Agenda Document Pack - Leadership Board - 17/06/2026
Renfrewshire Council · 17 June 2026
Back to Leadership Board — 17 June 2026 and its agenda
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10/06/2026 Notice of Meeting and Agenda Leadership Board Date Time Venue Wednesday, 17 June 2026 13:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Membership Councillor Iain Nicolson (Convener): Councillor Jacqueline Cameron (Depute Convener): Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling: Councillor Graeme Clark: Councillor Audrey Doig: Councillor Neill Graham: Councillor Anne Hannigan: Councillor Colin McCulloch: Councillor David McGonigle: Councillor Marie McGurk: Councillor Iain McMillan: Councillor Jim Paterson: Councillor Emma Rodden: Councillor John Shaw: Councillor Andy Steel: Further Information This is a meeting which is open to members of the public. A copy of the agenda and reports for this meeting will be available for inspection prior to the meeting at the Customer Service Centre, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley and online at http://renfrewshire.cmis.uk.com/renfrewshire/CouncilandBoards.aspx For further information, please email democratic-services@renfrewshire.gov.uk Members of the Press and Public Members of the press and public wishing to attend the meeting should report to the customer service centre where they will be met and directed to the meeting. Hybrid Meeting Please note that this meeting is scheduled to be held in the Council Chambers. However, it is a hybrid meeting and arrangements have been made for members to join the meeting remotely should they wish. MARK CONAGHAN Head of Corporate Governance Page 1 of 254
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10/06/2026 Webcasting of Meeting This meeting will be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site – at the start of the meeting the Convener will confirm if all or part of the meeting is being filmed. To find the webcast please navigate to https://renfrewshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home Page 2 of 254
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10/06/2026 Items of business Apologies Apologies from members. Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements Members are asked to declare an interest or make a transparency statement in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest or the transparency statement. 1 Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee Minute of the meeting of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee held on3 June 2026 5 - 8 2 Fairer Renfrewshire Update Report by Chief Executive 9 - 54 3 Community Planning Six-monthly Update Report by Chief Executive 55 - 62 4 Council Plan 2022/27 - Six-monthly Progress Update Report by Chief Executive 63 - 122 5 Local Child Poverty Action Report Report by Chief Executive 123 - 208 6 Migration and Asylum Update Report by Chief Executive 209 - 214 7 Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership Plan – Interim 1-Year Plan 2026/27 Report by Director of Children's Services 215 - 254 Page 3 of 254
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Minute of Meeting Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee Date Time Venue Wednesday, 03 June 2026 10:00 Remote by MS Teams, Present: Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, Councillor Graeme Clark, Councillor Neill Graham, Councillor Anne Hannigan, Councillor Marie McGurk, Councillor Iain Nicolson Chair Councillor Jaqueline Cameron, Convener, presided. In Attendance L McIntyre, Head of Policy & Partnerships, B Jardine, Senior Policy Officer, J McKee, Digital Strategy Delivery Manager, and D Dunn, Social Renewal Lead Officer (all Chief Executive’s); and C MacDonald, Senior Committee Services Officer and D Cunningham, Committee Services & Licensing Officer (both Finance & Resources). Webcasting of Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Sub-committee would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site. Apology Councillor Andy Steel. Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. Item 1 Page 5 of 254
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1(a) Cost of Living Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an overview of the key context and evidence around current pressures on household finances, both in terms of household income and expenditure. DECIDED: That the report be noted. 1(b) Cost of Living Dashboard There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an overview of key indicators and their movement from the last reporting period, supported by additional statistical information, analysis and graphs which illustrated longer-term trends. DECIDED: That the report be noted. 2 Fairer Renfrewshire Programme Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to key projects being progressed through the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme. The report provided updates on current projects, highlighted future key priorities and gave an overview of the proposals, priorities and next steps for 2026. DECIDED: That the report be noted. 3 Winter Connections Evaluation 2025/26 There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an evaluation of the Winter Connections Programme for 2025/26. The report outlined the key messages; highlighted that the programme positively contributed to Renfrewshire Council’s continued wider response to the continued high cost-of-living; and provided a series of recommendations to be considered as part of any future programme. A copy of the full evaluation was attached as an appendix to the report. DECIDED: That the report be noted. 4 Deep dive – Child Poverty Statistics The Senior Policy Officer, Chief Executive's, gave a presentation which outlined child poverty targets; poverty measures; the Scottish Governments’ Persistent Poverty in Scotland 2020/24 Report and the Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2022/26 report; highlighted children in low-income families’ statistics; and outlined key points. DECIDED: That the presentation be noted. Page 6 of 254
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5 Digital Inclusion Update The Digital Strategy Delivery Manager, Chief Executive's, gave an update presentation on Digital Inclusion: why it mattered; the scale, impact and reach; and highlighted an evaluation of the initiative. DECIDED: That the presentation be noted Valedictory Councillor Jaqueline Cameron advised that this was the last meeting of Carol MacDonald, the Clerk to the Board and Senior Committee Services Officer, before she retired from the Council. Councillor Cameron took the opportunity to thank her for her professionalism and, specifically the impartial help, support and advice she had provided during her employment with Renfrewshire Council and specifically the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee. Page 7 of 254
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PUBLIC ______________________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 17 June 2026 ______________________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ______________________________________________________________________________ Heading: Fairer Renfrewshire Update ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The Council and its partners continue to work together to progress the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme, with a strong shared focus currently on the local response to the cost-of-living crisis. A Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan was agreed by the Leadership Board in December 2025, which sets out the priority actions that the council and its partners will progress to reduce poverty and inequality in Renfrewshire over the next 18 months. 1.2 Regular reports are provided to the Fairer Renfrewshire sub-committee on the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme and Action Plan, with the most recent meeting on 3 June 2026 discussing some of the key developments over the last quarter in relation to the cost of living crisis, including the emerging impacts of the conflict in the Middle East on household income and expenditure in Renfrewshire. 1.3 This paper provides: a summary of the issues as reported to the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee on 3 June 2026 including the cost of living and programme updates. Information from the recent evaluation of the Winter Connections programme which has recently drawn to a close. an update on the Summer of Fun programme, with information on applications approved to date and the proposed allocation of specific grant funding to the Tannahill Centre to provide a summer programme of activities in Ferguslie Park over 6 weeks of the summer holidays as detailed at section 5. 1.4 Priorities for the next quarter to end June 2026, as identified in the Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan are as follows: Finalise and launch the Summer of Fun programme ahead of the 2026 school holiday period. Progress actions and continued development of Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan, including measurement framework Item 2 Page 9 of 254
