals following a feasibility or business plan
• how this grant will increase the financial sustainability of your organisation by reducing dependency on funding or generating revenue
• your organisation has the appropriate skills, experience, and qualifications to deliver the project, or has a plan for engaging people who do
• your project will work with existing facilities and provisions in the local area
• evidence of any necessary building and planning permissions or consents for your project
• you will be able to deliver the project within an appropriate period.

Strategic alignment with the fund objectives and criteria

Strategic alignment with the fund objectives and criteria by demonstrating:

• how your project aligns with one or more of the fund objectives
• how your project meets the 7 best value themes of clear vision and leadership, governance and accountability, effective use of resources, partnership and collaborative working, sustainability, working with communities, and fairness and equality.

Your proposal should closely align with the themes and aims of the:

• Renfrewshire Council Plan 2022 to 2027
• Our Renfrewshire Community Plan
• Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero.

Information you need to include in your application

You’ll need to give us:

• a detailed description of your project including timelines
• basic information about your organisation and its governance arrangements
• details of all the costs associated with your project including those that you are applying for
• which tier of funding you’re applying for
• the outputs and outcomes you want achieve and how you will measure these.

Outputs and outcomes

You must specify the outputs and outcomes your project aims to achieve and how you will measure them.

Outputs are the result of activity. For example, if the project is to create a community garden, the output will be the garden itself, an improvement to public space, or a new amenity or space for public use.

Outcomes are the product or impact of activity or the added value of carrying out the activity. For example, the outcomes of a community garden may be an improvement in biodiversity or an increase in public health and social wellbeing. 

Financial and organisational information

Your application needs to include:

• a bank statement less than 3 months old
• 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.

If it’s a new organisation, you should submit estimates of income and expenditure for the first 12 months. 

Quotes, consents and plans

Where relevant, you may need to give us a minimum number of quotes with your application, proportionate to the level and type of funding you’re applying for:

• Revenue of less than £10K – you do not need external quotes, but you must be able to justify costs and explain your rationale.
• Capital less than £10K – a minimum of one external quote or a detailed list of items to be purchased with unit costs, the name of supplier or retailer and your rationale.
• Capital or revenue between £10,000 and £25,000 – a minimum of 3 external quotes and selection process
• Capital or revenue over £25,000 – a detailed brief and minimum of 4 external quotes along with the selection process.

Statutory consents

If you’re applying for a capital grant involving building works, you’ll need to provide evidence of applications for planning or building warrants or consents, including their reference numbers.

Plans and strategies

You’ll need to give us a business plan or funding strategy if you’re applying for more than £25,000.

Other relevant information

You can also include any other relevant reports or information to support your application like media coverage, press cuttings, images, past publicity materials, reviews or letters of support. 
Please provide them as a PDF file where possible. 

Apply online

If you need help with your application, or you need an application form in another format, email us at communityplanning@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

Evaluation of applications

The Funding Panel, who are officers from across the council, evaluate all applications against the funding criteria.

They will:

• consider how your application meets the criteria
• make a recommendation [or not] to the Communities and Housing Policy Board.

The board will make the final decision on your application. 

All applications are seen by the Communities and Housing Policy Board, whether they are recommended for approval or not.

The Board decision dates are:

• 11 March 2025
• 13 May 2025
• 19 August 2025
• 28 October 2025.

How long it’ll take

We'll let you know shortly after your application has been reviewed by the Board. 

If you're successful, you'll receive an award agreement by email:
•    stating the purpose of the award 
•    containing our terms and conditions
•    outlining what our monitoring and feedback requirements are.

It will also contain forms you'll need to fill in to accept and claim your award. 

Read your award letter carefully and keep it safe for future reference. 

After you receive funding

Your grant should be specifically used for what you've applied for, and you must discuss any proposed changes with us in advance.

You should also keep all receipts and evidence of expenditure.

Payments for goods and services must be made directly from the organisation's bank account, not by cash, as we may request bank statements to verify what you spend on your project. You should make sure payments from the account are clearly noted.

We’ll work with you to monitor the outcomes delivered by your project. These will also be reported back to the Communities and Housing Policy Board.

