ConnComm 6 month Progress Report May 2026
Renfrewshire Council · 19 May 2026
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 19 May 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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PUBLIC _________________________________________________________________________ To: Communities and Housing Policy Board On: 19th May 2026 _________________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive _________________________________________________________________________ Heading: Connected Communities – Six Month Progress Report _________________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1. The Council’s Connected Communities team delivers a range of services across Renfrewshire which aim to improve outcomes for local people and communities. These services are a core element of the work of our local Community Learning and Development Partnership, and in delivering on the priorities which are set out in our Community Learning and Development Partnership Plan. 1.2. Regular Connected Communities Service updates have been included within the wider service updates at each board. Section 4 of this paper provides an overview of high-level activity across our Connected Communities team over the past 6 months, aligned to the priorities of Renfrewshire’s Community Learning and Development Partnership Plan. 1.3. Section 5 of the paper highlights key priorities for the service over the course of the next 6 months. ________________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that Elected Members: • Note the content of the report ________________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1. As reported to the Leadership Board in February 2025, a key transformation priority for the organisation over the next 3-5 years will be
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PUBLIC the development of the Connected Communities model and approach, which at its heart, will aim to strengthen the relationships that the Council has with local communities in Renfrewshire, including the ambition to make it easier for local people to access the support they need from different services, significantly aligned with the principles of early intervention and prevention. 3.2. In order to ensure a strong core central function within the Council to support the delivery of the programme, a service redesign has recently been completed to establish a new Connected Communities function within the Chief Executive’s Service. This function brings together officers working together on our community empowerment, poverty and inequality programmes such as Fairer Renfrewshire and our community and learning and development teams and will ensure that we have the right resources in place to build capacity across communities, encourage participation and involvement, and strengthen the relationships that our services have with communities and citizens. Completion of this internal service redesign is an important building block for the wider Connected Communities programme. 3.3. As noted in the Leadership Board paper, significant strides have been made in recent years in terms of supporting community capacity and participation, progressing innovative and inclusive new approaches such as participatory budgeting, Local Partnerships, new community grants, regeneration programmes, Lived Experience Panels and youth engagement initiatives. The COVID pandemic and cost of living crisis more recently have further strengthened our local approach, but our learning during this period has identified the opportunity to develop this further. 3.4. As previously reported to this board, the Community Learning and Development function now sits within the Connected Communities Service in the Chief Executive’s Service. This ensures community learning and development is closely aligned to wider strategic and community planning activities, which is very important given the role that the Council’s skilled and experienced team play in delivering positive outcomes for people and communities. 3.5. Following recommendations from HMI, identified actions have progressed across CLD and the wider CLD partnership. A formal progress update was submitted in April 2026 outlining developments which included including strengthening governance and improving outcomes, reporting and self-evaluation arrangements. A follow up visit is scheduled for mid-May to discuss the progress report. The outcome of the visit will be reported to the next Communities and Housing Policy Board.
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PUBLIC 4. Six monthly progress update 4.1. The Connected Communities team delivers a range of services designed to support and nurture Renfrewshire’s communities: Provide a programme of high-quality lifelong learning, accessible to all 4.2. A review of youth work across Renfrewshire is currently being undertaken. A mapping exercise is currently being carried out which includes dialogue with existing groups to ensure the accuracy of information published. Analysis will be carried out to identify the current needs of young people with further discussions being held with partners around opportunities to collaborate or address any identified gaps in service provision. 4.3. A full programme of Adult and Family Learning classes are on offer to Renfrewshire residents. Classes include ESOL, Literacies, Personal Development, Family Learning, Men's Groups and IT. 4.4. Recent developments in our Learning programme include: • The AFL team deliver a wide range of ESOL provision across Renfrewshire including Men’s Groups, Women’s Groups, Mixed Groups, Family Learning Groups and Personal Social Development Groups in partnership with the Resettlement Team, West College Scotland and the Local Employability Partnership New Scots’ Support and the Integration Network to ensure our New Scots have the support they need at the right level to integrate within Renfrewshire. This will be further enhanced as outlined later in this report. • Our ASN Autistic Tabletop Group are continuing to develop their board game FLIP with the Museum and were selected as a case study to be discussed at the CLD Managers Scotland conference. 4.5. The Duke of Edinburgh programme continues to grow each year and provide young people with a mechanism to gain a nationally recognised award. A celebration event will be held at Holyrood in June 2026 for practitioners involved in the delivery of DOE as well as recognition for the young people receiving their Gold award. 4.6. The annual DofE Award Ceremony was held in February, celebrating the hard work of young people across Renfrewshire. This year, we reached our highest number of award completions so far, showing the growing strength and reach of DofE in the area. In total, 167 bronze awards, 34 silver awards and 7 gold awards were awarded in 2026. 4.7. The Foxbar Youth Drop In began re-establishing its presence with open nights and after school clubs. Early work also started to bring GoZone back to the Glenburn community. Both projects aim to provide safe, supportive, and accessible spaces for young people. 4.8. Our Climate Change Champions and Active Travel programmes offered nature events, cycling activities, and support for P7 pupils unable to