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PUBLIC 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that elected members: Note the content of the report and the work being undertaken to progress the Fairer Renfrewshire programme. Agree that grant funding of £8,000 is awarded to the Tannahill Centre to support activities over 6 weeks of the summer holidays in line with section 5 of this report Agree the allocation of £40,000 to develop the In-Ren network (hosted by Engage Renfrewshire) over the next 2 years, with a view to this being an independently constituted organisation. ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1. The Fairer Renfrewshire Programme was developed in order to bring together targeted programmes of work being progressed by the Council and its partners to tackle poverty and inequality in Renfrewshire. As the cost of living crisis has developed, the programme has continued to evolve in response, and at Leadership Board on 3 December 2025, a Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan detailing the priorities and programme of work to be undertaken over the next 18-24 months was approved. This plan refreshes and sharpens focus on the priorities for the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme. 3.2. Over the next two years, we will concentrate on four strategic priorities: Improving Financial Security Helping households maximise income, reduce costs, and access early help to prevent crisis. Strengthening Health, Wellbeing and Community Supporting families and communities through sustainable models of care, food security, and place-based approaches. Embedding Equality and Inclusion Ensuring services are accessible, inclusive, and shaped by the voices of those who are often unheard. Using Insight and Evidence for Impact Harnessing data, feedback, and lived experience to drive better decisions and deliver measurable change. 3.3. Regular updates on the programme are provided to the Fairer Renfrewshire sub-committee and subsequently to the Leadership Board. 4. Update from the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee 4.1 At its meeting on 3 June 2026, the sub-committee considered: • The most recent programme update including information on recent statistics and research in relation to the cost-of-living crisis, including the dashboard developed locally. • Progress updates in relation to the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, including in relation to the community development programme in Gallowhill, advice provision and the Summer of Fun programme. Page 10 of 254
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PUBLIC • A recently completed evaluation of the Winter Connections programme which has now come to an end. • An update on national statistics which have recently been published and provide detailed information on child poverty in Renfrewshire. • A presentation on the Digizone programme in Renfrewshire 4.2 Officers gather information from a variety of sources at both a local and national level to inform discussion at the sub-committee. Key statistics and information discussed at its most recent meeting are provided in table 1 below. Table 1 Key National Statistics The rate of inflation is standing at 2.8% in April 2026, rising from 3.3% the previous month and has been above the target rate of 2% set by the UK Government for the Bank of England since October 2024, when it reached 2.3%. The inflation rate for food fell to 3% in April, down from 3.3% in February. It remains higher than overall inflation and is forecast to rise further to potentially up to 10%. The Bank of England interest rate was held at 3.75% in April due to the conflict in the Middle East and associated inflation rises. The next announcement is due on 18 June. The Energy Price Cap, originally introduced by Ofgem in January 2019 to set limits on the underlying rates energy suppliers, is currently set at £1862 from 1 July, an increase of £221 from the April figure of £1641. Cost of living research (national) The latest insights into the cost of living from the Office of National Statistics for the period 4-29 March 2026 found that: 89% of those surveyed reported the cost of living as the most important issue facing the UK today. Around two-thirds (67%) of adults reported that their cost of living had increased compared with a month ago, which is up from 56% in February 2026. Among those reporting that their cost of living had increased compared with a month ago, the price of food shopping remained the most commonly reported reason (91%); the proportion reporting the price of fuel (75%) as a reason for increased living costs increased from February 2026, when it was 38%. The proportion reporting energy bills as a reason for increased cost of living was 63%, a decrease from the 68% last reported. The price of food shopping has been the most commonly reported reason given by adults for a rise in their cost of living since ONS first asked the question in November 2021. Around 1 in 3 (35%) adults who pay energy bills reported finding it very or somewhat difficult to afford these bills. This was more common among adults who are unemployed (59%), compared with those who are employed (34%). Around 1 in 5 (20%) adults reported that they had borrowed more money or used more credit than usual in the past month compared with a year ago. Employment and Income According to the ONS, the Claimant Count in March 2026, which is taken from JobcentrePlus administration systems, for those claiming unemployment-related benefits in Renfrewshire is 3445 people – 2075 men and 1370 women aged Page 11 of 254
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PUBLIC between 16 and 64. This is an increase from 3,210 last reported. The Renfrewshire unemployment rate of 2.9% is less than the Scotland rate (3.1%). Food / energy / fuel The Citizens Advice Scotland Energy Brief of February 2026 reports an increase in demand for energy advice over autumn and winter. From October to December, 9,300 people came to local CAB in need of energy support. Of those 1,200 came for energy debt support and the level of energy debt seen by advisers across the Scottish Citizens Advice network during that quarter remains high at over £2,300, rising to £2,800 in rural areas. Of the people who needed support with an energy debt, 68% were disabled and almost 3,200 people needed support with fuel vouchers. Renfrewshire’s Energy Management Unit also provide fuel vouchers. For 2026 so far, 136 vouchers have been issued, helping 158 adults and 61 children. They have found that most of their clients are struggling with high costs of living, which leave them unable to fully meet energy costs. Fuel prices have surged since the conflict in the Middle East began. Although as announcements have been made, such as those around ceasefires, prices have fluctuated, they have been consistently at a higher level since 28 February 2026. According to the Uk Government’s Weekly Road Fuel Prices statistics, the cost of diesel has risen 35% in nearly 2 months and the cost of petrol by 19%. In real terms the cost of filling a typical family car with petrol has gone up by about £14. A tank of diesel is about £27 more expensive. inflationary changes are continuing to impact on people’s ability to afford the food they need each week. The Food Foundation’s Basic Basket tracking the cost of a weekly shop at Tesco has seen the woman’s basket of food now costing £52.98 per week, with the male basket costing £59.38 per week, an increase since April 2022 of 29.2% and 36.4% respectively. Foodbank statistics for the year have now been received, with 7399 vouchers fulfilled within 25/26. This is a slight decrease of 5.91% on the number of vouchers last year. The rising cost of essentials was cited in 2053 cases as the reason for voucher issue, with other unexpected expense accounting for 731 vouchers and non-priority debt for 601. It should be noted that more than one reason can be provided. Benefit delays were cited in 496 cases. Housing Private rent prices in Renfrewshire were an average £826 in March 2026, down from an average of £ 828 in January 2026, however an increase of 3.2% from the £802 in March 2025. This was higher than the Scottish figure of 2.1% over the year. 4.3 The UK and Scottish Governments are currently considering options for capping food prices for core food products. 5. Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan Update 5.1 A Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan was agreed by the Leadership Board in December 2025, which sets out how the Council will work with partners to progress a number of priority actions which aim to reduce poverty and inequality in Renfrewshire. As elected members will recall the Action Plan has four themes: Improving financial security Page 12 of 254