If part of your award comes from UK Shared Prosperity Funding, we’ll also give feedback to the UK Government about your project’s outcomes.

The Cultural Organisations Fund (COF) supports established local organisations to undertake programmes of creative and cultural activity that delivers public benefit and aligns with the council’s strategic aims for culture.

The objectives of the fund are to:

• enable cultural organisations to deliver long-term engagement with the arts, culture, and heritage through engaging and innovative programming
• strengthen organisational sustainability that continues to raise cultural ambition in Renfrewshire
• support organisations which have an ongoing commitment to diversifying and expanding cultural participation.

How much you can apply for

There are 3 tiers of funding you can apply for:

• £10,000 a year, up to a total of £30,000 over 3 financial years
• £15,000 a year, up to a total of £45,000 over 3 financial years
• £20,000 a year, up to a total of £60,000 over 3 financial years.

However, funding is limited, and we may not be able to give grants to all eligible organisations. 

The funding period is from 17 July 2025 to 14 March 2028, and the fund can be used across 3 financial years.

Your organisation should be a formally registered company or charity whose primary purpose is promoting culture and creativity. 

This includes:

• charities registered in Scotland and undertaking activity related to the arts, creativity, and culture.
• companies limited by guarantee that can clearly demonstrate their programme of work will promote the public good through arts and culture.
• community interest companies (CICs) registered at Companies House with a focus on arts and culture. 

Your organisation must:

• have a UK bank account in the same name as the organisation
• pay all hourly staff at least the National Living Wage
• pay freelance creative contracts in line with the Scottish Artists Union (SAU), Musicians Union (MU), or other relevant representative body’s rate.or other relevant representative body’s rate.

The funding can be used for programme or operational costs. 

Organisations can decide on the best use of the funds based on their needs and priorities throughout the 3-year funding period. 

However, a minimum of 40% of each annual budget must be allocated to programming. 

Programming costs

Funding can be used to undertake programmes of creative and culture activity including:

• promoting local culture and history from across the region
• improving the wellbeing of communities through engagement in cultural activity
• producing innovative cultural experiences in Renfrewshire for residents and visitors
• revitalising civic spaces in Renfrewshire’s town centres through cultural production
• offering employment opportunities that demonstrate Renfrewshire’s cultural sector as a positive place to work. 

Operational costs

This can include contributions towards overhead costs, such as:

• rental
• staffing
• services
• building repairs to help keep cultural spaces open for the community.

Application guidance

Your application should demonstrate how your proposed activity represents good value for public money.

Make sure you have read the full Cultural Organisations Fund (COF) guidance before you start your application.

You also need to complete a Cultural Organisations Fund (COF) equalities monitoring form which you can upload to the online form.

If you have any questions applying for it, email us at  cof-enquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Information you need to tell us on your application

Operational details

You need to tell us:

• your organisation’s name, address, website (if you have one), registration number, organisational status and aims
• the details of the lead contact person
• operational details including number of employees, volunteers, or practitioners you work with
• your target demographic groups
• main and secondary artforms
• what geographical areas in Renfrewshire you deliver activity in.

Business plan

You need to provide us with a business plan that includes:

• a full description of the activities and services your organisation offers
• the organisation’s strategic aims and benefits to the community
• a breakdown of your organisation’s planned expenditure for 2025 to 2026, 2026 to 2027, and 2027 to 2028, including projected income and expenditure across operational, staffing, and programming costs
• an outline annual plan for 2025 to 2026 (maximum 2 pages).

Financial information

We also need this financial information:

• the organisation’s bank account details
• a bank statement less than 3 months old
• 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).

Organisation information

You will need to provide this information about your organisation:

• 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
• your organisation’s safeguarding or child protection policies, if applicable
• your organisation’s equalities policy or clear evidence of commitment to equalities and diversity
• a completed equalities monitoring form using the template provided.

Any other relevant information

You can also add any other relevant information, ideally in PDF format, to support your application, such as:

• examples of previous work
• letters of support
• evidence of income from other sources
• CVs of artists or key staff involved in your project.

Before you start, you’ll need to register for MyAccount through mygov.scot. If you’ve already registered, you do not need to do it again.  