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PUBLIC attend their transition residential. These activities helped young people stay active, connected with nature, and supported during key transition moments. Build strong connected communities where people can participate and influence in their local area 4.9. Renfrewshire Youth Voice delivered another successful Positive About Youth Awards, recognising the achievements of young people across the area. They also presented at the Council meeting in December, further strengthening youth representation in local decision making. 4.10. As part of the Local Partnerships Development Programme, he Local Partnerships undertook a priorities refresh exercise and have more recently identified a number of actions to take forward to progress these priorities. 4.11. For example, Renfrew Local Partnership want to encourage local groups and projects to connect and work together to deliver activities, strengthening the connections between organisations/groups and developing those relationships to nurture future collaborations and reciprocal support. The Local Partnership Development Officer was able to make introductions between several community groups to enable collaboration including 2nd Centenary Scouts group participating in Renfrew Heritage Group and Forever Young (a group for older people engaging with art) have been able to make connections with Just Dive In CIC to participate in aqua activities. 4.12. Within the Gleniffer Local Partnership area, Local Partnership members identified a need to reach out to young people to strengthen their influence on the activities of Gleniffer Local Partnership. As part of this there was a dedicated presentation from the youth team about local provision in Gleniffer, the members were able to ask questions and this led to conversations about supporting existing and new activity in the area. Moving forward, this will include connecting with schools, Pupil Councils, community groups and other services such as Street Stuff. 4.13. Over the period, Team Up to Clean Up continued to grow its volunteer base and online engagement, with high levels of activity across the Facebook group with over 9,000 members having joined by the end of March 2026. Despite the colder, wetter weather, volunteers continue to deliver litterpicks, cut back overgrown vegetation, and engage with their peers. The youth team supported the Campaign by delivering environmental awareness sessions in 4 local secondary schools. 4.14. Over the last 5 years, Team Up to Clean Up has offered a limited number of grit spreaders and accompanying kits to volunteers, including PPE, salt and a risk assessment. Demand for this support is consistently high and typically oversubscribed. 4.15. Following discussions with the Council’s Roads Team, who lead the #RenReady winter campaign, additional funding was secured, enabling all applicants to receive a kit this year. Neighbourhood Services operatives also supported the delivery of the grit kits, strengthening links
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PUBLIC between services and volunteers while enhancing community resilience during the winter period. 4.16. The Community Partnerships team continue to provide advice, guidance and support corporately for other services undertaking participatory budgeting processes. This has included supporting the design and delivery of the You Decide Tenants programme, which is a participatory budgeting programme aimed at empowering Renfrewshire Council tenants to make decisions on the allocation of £600k of the council’s housing revenue budget, over a 3 year period. 4.17. In 25/26, the Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund supported youth projects across Renfrewshire. Launched in 2019, Celebrating Renfrewshire is a fund designed by and for young people, where those aged 12-25 will have a direct say on which projects are funded in their local area. Using a participatory budgeting model for decision making, the fund process empowers young people to make decisions that will benefit and enhance their local communities. 4.18. Over the last year, Celebrating Renfrewshire has supported 65 projects from 41 groups, totalling £149,340 spent on projects for young people across Renfrewshire, this past year. Projects include access to support for young people's mental health through regular drop-in sessions, inclusive dance, movement, and music workshops for young people with additional support needs or care experience, training kits and team clothes, and free sports and day trips. 4.19. One example of a funded project is Erskine Arts, who created a first-time job opportunity for local 16 - 17-year-olds. This has given young people the chance to get real work experience, build confidence, be part of a creative, fast paced and varied arts charity while earning some money! Another example of a funded project was the Visionary Project, which is a youth-led group designed to create safe, inclusive, and engaging spaces for young people from minority backgrounds throughout Renfrewshire. 4.20. This year, work has been carried out across all schools in partnership with Active Schools through their school ambassadors to understand young people’s priorities and shape the fund. The fund will open for project ideas in August at the beginning of the new school year, with yoting carried out in the Autumn. This year, voting will be carried out using the online democracy platform, Consul. Deliver targeted opportunities across the CLD Partnership to reduce barriers and tackle inequalities 4.21. We continued to deliver the ‘Fund Your Fun’ programme, which provides meaningful opportunities and resources to children and young people who are looked after at home who are unable to access these without the fund with 69 young people benefiting in 2025. The programme was expanded in February 2026 to include children living in Kinship Care with 79 children young people benefiting from the fund so far in 2026. The annual Present Drive continued to gift presents to care experienced