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PUBLIC Strengthening Health, Wellbeing and Community Embedding Equality and Inclusion Using Insight and Evidence for Impact Strategic Priority One: Improving Financial Security Advice statistics for quarter 4 5.2 During quarter 4, Renfrewshire Council’s Advice Works Service assisted 958 new clients, bringing their total for the year to 3,711 clients. Within the quarter, they resolved 4,283 benefit cases, bringing the annual total to 16,729. Total Client Financial Gain for the quarter was £2,597, 868, bringing the total financial gain for the year to £10,731,774. 5.3 For Family Advice, 107 new referrals were received this quarter, 50 of these being from the 6 Child Poverty Priority Groups. Family Advice this year has secured £85,000 in financial gain for 441 families. 5.4 For RCAB’s School Support Service for 25/26, a total of 128 clients made a combined 322 contacts. 70 of these clients gained financially from the advice, with a total of £301,700 gained, including £142,000 in Universal Credit and £24,754 in Child Disability Payment. 123 of the families receiving advice were within the 6 Child Poverty Priority Groups. 5.5 For RCAB’s general service in quarter 4, 2,219 individuals sought advice, with 1,709 being seen and financial gain of £638,300. This brings the total clients seen for the year to 6332 and financial gain for RCAB for 25/26 to £2,640,705. 5.6 On 26 March a presentation was made to head teachers across schools to promote the advice pathway and asking them to support families who may be struggling with money and costs of living to access the relevant advice service. Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme 5.7 The Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme opened on 1 April 2026 and will close by 30 September or when the fund runs out if sooner. Delivered by Advice Direct Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, it is for those who use LPG or oil to heat their homes and who may be in need of extra support. Successful applications will receive £300 and applicants can receive one payment every three calendar months, although will need to apply each time. The payments go direct to the fuel supplier. 5.8 There are around 270 households in Renfrewshire that use oil for their central heating and 639 households that use other gas central heating which includes both LPG and biogas (although the support is only offered for LPG). Officers from the Fairer Renfrewshire Team have been working with colleagues in Communications and Marketing to inform Renfrewshire residents who may be eligible about this extra support and how to apply for it. Strategic Priority Two: Strengthening Health, Wellbeing and Community Summer of Fun 5.9 Funding has been allocated as part of the Fairer Renfrewshire 2026/2027 programme to deliver another ‘Summer of Fun’ programme in 2026. This will support a small grants programme as well as summer camps provided by Community Learning and Development (CLD) and ensure that families, especially low income families, can access free, fun activities over the summer holidays. As in previous years, the CLD summer camps will be Page 13 of 254
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PUBLIC targeted to families in receipt of school clothing grant, with spaces kept aside for referrals, such as from social work and schools. 5.10 In previous years, a CLD camp was held in Glencoats Primary School in Ferguslie Park. This particular camp tended not to be very well attended, with a club run by and based in the Tannahill Centre attracting children and young people from the area and running with a waiting list. It is proposed that, rather than have the clubs compete with each other to attract children and young people in the area, £8,000 of funding be provided to extend the service the Tannahill Centre offers. This would facilitate a pilot of this approach in Ferguslie in relation to camps. 5.11 This funding would allow the employment of 2 sessional workers and provide food, including a hot lunch, and snacks for attendees. The club would match the hours of the CLD camp, with children able to be dropped off from 9.30am, and having access to breakfast, with activities running from 10am until 3pm. The Tannahill Team will work with CLD to ensure spaces are available for families who need them. 5.12 The wider Summer of Fun small grants programme opened on 5 May to applications from community groups. Grants of up to £3,000 are available for community organisations for projects to deliver activities over the summer holidays which reach communities that might be underserved by mainstream activities. As in previous years, funding can cover costs such as venues, activity costs, sessional staff or volunteer expenses, food, or items to reduce costs for families such as transport. 5.13 Working with partners across the Council and beyond, all free activities will be promoted on one page within the Council website. This will include Whole Family Wellbeing’s offer of summer camps for children with Additional Support Needs and One Ren’s summer programme. Links will also be fully established with the wider Summer of Sport programme funded by the Scottish Government to support the legacy of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer. 5.14 32 applications were received, with total funding requested of £85,684.32. An update will be provided on the programme and all funding allocated in September 2026. Community development in Gallowhill 5.15 Progress has been made on the community development work in Gallowhill, with the Community Development Worker now being hosted by the Family Wellbeing Team in Gallowhill Primary. In addition to the weekly Friday lunch, which attracts 25-30 people each week, a new Men’s drop-in started on 24th March in Glencairn Court. This drop-in, funded through the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund administered by Engage Renfrewshire, was started in response to the high number of male deaths by suicide in Gallowhill. Although supported by Active Communities at present, the aim is for this group to become self -managed with volunteer input, and it is hoped to have this in place by June. 5.16 The weekly litter pick continues to grow, and has become community led, with minimal input from Active Communities and Team Up to Clean Up Gallowhill community members also took part in the Team Up to Clean Up ‘Big Spring Clean’ campaign and did a fantastic job representing their work in the campaign video. In April, a silent disco litter pick took place, which attracted 4 new local people who it is hoped will start attending the Friday lunch. 5.17 Active Communities are also running a weekly exercise class at Gallowhill Community Centre on Friday mornings, ahead of the Community Lunch. The aim is to encourage Page 14 of 254
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PUBLIC physical activity for people with a range of fitness levels and abilities. The first class took place on Friday 24th April, with 16 people attending and 20 people booked in for the following week. The class is also funded through the Engage Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. 5.18 In May, a walking group was established, again with the aim of being community led, and activities in the social space in Glencairn Court. In June and July a weekly kids group will be offered with Create Paisley using funding from the National Lottery Young Start Fund. 5.19 Active Communities are hoping that through these new opportunities for engagement relationships across the wider Gallowhill community will be strengthened and they will be well placed to bring together a group of engaged residents. This would allow them to begin developing a formal residents’ group, with the longer-term aim of progressing towards a Community Council. Strategic priority three: Embedding Equality and Inclusion Equality Outcomes Action Plan and equality actions 5.20 The Equality Outcomes Action Plan was approved at Leadership Board on 29 April and work continues on actions to support the Plan. This includes a new ilearn module on Equality Impact Assessments with an associated RenTalk which took place on 22 April, and was well attended by colleagues from across Council services. 5.21 A further RenTalk has been delivered with the Equalities Development Officer and Engage Renfrewshire’s IN-Ren Network Facilitator around inclusive and intercultural communications. This session will support staff to meet the needs of any service user who is not a native English speaker or who needs a different kind of communication style. New Scots Welcome Pack 5.22 Officers have been working to develop a New Scots Welcome pack. This pack is designed to provide useful information for anyone coming into Renfrewshire with an ethnic minority background and will provide information on a variety of topics which make life easier for those coming to live in Renfrewshire, including housing, work, libraries, shopping, travel, schools and learning English. Utilising the existing Refugee Resettlement Unit’s pack as a basis, the new Welcome Pack will provide information also suited to non-refugees and asylum seekers. 5.23 Once developed, the pack will be tested with the IN-Ren Network, and the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel, who were keen to see the pack introduced and all such information held in one place for ease of use. Once testing is done, the pack will be produced later in the year. Funding for In-Ren Network Development 5.24 The Integration Network Renfrewshire (InRen) is a collaborative and evolving network that brings together organisations groups and individuals to strengthen cohesion, inclusion and opportunities for ethnically and culturally diverse communities in Renfrewshire. Funding has previously been allocated by the Big Lottery Fund to support the initial development of the network, which currently has 37 members and is hosted by Engage Renfrewshire. Page 15 of 254