Help with registering and signing-in (mygov.scot).

You can save the form at any time by selecting Save at the bottom of any page of the form. 

You'll then get an email with a link to your saved draft. You can also access the saved draft from the 'My Requests' tab on the MyAccount home page.

We recommend you also keep a version of your application in a separate document. This is in case there are any connection issues while you are filling out the form and it’s not saved or submitted.

We cannot accept late applications. You must submit all required documents online by the deadline for us to consider your application.

If you need an application form in a different format, email cof-enquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
 

Information sessions

There are 2 online information sessions for prospective applicants:

• Tuesday 15 April 2025
• Wednesday 30 April 2025

Contact us at cof-enquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk to book your place at one of our information sessions. Let us know which date you want to attend.

If you need help to apply, email us at cof-enquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

We’ll check to make sure your application is eligible and complete. 

If it’s incomplete, we’ll contact you about the missing or incomplete information we need. You’ll have 5 working days to send us this information. 

If we do not get the information by then, your application will not be taken forward.

How we make a decision

We evaluate all applications based on these 3 criteria:

• how well the proposal fits with our 5 strategic aims for culture
• governance and management
• financial risk and mitigation.

You can read the full assessment criteria and scoring in Appendix 1 of the Cultural Organisations Fund (COF) guidance.

When we’ll tell you about your application

We’ll email you on Wednesday 16 July 2025 to let you know our decision.

If your organisation is awarded funding

You’ll receive an email with the grant offer letter, including information on payment schedules and reporting.

You’ll be expected to set annual targets with the council and report on the delivery of these aims at the end of each financial year.

If you do not get funding

If your organisation is not successful with your application, we’ll contact you to tell you why, but your application will not proceed any further. 

Contact us you have any questions about the fund.
 

The Culture, Heritage and Events Fund (CHEF) is a fund for artists, organisations and communities to support creative projects and events throughout Renfrewshire and beyond.

The purpose of the fund is to raise cultural ambition and stimulate new cultural, heritage and events activity, aiming to create long-lasting cultural, economic and social transformation in Renfrewshire.

The objectives of the fund

The objectives of the fund are to:

• increase the number of people taking part in creative activity in Renfrewshire
• increase opportunities for young people to develop their creative ambition
• stimulate the local economy
• realise the potential contribution creativity can make to education, social inclusion and quality of life
• broaden the network of people developing cultural and creative projects in Renfrewshire
• increase the number of people visiting Renfrewshire
• raise the profile of Renfrewshire throughout the UK.
  The Culture, Heritage and Events Fund is funded by Renfrewshire Council.

Round 14 funding is open to organisations and individuals based or working in Renfrewshire who want to create or develop cultural or heritage activities that benefit or engage communities in Renfrewshire. 

This includes:

• independent artists, designers, makers and producers
• artists collectives, cultural organisations and networks
• voluntary or community organisations
• schools, colleges and universities
• businesses including social enterprises and creative industries.

Support for applicants representing black and ethnic minority communities or new Scots

As part of our commitment to increasing cultural diversity through fund-supported activities and projects, you can get one-to-one support with your application if you are representing Black and ethnic minority communities or New Scots. 

If you would like this support, email us at chef-enquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
 

CHEF supports projects that encourage engagement and participation in cultural and heritage activities in Renfrewshire.

Activity supported includes:

• the production of new artistic work
• research and development for professional artists and creative organisations
• workshops
• performances
• festivals and events
• exhibitions
• tours
• other opportunities for residents and visitors to

Renfrewshire to engage with the arts, heritage and culture.
You cannot apply for activities that:

• are not related to culture, heritage and events
• do not benefit or engage people in Renfrewshire
• will start before 1 October 2025. 

You can apply for grants of up to £20,000. The average grant award in previous funding rounds was £8,621.

However, there is a cap on the funding, and it is expected demand will be high,  so we can't guarantee you'll get a grant or get the amount you've applied for.

You should demonstrate how your proposed activity represents good value for public money, and we encourage you to look for income from other sources and in-kind support where possible. 