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PUBLIC young people and relieve some of the financial pressures felt by families during the festive period with 411 presents distributed. 4.22. The team also delivered programmes tailored for care experienced young people and improve community spaces to help them feel more included. We also worked with the Leather Group to create murals in the Seedhill community. 4.23. The Good Vibes Project continues to deliver targeted early intervention support for young people identified by Community Safety partners due to concerns regarding behaviour and community impact. The programme provides structured, tailored sessions on a weekly basis at the Foxbar Youth Centre, which has been selected for its safe, youth friendly environment and facilities. 4.24. As a further developmental opportunity, young people who completed the initial phase of the project have been offered participation in a residential sailing experience with Ocean Youth Trust in May. This experience is expected to provide significant personal and social development benefits, including increased confidence, teamwork, leadership, and resilience, aligning with the project’s core aims of positive behavioural change and improved life chances. 4.25. The next phase of the project will focus on standardising the Good Vibes programme model, including session structure, delivery approach, and outcome measures. This will enable the programme to be replicated consistently and delivered effectively within other identified communities, supporting wider preventative and early intervention objectives in partnership with Community Safety and local stakeholders. Activities are now being delivered in Paisley, Gallowhill and Linwood with the next phase also tying in with the wider Youth Work Review to plan and deliver targeted opportunities in areas such as Bishopton, Erskine and Renfrew where there is currently limited youth provision. 4.26. Through the Scottish Government’s Delivering Equally Safe campaign, the team delivered training, awareness sessions, and youth work focused on healthy relationships and gender-based violence prevention. Young people were reached both in schools and community settings, making these conversations accessible and supportive. Funding for this programme has been extended for a further 2 years. 4.27. Working closely with the Resettlement Team, Evolve continued supporting young people and families new to the area. The Bring Unity to Communities group became formally constituted and is now developing its own opportunities with guidance from the Youth Team. The group, made up of Ukrainian refugee settlers aged 15–22, group has applied for funding through Engage Renfrewshire’s InRen network and is planning youth-led multicultural events across Renfrewshire to promote anti- racism through music, dance, and food. 4.28. Work has been underway to explore the development and expansion of the Council’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESoL) provision, which is a key priority of Renfrewshire’s CLD Partnership Plan. Survey work has been undertaken with ESoL learners locally to inform the
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PUBLIC development of this work, with a view to offering a more flexible and responsive ESoL offer locally alongside partners. Further information on this will be provided at a future Communities and Housing Board. 4.29. Work continues in Gallowhill to build capacity and work alongside the community to develop actions based on its own needs and wants. The Fairer Renfrewshire funded Community Development Officer based in Active Communities has launched a new Men’s drop-in, the community lunch continues to thrive and Team Up to Clean Up continues to support weekly litter picking, which is very much community led. In addition, Active Communities has attracted external funding to support activities in the area from the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund and National Lottery Young Start Fund. 4.30. Children and young people aged 5–21 living in Scotland are entitled to free bus travel, but they need a National Entitlement Card (NEC) to use it. Children aged 5–10 receive a Junior NEC, and those aged 11 and over get a Young Scot NEC, which also works as recognised proof of age and gives access to Young Scot discounts. In partnership with Transport Scotland, Renfrewshire Council participated in the Asylum Seeker Free Bus Travel Pilot between December 2025 and March 2026. The pilot involved all local authorities in Scotland and was designed to provide insight into reducing financial barriers to transport and the impacts on supporting access to essential services, communities, and opportunities. 4.31. The Street Stuff programme continues to be delivered in the areas that need them most through analytical information, mainly in the evenings. These sessions focus on sports and games to give young people a safe and positive way to spend their time. A new Cheerleading class commenced in Linwood High in October 2025 building on the success of the class delivered at the Southend Action Centre in Paisley. Due to their popular demand discussions are ongoing to expand cheerleading to other areas. Strengthening our partnership and developing the workforce 4.32. The Community Learning and Development team have continued to support the development and progression of CLD professionals locally, including: • In November, one of our learners in West Johnstone, received an Adult Learning award from Scotland’s Learning Partnership for her achievements over the past few years. • A student from Glasgow University studying for a BA in Community Development has completed her placement. Our partnership with UWS has secured another student who is still doing her placement with us. • Recruitment for new roles of CLD Support Workers has been completed and new staff commenced in March. • Majority of the core AFL staff have been completed in First Aid in the Workplace training completed the NHS HENRY training in March to support parents within our service.