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PUBLIC 5.25 During 2025 and 2026, the network has built real momentum, with the development of a Strategic Action Plan, the launch of the “We Are All Renfrewshire” pledge, and the delivery of a range of training and events, including the very successful local Knowledge Festival held in May 2026. 5.26 Officers have been working very closely with representatives from In Ren since September last year, and hold regular meetings to discuss any issues arising in relation to community cohesion, as well as any opportunities to work together to build stronger communities in Renfrewshire. The information that is being shared is feeding into local plans and thinking in relation to population changes across our communities, with vital lived and living experience informing the local approach. 5.27 In Ren, supported by Engage Renfrewshire, would like to continue to develop its presence and activities in Renfrewshire, with a particular focus on developing into an independently constituted organisation over the next 2 years. External funding has been sought to continue the project beyond summer 2026, and it is recommended that funding of £40,000 is allocated to support the development of the network over the course of the next 2 year period. A funding agreement would be developed which would detail how the Council would work with the network to inform local developments and planned activities. Strategic Priority four: Using Insight and Evidence for Impact Lived Experience Panel 5.28 Elected Members have been given a number of updates relating to work of the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel. Since the last Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee meeting, the panel have met with the Community Justice Lead Officer and with Research Resource as part of the residents’ research to discuss budget priorities and place and neighbourhood. 5.29 In April, the Panel also met the Convener of the Communities and Housing Policy Board for a session regarding housing. 5.30 Going forward, the Panel will meet with the Senior Policy Officer (Migration, Asylum and Population Change) along with the Equalities Development Officer, in part to hear about the role of the Migration, Asylum and Population Change officer as well as to discuss the New Scots Welcome Pack being developed. Renfrewshire HSCP have also asked for engagement around their Food Education Pilot and around the Health and Wellbeing Survey. 6. Winter Connections 6.1 At Leadership Board on 14 September 2022, elected members agreed that officers should develop a Winter Connections Programme which would provide a network of local places and spaces where people can connect to others in their community throughout winter. £75,000 of grant funding was allocated by the Board in September 2022, to support local groups and organisations to participate in the programme and to contribute some of the costs of delivery where this was required. 6.2 The Winter Connections programme has now completed its fourth year, having been running during the winter months since November 2022, and continues to be delivered in partnership with local organisations and aiming to encourage people to connect and participate in activities in warm and welcoming spaces across communities in Renfrewshire. Page 16 of 254
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PUBLIC 6.3 The programme continues to attract new organisations bidding for funding, with this year’s programme being delivered by a mix of organisations that have received funding before, and those new to Winter Connections. 6.4 An evaluation for the 25/26 Programme has now been carried out, and the key messages of the evaluation include: Over 1,300 people benefited from the programme, demonstrating a continued need for access to free activities and company throughout the winter months. The social aspect of bringing people together created reduced isolation by creating opportunities to build new connections and friendships. Activities provided opportunities to improve physical and mental health and wellbeing, learn new skills, increase confidence and be creative. The programme enabled organisations to engage with new people, raising awareness of their venues and services and signposting to other services across Renfrewshire. Providing hot drinks in libraries encouraged visitors to stay for longer and participate in activities Provision of hot food and drinks encouraged continued attendance, helping to sustain relationships, particularly for those at risk of isolation over the winter. Providing free food alongside activities ensured that the programme discretely supported families who are continuing to experience financial hardship, reducing financial and social exclusion. The programme continues to be an important element of the Council’s approach to tackling the cost-of-living crisis. 6.5 The programme has been evaluated each of the previous years and has been found to positively contribute to Renfrewshire Council’s continued wider response to the continued high cost-of-living. In addition to the key messages, the evaluation report also provides a series of recommendations to be considered as part of any future programme. A copy of the full evaluation is attached at Appendix 1. 6.6 At the Council’s budget meeting in February 2026, £75,000 of funding was allocated to support the delivery of a fifth year of Winter Connections for 2026/27. 7. Priorities for next quarter 7.1 Priorities for the next quarter, as identified in the Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan are as follows: Finalise and launch Summer of Fun programme for 2026 school holiday period Progress actions and continued development of Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan, including measurement framework _______________________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – the paper sets out proposals to allocate £8,000 of funding to the Tannahill centre to pilot a new model of holiday camp provision in Ferguslie. The paper also recommends that £40,000 of funding is allocated to the In-Ren network (hosted by Engage Renfrewshire) to develop the network over the next 2 years. Page 17 of 254
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PUBLIC 2. HR & Organisational Development – none 3. Community/Council Planning – This report provides a summary of current partnership activities being progressed through the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, with a key focus on tackling the inequalities that exist in Renfrewshire. 4. Legal - none 5. Property/Assets - none 6. Information Technology - none 7. Equality and Human Rights – The report provides an overview of key activities undertaken as part of the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, and as such there continues to be a high level of equalities and human rights consideration across this programme – the activities detailed in this report are targeted specifically at advancing equality of opportunity for a number of groups across the Renfrewshire area. 8. Health and Safety - none 9. Procurement – none 10. Risk – none 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. COSLA Policy Position – none 13. Climate Risk – none 14 Childrens Rights - the articles within UNCRC underpin the work that is being progressed in Renfrewshire through the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, particularly in relation to rights in relation to aspects such as life, survival and development, food, clothing and a safe home and supporting the best interests of the child and their families. Child poverty and family wellbeing are key local partnership priorities. ______________________________________________________________________________ Author: Laura McIntyre, Head of Policy and Partnerships Appendix 1 – Winter Connections Evaluation Page 18 of 254