In-kind support refers to non-cash contributions that directly benefit a project and reduce its overall cost, such as donations of goods, services, or time rather than money.

Information sessions

There are 2 online information sessions for prospective applicants:

• Tuesday 27 May 2025, from 10am to 11am
• Wednesday 4 June 2025 from 2pm to 3pm

Contact us at chef-enquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk to book your place at one of our information sessions. Let us know which date you want to attend.

Or if you can’t join the information sessions, and have questions about CHEF, email chef-enquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 
 

Application guidance

Make sure you have read the full Culture, Heritage and Events Fund (CHEF) guidance before you start your application.

Information you need to include in your application

Project details

If you’re an organisation, you’ll need to provide us with details of your proposed project:

• the name, start and end dates, purpose, identified needs, outcomes, monitoring and evaluation, and who is involved in its delivery
• number of participants or audience members, location of activities, and types of artforms or cultural specialities
• total project costs, amount of funding requested, and breakdown of individual items.

Operational details

You need to tell us:

• your organisation’s name, address, website (if you have one), organisational status, registration number, years in operation, and aims
• the details of the lead contact person
• number of employees, volunteers, or practitioners you work with
• the main activities of the organisation
• what geographical areas in Renfrewshire, Scotland or the UK you will deliver activity in.

Financial information

We also need this financial information:

• the organisation’s bank account details
• a bank statement less than 3 months old
• 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
• details of any funding you’ve received from us in the last 3 years.

If you’re a new organisation, you can provide us with estimates of income and expenditure for the first 12 months in operation.

Organisation information

You will need to provide this information about your organisation:

• 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
• your organisation’s safeguarding or child protection policies, if applicable
• your organisation’s equalities policy or clear evidence of commitment to equalities and diversity
• a completed equalities monitoring form using the template provided.

Any other relevant information

You can also add any other relevant information, ideally in PDF format, to support your application, such as:

• examples of previous work
• letters of support

For individual applicants  

If you’re applying as an individual, you’ll need to provide us with: 

• the name, start and end dates, purpose, identified needs, outcomes, monitoring and evaluation, and who is involved in its delivery
• number of participants or audience members, location of activities, and types of artforms or cultural specialities
• total project costs, amount of funding requested, and breakdown of individual items
• details of any funding you’ve received from us in the last 3 years
• a photocopy of your identity (ID), like a passport, birth certificate, or driving licence - this is only to verify your identity and will not be retained beyond our eligibility checks
• your bank account details – so we can pay you if you are awarded a grant
• safeguarding or child protection policies, if applicable
• a completed equalities monitoring form using the template provided
• any other relevant information to support your application, such as examples of previous work or letters of support.

See our privacy policy on how we use your data.

Before you start, you’ll need to register for MyAccount through mygov.scot. If you’ve already registered, you do not need to do it again. 

Help with registering and signing-in (mygov.scot).

You can save the form at any time by selecting Save at the bottom of any page of the form. 

You'll then get an email with a link to your saved draft.

You can also access the saved draft from the 'Requests' tab on the MyAccount home page.

We recommend you also keep a version of your application in a separate document. This is in case there are any connection issues while you are filling out the form and it’s not saved or submitted. 

You’ll also need to complete and return an equalities monitoring form with your application. 
 

If you need help to apply or you need an application form in a different format, email chef-enquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

If you need to contact us about your application, email us at chef-enquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

How we make a decision

We’ll assess your application based on the criteria for the fund. 
We’ll email you on Tuesday 30 September 2025 to let you know our decision.    

How we pay the grant

If we award you a grant, we will pay this into your nominated bank account. 

This is usually a first instalment of 80% of the grant and a second and final instalment of the remaining 20%.

Conditions of the grant

Your project can run for any length of time, but it must be delivered between 1 October 2025 and 14 March 2028.

If you are not awarded a grant

If you’re not awarded a grant, you can ask for feedback on your application at chef-enquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

However, the decision is final, and unsuccessful applications will not be reviewed or reconsidered.

If you want more information about the fund or help with your application, email us at chef-enquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

The Town Centre Regeneration Fund is a grant to help bring vacant, underused or derelict properties in Renfrewshire’s town centres back into use.