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PUBLIC • The British Sign Language Association are now regular users of our venues and two AFL staff completed a beginners course in BSL. 4.33. We have continued to coordinate the collation of performance information to support reporting on progress against the CLD Plan. This has included gathering data from internal services and a wide range of CLD partners. This process has provided valuable insight into the different reporting cycles and requirements across the partnership, which is informing the ongoing development of the CLD Outcomes and Performance Framework to support clearer, more consistent reporting of shared progress. The Outcomes and Performance Framework is part of the core method of recording the impact of our work, capturing the narrative to match the qualitative data relating to programmes and events. 4.34. Significant progress has been made in the development of FORT, a new recording and performance system for CLD. Initial implementation will focus on Adult and Family Learning and Youth Work, with further consideration given to how the system can support the wider Connected Communities services and corporate reporting requirements. This will strengthen data collection, reporting capability and insight across services, ensuring that wider impact of CLD is included in reporting. 4.35. Work is ongoing with partners to strengthen how learner and community voice informs planning and development. This will be a key focus as planning for the next CLD Plan begins, ensuring that services continue to be shaped by the experiences and priorities of learners and communities. The focus remains on embedding these developments, the implementation of FORT, continue strengthening shared reporting arrangements. This will shape a consistent approach to measuring impact across CLD, our CLD Partnership and Connected Communities. 5 Key priorities for the next six months 5.1 Key priorities for the next six months include: • Strengthening community voice by expanding mechanisms for learner and community feedback, including a CLD Voice Forum and developing a CLD roadshow to showcase partnership activities across communities. • Continuing to work with the Resettlement Team and other partners to support New Scots, in particular developing and implementing Renfrewshire’s offer of learning and support for English for Speakers of other Languages. • Continuing to work with the Integration Network and local Community Groups to support Community Cohesion • Progress the Youth Work review to map existing provision across Renfrewshire including the third sector. Carry out analysis to identify any gaps or duplication and target resources accordingly.
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PUBLIC • Develop and promote Renfrewshire’s ‘Summer of Fun’ to provide a range of free activities for children and young people over the summer holidays, with partners including Whole Family Wellbeing, OneRen libraries and the third sector. • Work with partners, including the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel to develop an accessible welcome pack for New Scots, that will provide useful information for anyone from an ethnically diverse background making their home in Renfrewshire. Implications of the Report 1. Financial – None 2. HR & Organisational Development – None 3. Community/Council Planning – The report details a range of activities which reflect local community and council planning themes. 4. Legal – None 5. Property/Assets – None 6. Information Technology –None 7. Equality & Human Rights – The report details a number of activities carried out across the Connected Communities service which seek to tackle inequalities across a range of protected characteristics, and in particular advancing equality of opportunity for a number of equality groups who face additional barriers. 8. Health & Safety – None 9. Procurement – None 10. Risk – None 11. Privacy Impact – No ne 12. COSLA Policy Position – None 13. Children’s Rights – The activities of the service play an important role in terms of working with children and young people to understand their rights and to achieve positive outcomes in relation to these rights in practice. 14. Climate Risk – there are a range of actions and activities throughout the Service Update Report which support the Council’s Plan for Net Zero __________________________________________________________________
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PUBLIC List of Background Papers: None