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1 PUBLIC An evaluation of the Winter Connections Programme 2025/26 Importantly, it created a sense of belonging. People weren’t just attending an activity — they felt part of a space where they were accepted and supported. That’s the real difference this programme made: not just what people did, but how they felt while they were there — and afterwards. Just Dive In Page 19 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 2 PUBLIC ` Contents 1. Executive Summary ........................................................................... 3 2. About Winter Connections ................................................................. 4 3. Programme Delivery .......................................................................... 8 4. Impact of the Programme ................................................................ 17 5. Conclusions ..................................................................................... 32 6. Appendix 1 ....................................................................................... 33 Page 20 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 3 PUBLIC 1. Executive Summary The Winter Connections programme has been running during the winter months since November 2022. The programme, which has been delivered in partnership with local organisations, aims to encourage people to connect and participate in activities in warm and welcoming spaces across communities in Renfrewshire. Local community and voluntary organisations can apply for small grants of up to £2,000 to support with the additional costs of making venues, activities and sessions open as part of the programme. Items eligible for funding include equipment, food, energy costs, and rent. The programme has been evaluated each year and been found to have positively contributed to Renfrewshire Council’s continued wider response to the cost-of-living crisis. As a result, in February 2025, £75,000 of funding was allocated from the Fairer Renfrewshire programme to support the delivery of a fourth year of Winter Connections for 2025/26. The programme continues to attract new organisations bidding for funding, with this year’s programme being delivered by a mix of organisation that have received funding before, and those new to Winter Connections. Organisations look forward to delivering the programme and attendance at activities remains consistently high. Key findings: • Over 1,300 people benefited from the programme, demonstrating a continued need for access to free activities and company throughout the winter months. • The social aspect of bringing people together reduced isolation by creating opportunities to build new connections and friendships. • Activities provided opportunities to improve physical and mental health and wellbeing, learn new skills, increase confidence and be creative. • The programme enabled organisations to engage with new people, raising awareness of their services and signposting to other services across Renfrewshire. Page 21 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 4 PUBLIC • Providing hot drinks in libraries facilitated engagement with library users and encouraged visitors to stay for longer and participate in activities. • Provision of hot food and drinks encouraged continued attendance, helping to sustain relationships, particulary for those at risk of isolation over the winter. • Providing free food alongside activities ensured that the programme discretely supported families who are continuing to experience financial hardship, reducing financial and social exclusion. • The programme continues to be an important element of the Council’s approach to tackling the cost-of-living crisis. 2. About Winter Connections 2.1. Background Following a successful Winter Connections programme over the winter of 2024/25, £75,000 of funding was again allocated from the Fairer Renfrewshire programme to run the programme during winter 2025/26. Once again, the funding provided small grants to local organisations to support delivery of a programme that would encourage people to connect and participate in activities in warm and welcoming spaces across communities in Renfrewshire. Local community and voluntary organisations could apply for small grants of up to £2,000 to support with the additional costs of making venues, activities and sessions open as part of the programme. Items eligible for funding included equipment, food, energy costs, and rent. Funded activities needed to fit the criteria of Winter Connections and be: • open, free and easy to access • inclusive, welcoming, respectful, and safe • able or willing to provide connections to other services and supports • able to offer warm drinks/snacks/food along with activities, where possible There were 47 applications to the programme which were assessed by officers from Renfrewshire Council, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership and Engage Page 22 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 5 PUBLIC Renfrewshire. This process ensured a transparent cross-sector approach that enabled partners to evaluate Winter Connections applications based on knowledge of other available funding and support across Renfrewshire. Applications came from a mix of organisations that had received funding before and some organisations that were new to the Winter Connections programme. Of the 47 applications, 37 were successful. The remaining applications were unsuccessful and were signposted to alternative sources of funding where appropriate. An allocation of £4,208 of this funding was made to One Ren to support the programme and to provide hot drinks, soup, and snacks in all Renfrewshire libraries and a selection of games and jigsaws to support extra play sessions in Ralston and Bishopton libraries. A dedicated Winter Connections webpage was set up on the Council’s website with details of all venues, activities, and facilities. To understand the impact of the Winter Connections programme, a feedback form was sent to organisations to assess the difference that the programme had made. 33 organisations returned feedback which has been analysed in the sections below. 2.2. The Winter Connections Programme This year’s programme delivered a wide range of free, fun activities, including line dancing, cooking classes, and mindfulness. Some activities were open to everyone and aimed to attract families and multiple generations, however some organisations focussed specifically on delivering sessions for children and younger people, activities for older people or adults with learning disabilities. A few organisations designed their programmes flexibly with input from participants to ensure that there were activities that appealed to everyone. Several organisations have been running activities for the past few years and have a tried and tested formula for what works. Foxbar Community Gardens and Environmental Project delivered two swap shops where people from the local community attended the workshop and could take home clothing and toys. They also provided workshops focussing on mental health and wellbeing, including a session on mindfulness delivered by a Buddhist monk. Other workshops related to yoga, gut health and meditation as well as visits from a nurse practitioner and an addictions specialist. KLAS Care delivered seasonal activities including arts and crafts related to Easter, Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. As well as board games, bingo and an Easter egg hunt, families Page 23 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 6 PUBLIC enjoyed fun outdoors in the mud kitchen, playing football and tennis, and planting in the garden. Your Community Your Space Warm hosted sessions at a local community centre, providing board games and tournaments, hot drinks and biscuits to create a cosy atmosphere. They also had an end-of-project community celebration with shared games and awards for participants. Figure Intense Board Games at Your community Your Space Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP) delivered a series of six indoor cooking classes over a number of weeks in a local venue, where attendees cooked a meal and then sat and ate their creations together. Johnstone Castle Learning Centre provided activities for young people aged 8-16 as well as sessions for adults. Young people enjoyed basic cooking skills, baking, pool, arts and crafts, games and outdoor activities, while adults benefited from IT support, cooking sessions and social and recreational classes. They also worked on a joint initiative with local community police from Police Scotland and a local football team providing football sessions on a Friday evening. Page 24 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 7 PUBLIC Young people enjoying games at Johnstone Castle Learning Centre The programme is not just about the activities and food provision, but also about the wider support that is available from connecting with services and community members. Create Paisley delivered 28 creative drop-in sessions in total across Paisley and Johnstone with snacks and drinks as well as advice and support and signposting to other services for their young participants. Across these sessions, families also benefited from trusted, familiar staff and volunteers who helped them engage with wider support. Through our established partnerships—including RAMH, Citizens Advice, The Wise Group and Jubilee House—families were connected to financial advice, mental health support, training and volunteering opportunities. For many parents, attending a group also increases confidence to engage in our evidence-based parenting and wellbeing programmes such as Circle of Security, Peep Antenatal, Equip for Life and NVR. Home-Start Renfrewshire & Inverclyde The table below demonstrates the wide range of activities that were on offer across Renfrewshire. Page 25 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 8 PUBLIC Creative activities Health and Wellbeing Social activities Practical support Arts & Crafts including seasonal crafts Sewing Mindfulness, sound bath and meditation Outdoor activities including football and gardening Exercise activities for young mums Swimming/flotation sessions Chair yoga and mobility exercises Line dancing Beauty and wellbeing activities Movie afternoon Coffee mornings Quizzes Bingo Carpet bowls Lunch Club Board games Music Signposting to sources of advice Food provision Access to charge devices Basic first aid Toy and clothes swap shops Provision of laptops and Ipads for people to use Cooking classes IT support A list of the funded host organisations delivering Winter Connections activities can be found in Appendix 1. 