Specifically, it’s for where redevelopment of a significant local building or site has stalled because:

• there is a funding gap
• the cost of construction work or supplies has gone up
• restoring older buildings is complex and can require specialist skills
• economic downturns or shifts in demand can impact a project’s viability.

To qualify for funding, you must have legal ownership of the property or site, or a long-term leasehold interest (a minimum 10 years).

Your property must be:

• located in a town centre in Renfrewshire
• currently vacant, underused, or derelict
• of strategic importance including, for example, has heritage value, is prominent, or has high visibility
• potential to stimulate wider regeneration and growth in the locality.

There must be no outstanding legal disputes or legal issues with the premises or site that would delay redevelopment.

The Town Centre Regeneration Fund is provided as Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) under the UK Subsidy Control Act 2022, and applicants may be required to confirm that total MFA received does not exceed £315,000 over the current and previous 2 financial years.

To be eligible for the Town Centre Regeneration Fund, applicants who are employers must be Fair Work First employers. Read more guidance on Fair Work First (gov.scot PDF). 

Your project proposal must aim to bring the property or site back into viable and productive use.

This could include commercial, cultural, community, residential, or mixed-use developments, providing they comply with the relevant planning policies.

The grant should be used for a substantive programme of works which might include:

• preparatory works
  • site clearance or demolition of non-heritage structures
  • temporary works to stabilise or secure a building
  • asbestos removal or treatment of contaminated land.
  • essential structural repairs to make the building safe or usable
• physical works
  • roof repairs or replacements
  • external fabric repairs, including windows, masonry, or facades
  • internal adaptations or refurbishments to change how the place will be used
• heritage and conservation works
  • restoration of historically significant architectural features
  • work to comply with conservation or listed building consents
  • sensitive adaptations to allow modern use while retaining heritage value
• accessibility and compliance  
  • improvements to meet building regulations like fire safety, accessibility, or energy efficiency
  • installation of ramps, lifts, or accessible toilets
• project management and oversight
  • reasonable project management or contract administration costs. 

What you cannot use it for

You cannot use the funding for:

• buying or renting land or property
• marketing and promotional costs
• general maintenance not linked to redevelopment
• VAT (unless it is non-recoverable)
• feasibility studies and option appraisals
• professional fees relating to design for example the costs for architects, engineers, surveyors, or planning consultants
• planning application and building consent fees.

Information you need to provide

Your proposal should show how it will:

• contribute to local economic growth – for example, job creation or increased footfall
• enhance the vitality and attractiveness of the town centre or local area
• encourage sustainable neighbourhoods, sustainable links, or enhancements to greenspace
• align with local regeneration strategies and community priorities.

You need to have:

• a deliverable project with detailed designs that are fully costed
• a robust and realistic delivery plan and timeline, which can begin within 12 months of you getting the grant
• the relevant planning or building warrant permissions or confirmation that you intend to apply for consents.

You need to provide evidence:

• of any market failure which has prevented redevelopment to date
• of actions taken so far to try to bring the building back into reuse
• that without public sector intervention, the project cannot go ahead due to a funding gap or issues affecting commercial viability, such as high remediation costs related to contamination, high land values, or construction costs.

You must explain how you will use the funding, including:

• a detailed breakdown of costs which will be covered by the grant
• how the amount you ask for is proportionate to the overall costs and impact
• how the project will demonstrate best value for money if it receives funding.

We'll review premises and sites in each town centre, produce a list of priority target buildings and engage with property owners and interested parties to make them aware of the fund.

Expression of Interest (EOI) form

You do not need to be designated as a priority building to make an application – we will accept EOIs from any town centre properties that meet the eligibility criteria.  

Once we have your EOI, officers will engage with you to discuss the regeneration plans and assess whether these align with the investment criteria of the fund. EOI applications will be formerly scored by officers.  

Funding will be offered on a first come first served basis to applicants who meet the minimum scoring requirement.  

If we think your project aligns with the aims of the fund, we’ll work with you to determine how much funding you need and if it represents best value for money for the fund.