3. Programme Delivery 3.1. Promoting Activities As with previous years the main source of information for residents about the programme has been through social media and word of mouth, with Erskine Arts commenting that the Page 26 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 9 PUBLIC latter still proves to be the best and most effective form of communicating what they do with local groups. Just under half of all organisations that responded produce their own posters (see examples below) and just over a quarter provide information about their activities to members of existing groups that they deliver. Foxbar Community Gardens and Houston Community Council both benefited from generous local business owners who allowed them to put up posters in their premises to advertise their activities. Just over a fifth of organisations received referrals to their activities, mainly from social work, families of current members, support workers, schools and housing associations. We received referrals through partner organisations such as local wellbeing groups and community networks, who signposted individuals and families they knew would benefit — particularly those experiencing isolation, financial pressure, or additional support needs. Just Dive In For most organisations a combination of all of the methods of promotion enabled them to reach people already aware of the organisation and those who hadn’t accessed anything before. We shared information on social media, which helped reach people in the village as well as nearby towns. Posters in local spots also helped spread the word to those who might not be online and we sent out mailers to our Larder membership on email. Word of mouth played a big part too, with participants recommending the classes to others. In addition, members of our Larder were already aware of what we offer, so many of them joined and helped share information within their own networks. Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP) How did people find out about your Winter Connections project? Method of information Number* % Social media 25 76 Word of mouth 23 70 Posters / flyers 15 45 Page 27 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 10 PUBLIC Contact database/people attending other activities/Whatsapp groups 9 27 Referral from another organisation 7 21 Other organisations including schools, Council, Engage Renfrewshire 5 15 * out of a total of 33 responses. Note: All respondents provided more than one answer to this question Bridge of Weir Scout Group would like to have increased advertising further and Sewing2gether All Nations reported that, in future, they would ask other organisations to advertise their project more in order to reach more people, or would promote activities via the libraries and other public spaces. Create Paisley found that outreach sessions in local schools helped to raise awareness of their creative drop-in sessions. KLAS Care provide a free food pantry on a Sunday morning and the families who attend went along to the Winter Connections activities after they had accessed the pantry, increasing their numbers by 40%. Posters created by organisations to promote their Winter Connections activities Page 28 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 11 PUBLIC 3.2. What worked well? The provision of free activities and food are key to the ongoing success of the Winter Connections programme. With the cost of living crisis continuing to put pressure on household budgets, being able to access activites and hot drinks and snacks free of charge is helpful and can be accessed in a way that does not create stigma. The free access was a big part of it working. Families didn’t have to think twice about whether they could afford to come. That removed a huge barrier straight away and meant we reached people who wouldn’t normally access this kind of space. Just Dive In The variety of activities available ensured that there was something for everyone to enjoy and many participants were attracted by the opportunity to learn a new skill. In LEAP’s case this educational element combined with the welcoming environment attracted individuals who would not normally participate in social activities. They “developed new skills in energy efficient, healthy, food preparation too which helps them to plan meals using the type of produce they find at the Larder.” LEAP reported that their Community Chef, Rona played a key role in fostering an inclusive and supportive atmosphere. The inclusive and welcoming environment provided by organisations is highlighted a lot in feedback and helped to create conditions for connections and friendships to grow. What also worked well was the way the team delivered it. We kept things relaxed, welcoming and non-judgemental. No pressure, no expectations — just support if it was needed. That created trust very quickly. And honestly, one of the biggest indicators that it worked was this: people returned, and they brought others with them. Just Dive In The Preshal Trust provided a similar environment through their flexible drop-in sessions. Individuals could attend simply to have something to eat or choose to take part in activities, without feeling any pressure to do so. The line dancing was especially popular and became a favourite among attendees. Overall, the activities played an important role in helping people connect and develop new friendships especially with those already attending the drop-in. Page 29 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 12 PUBLIC Creation Corner provided an environment that catered to neurodivergence, and activities were led by the children participating, who decided which crafts they wanted to make. The offer of free activities and a place to go for a hot drink encouraged people to come together, helping to reduce isolation for many people during the winter months. Our activity created a real sense of togetherness in our community where community and music meet. It was a good way to bring people from different walks of life into the same space to find out more about what we do as a charity and meet other individuals who share similair interests. Erskine Arts Figure Musical entertainmnent at Erskine Arts Soup Sessions Just Dive In found that sitting together with a hot drink naturally encouraged conversation without forcing it. “People stayed longer, talked more, and started to recognise each other week to week.” For members of Dates-n-Mates the activities gave members something to look forward to and the chance to get out of the house for a few hours. It gives them the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. It is really important to them to get that level of social interaction, as many of our members have poor support networks, are often lonely and say they don't feel part of their community. Dates-n-Mates Page 30 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 13 PUBLIC Friends of Howwood Park have been running their Winter Connections project for two years and attendees have become good friends and enjoy the format of an activity followed by hot food and drinks. The provision of hot food was important for the families supported by Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde. Their partnership with Food at Underwood offered high quality, affordable food with an easy ordering and collection process, and the organisation also supported them through contributions to fundraising activities. Families consistently told us that knowing a warm meal would be available made it easier to attend, reduced the stress of providing breakfast on tight budgets and created a relaxed, sociable start to each session. As a result, we saw strong and consistent attendance across all groups, with some sessions requiring waiting lists. Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde The way in which the Winter Connections programme is delivered is key to its continued success. Activites are free, accessible, delivered in local communities and are inclusive. The programme offers a universal approach, all are welcome and this means that individuals and families who would not usually participate are often engaged and able to receive further support if it is needed. What this programme showed very clearly is that small, well-placed support can make a big difference. People didn’t have to think about cost, confidence, or whether they would fit in — they could just come along. That shift alone changes who walks through the door. It also highlighted how important it is to have spaces that don’t feel clinical or formal. People connected because it felt natural — a swim, a chat, a hot drink — not because they were being “referred into something.” That matters, especially for those who are already overwhelmed or hesitant to engage. Just Dive In 3.3. What would you change? When asked if there was anything they would change, 13 of the 33 projects that responded stated that they would not change anything. Of those who would make changes, over half of the responses related to additional activites, either by increasing the activities available or running activities for longer to meet demand. Page 31 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 14 PUBLIC The sessions filled quickly, and we had more demand than we could meet. We would look to increase the number of sessions or extend delivery slightly to reach more people, particularly those who joined the waiting list but couldn’t get a space. Just Dive In Following feedback positive from those who attended their cooking classes, LEAP felt that running classes over a longer period of time would be beneficial to participants. Demand and engagement were consistently strong, and both participants and the Community Chef expressed how much they would miss the classes when they came to an end, reflecting the programme’s meaningful impact. LEAP Although the Winter Connections programme is well attended, organisations are conscious of demand and keen to reach more people. Many are now considering the best way to do this, whether through earlier promotion of their programme or targeting specific groups earlier. Johnstone Castle Learning Centre is considering running new sessions for the older generation and Just Dive In want to work even more closely with partners to prioritise people most at risk of isolation into the earliest sessions. There is still a large demographic we would like to reach, individuals who are maybe less physically able or have carers or are just more isolated from the wider community. We would love to reach these people more in the future through different projects and ways of getting the word out there. Erskine Arts Organisations would also like to provide more hot food and snacks, and, if more funding was available, the Tannahill Centre would provide evening meals. Re: Hope Next Generation Bible Church would introduce more sensory play and music time to allow children to experience and explore more. Sewing2gether All Nations would recruit volunteers to support the consistently high numbers of attendees. Create Paisley raised awareness of the break in activities over Christmas and New Year, with a lack of contact with the young people. To address this they are developing a new website so that young people can easily access sources of advice and support and resources on the new site, in case they need help during that interim period. Page 32 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 15 PUBLIC And Just Dive In would like to strengthen how they capture the impact of their activities. A lot of what we saw was in conversations, body language, and people returning — which is powerful, but not always formally recorded. Next time, we would build in simple, light-touch ways to capture feedback without disrupting the feel of the sessions. Just Dive In 3.4. How many people attended? Organisations were asked about the number of people who attended their activities. We did not ask organisations to keep track of numbers while delivering activities, but some did, and others provided an estimate. The average number of people attending each individual session was 22. Just over a quarter of projects averaged between 31 and 40 people per session. These tended to be activities for children or for older people. Houston Community Council’s film showings hosted an average of 50 people at their weekly events, Johnstone Burgh Community Club regularly had between 40 and 50 participants, while The Thursday Club in Glenburn attracted around 88 participants each week. From the 33 responses received, it is estimated that around 1,317 different people benefited from the Winter Connections programme. Given that there were 37 projects participating in the programme this year, this number will be considerably higher. Of the 33 projects who provided feedback for this question, almost three quarters stated that it was mainly women who attended activities, while 61% of all projects appealed to older people. Most of the people who attended were older women who live alone. However, we did have some young families and some of the ladies brought grandchildren. I feel our project was valuable to all who attended regardless of age. Paisley West Church Who attended your Winter Connections project? Number of projects* % Women 24 73 Older People 20 61 Page 33 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 16 PUBLIC Men 16 48 Young people / teenagers 12 36 People with additional support needs 11 33 Families 11 33 People from ethnically diverse communities 10 30 Children 10 30 People from other geographical areas in Renfrewshire 5 15 *out of a total of 33 responses. Note: All respondents provided more than one answer to this question Some activities were specifically aimed at particular groups, for example, Dates-n-Mates project was for individuals over the age of 18 with a learning disability, and Jones & Us Mom and Baby Fitness classes were attended by young mums with newborn babies and toddlers. The Preshal Trust drop in was open to anyone over the age of 25+ particularly targeting those who experience the effects of poverty, addiction, physical disability and mental health illness. A third of projects stated that they had supported people with additional needs including physical or mental health issues, disability, addictions and neurodivergence. A busy afternoon at Erskine Arts Soup Sessions Figure 1A re 2 Page 34 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 17 PUBLIC Over a third of projects (36%) attracted young people / teenagers compared with 26% in 2024/25, while 30% of projects reported attendance from people from ethnically diverse communities compared with 22% in 2025/25. Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverlcyde provided a breakdown of those who benefited from their Winter Connections project and found that 40% were Lone Parents, 54% were Families with Disabilities, 30% were Ethnic Minority Families and 19% were Families with 3 or more children. Just Dive In felt that the mix of people attending contributed to the success of the programme in reducing isolation. What worked well was that it didn’t feel like a programme for one specific group — it felt like a shared space. Older adults, families, and individuals were all able to be part of the same environment, which helped reduce isolation in a more natural, less clinical way. Just Dive In KLAS Care’s Sunday morning activities attracted families from all areas of Renfrewshire, including people from ethnic minority groups, single parents and older adults. Families from Erskine and Gallowhill who usually access KLAS Care’s pantry during the week also attended, supporting each other with car sharing. 4. Impact of the Programme 4.1. What difference did the Winter Connections Programme make to participants? Organisations were asked whether they thought that the activities they had delivered as part of the programme had provided any benefits for those attending. As in previous years, feedback was overwhelmingly positive with organisations highlighting several impacts from the programme. All of those organisations who completed feedback forms agreed that the programme activities had supported participants by connecting them to each other, with 100% of organisations reporting this benefit. Page 35 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 18 PUBLIC These nights weren’t just about the activities — they gave people a reason to leave the house, talk to others, and feel part of something. For many, it was one of the only social things they had on. Just Dive In According to 97% of organisations the programme also contributed to reducing social isolation, while 91% stated that the programme had benefited people by creating a sense of belonging to the local community and provided fun activities. Encouraging new people to engage with their organisation was considered beneficial for participants by 88% of organisations. Other perceived benefits were reducing financial costs (76% of respondents) and providing the opportunity to learn something new (67%). Just over half of organisations thought that the programme benefited participants by providing access to information/advice and helping people to learn about a new service in their local area. Benefit to people attending activities Number of projects* % Connecting people to each other 33 100 Reducing social isolation 32 97 Creating a sense of belonging to the local community/neighbourhood? 