If you’d like more information about grants from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund, email us at regenerationandplace@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

If your Expression of Interest application is successful

If you are invited to make a full Town Centre Regeneration Fund application, you will be asked to provide the following:

• detailed specification of works, including technical drawings
• description of how the project will be managed - and who the design team are - including an outline of the strategy for the appointment of contractor(s)
• detailed budget showing income and expenditure, including contingencies
• detailed timeline for implementation of works, including timeline for securing any necessary consents
• risk register, listing project risks and mitigation strategies
• a copy of your Business Plan or equivalent (if applicable), including an explanation of how the proposed project helps fulfil it
• an explanation of how the project meets the 4 TCF outcomes:
  • how will your project contribute to local economic growth – for example, job creation or increased footfall (250 words)
  • how will your project enhance the vitality and attractiveness of the town centre or local area (250 words)
  • how will your project encourage sustainable neighbourhoods, sustainable links, or enhancements to greenspace (250 words)
  • how will your project align with local regeneration strategies and community priorities (250 words).

How we make a decision

We’ll prioritise projects that preserve or sensitively adapt heritage or listed structures or have a prominent location within a town centre.

We’ll also prioritise projects that can:

• match fund or co-invest from the private sector or other public sources
• attract additional economic activity or investment due to the funding you’re awarded.

Provisional approval  

If we approve your application on principle, we'll make a provisional offer setting out the:

• conditions of the grant
• potential amount of money you could get. 

Conditions of the grant

We cannot award the grant until you've met all the conditions of the offer.

Before any grant funding is released, you must have:

• all the relevant planning permissions or building consent, in line with the approved grant scheme
• a project delivery team in place including a main contractor, project manager and other key people for the project
• enough money to be able to pay contractors in full before they start any work.

How we pay the grant

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

• proof of payment to the contractor by bank or building society transfer (BACS)
• the receipted invoice from the contractor or contractors doing the work
• evidence of all necessary planning permissions or building consent, or written confirmation that these are not needed.

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

We cannot award the grant for cash payments to suppliers or contractors.  

We can make interim / stage payments in arrears towards the project. This will not be more than 90% of your grant. If you need a building warrant for the work, we will pay the final 10% of the grant when we get a completion certificate from you.

If you’d like more information about grants from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund, email us at regenerationandplace@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

There are already a range of employability services available in Renfrewshire through the key employment services Invest in Renfrewshire (Renfrewshire Council), Skills Development Scotland and the DWP (Renfrew, Johnstone and Paisley job centres).

Each year the Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership (Renfrewshire LEP) reviews these core services, and other services available locally and nationally, and with the assistance of the 6 LEP thematic groups identify gaps in local service delivery which they wish to fill through a commissioning process.

The Renfrewshire LEP uses a local employability grants process to commission delivery partners from across the public, third and private sector to work alongside the core and statutory local services.

This ensures the local service offer meets the employability support needs of local residents, in particular those with barriers to employment who require more support than others.

About the Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership (Renfrewshire LEP)

Renfrewshire LEP is the strategic employability partnership for the area. It is made up of a range of local partner agencies working together to provide an integrated and supportive service to unemployed people across Renfrewshire.

The Renfrewshire LEP has a strategic management group and a number of thematic subgroups.

The Renfrewshire LEP is responsible for designing and delivering services funded by the Scottish Governments No One Left Behind approach. Read further information on the Scottish Government's No One Left Behind National Strategy.
 

You can apply if you are a public, third and private sector organisation.

Information events will take place online via Teams on:

• Wednesday 7 January 10am to 11am
• Wednesday 14 January 10am to 11am.

Invitations to these virtual sessions can be found in the key information document below.

Read these guides for more information before applying:

To apply, you'll need to send us:

• an application form
• a claim and budget form.

Download and fill in the application form:

Download and fill in the claim and budget form:

Once you've filled in both forms, email them to kay.mcintosh@renfrewshire.gov.uk, keren.ferguson@renfrewshire.gov.uk, and ceilidh.rosbotham@renfrewshire.gov.uk by 11:59pm on Sunday 1 February 2026.

If you need help to apply:

• email kay.mcintosh@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone 07955387405.