30 91 Providing fun activities 30 91 Encouraging new people to engage with the project/organisation 29 88 Reducing financial costs 25 76 Providing the opportunity to learn something new 22 67 Providing access to information/advice 17 51 Helping people to learn about a new service in their local area 17 51 Providing entertainment for children 13 39 * out of a total of 33 responses Reducing Social Isolation One of the most important benefits of the programme is that it provided welcoming spaces and opportunities for people to meet. The programme encouraged people to get out and Page 36 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 19 PUBLIC meet up with others in their local community, helping to reduce social isolation and creating opportunities to build new friendships and connections. Feedback indicates that, for some, the programme has been a lifeline and without it they would not have left the house. Robertson Housing Social Activities Group found that, because many of their residents cannot get out of their developments to go to activities, being able to provide social activities on their site helped to encourage residents to socialise with each other. The Preshal Trust emphasised the importance of coming together with others in similar circumstances without feeling judged, while Just Dive In found that for older adults and individuals attending on their own, the programme activities provided social contact and routine. The biggest impact has been giving people a place to go where they feel welcome, safe, and not alone during the winter months. We saw people who would otherwise have stayed at home come out, take part, and start to connect with others. Over time, familiar faces appeared, conversations became easier, and people began to feel part of something rather than separate from it. Overall, it created a space where people felt welcome, included, and part of something — and that sense of belonging is what stayed with them. Just Dive In Figure Participants at the Preshal Trust drop-in sessions Page 37 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 20 PUBLIC The opportunity to connect was also important for parents of neurodiverse children as evidenced by feedback from Creation Corner. For children who participated in activities with Creation Corner the activities allowed them to gain a sense of belonging and friendship with other children and an acceptance that they have struggled to find in school and other areas. I think we all feel less alone too and are proud of how far this family group has come. For myself, as one of the leaders and parent of a child attending, we feel a sense of community that we haven’t found elsewhere and some weeks it is all that keeps us going. Creation Corner The Preshal Trust found that being able to participate in enjoyable activities helped to create a positive atmosphere which had a postivite impact on participants’ health and well- being. And for young parents who participated in Jones & Us fitness activities, the project helped them to gain a positive mindset and improve their well-being. Community members participating have shown excitement to meet each other and connect with other moms. It has helped build community and create a positive space for local mums. Especially being able to bring their babies and toddlers, its has relieved the moms that came of the stress of finding childcare. Jones & Us All generations enjoying activites at Paisley West church Page 38 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 21 PUBLIC Create Paisley noticed that attendance at their drop-in sessions boosted young people’s mental health and wellbeing by making them feel more connected to other young people and their wider community and by developing their creative and social skills. Foxbar Community Gardens and Environmental Project also felt they were promoting health and wellbeing in a positive way through their mindfulness and yoga workshops. LEAP reported that the welcoming, supportive space was particularly helpful for those who don’t usually take part in group activities or miss out due to financial constraints. The social nature of the classes encouraged conversation and connection, helping to form new friendships and strengthen existing community ties. Overall, the classes helped create a more connected, confident, and resilient community, with people feeling more supported and more likely to engage in other local activities. LEAP Through their free family swims, Just Dive In provided an inclusive, relaxed environment for families to spend time together without worrying about cost. Their staff ensured that people felt comfortable from the moment they walked through the door. At Ralston OSC art club children enjoyed socialising and creating works of art. We really loved running this programme. The children had the best time and it was great to see so much creativity and for them to be engrossed in the activities. It was great to see them socialise and spend time with friends or making new friends. Ralston OSC Learning a new skill The programme also provided opportunities to try out new activities and learn new skills, for example in cooking or swimming. Participants at LEAP’s cooking classes were able to build confidence and independence while learning to prepare healthy, affordable meals. Just Dive In saw people becoming more confident in the water and Sewing2gether All Nations blend of English language learning and crafting was so enjoyable that participants are keen for the organisation to find funding to continue the classes. We also saw an impact on confidence, particularly in the water and in social settings. Some participants who were initially anxious became more relaxed over time, which is a big step for many of the people we support. Page 39 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 22 PUBLIC Just Dive In This is the first service an older adult with limited English language skills has engaged with. She is attending with her daughter. It has also encouraged integration with local residents who attended. It has encouraged many young mums to go out and mix with others. Sewing2gether All Nations Parents of children attending the Ralston OSC Art Club were delighted with the creative activities on offer, allowing children to try different styles of art with friends after school, including self portraits and mosaics. The club provides my child and others in this community with opportunities that they would not have without the club. The children have fun and they also learn while at the club. My child often participates in some kind of art and craft, cooking/baking and various sports/active play. It allows her to make and strengthen friendships in a safe place with the excellent support and guidance from the staff. Parent feedback from Ralston OSC The Tannahill Centre provided opportunities for people to volunteer, serving the tea and toast, making the soup, learning to volunteer in the kitchen and gaining a food hygiene qualification which has resulted in some moving on to employment. Page 40 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 23 PUBLIC Figure Young people learning a new skill at Johnstone Castle Learning Centre Raising awareness of what organisations deliver and signposting Providing information and advice on services and how they can support people is a key component of the Winter Connections programme. Many organisations were able to use their links with partner organisations to signpost people to other support without it feeling formal or overwhelming. For example, some of the young mums attending Youth Inspired’s physical and creative activities were able to access counselling and other services that Youth Inspired provide and attendees at the Preshal Trust’s drop-in were able to benefit from one- to-one support if needed. Our support staff were available throughout the programme to offer one-to-one support to individuals who may have needed additional help. This included listening to people’s concerns, offering guidance, and signposting them to other relevant services and support within the community. For some participants, this provided an opportunity to discuss personal challenges in a safe and supportive environment and helped them access further assistance they may not have been aware of previously. The Preshal Trust Page 41 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 24 PUBLIC Just Dive In signposted people to other organisations that they have links with and Friends of Howwood Park invited speakers in to provide information to participants, for example around finances and avoiding scams. Reducing costs for individuals and families Feedback from Winter Connections projects highlights the continued importance of the programme in helping to reduce financial barriers to participating in community life. As in previous years the programme helped to reduce the financial burden on individuals and families and did so in a dignified manner. KLAS Care commented that the opportunity to participate without any financial cost allowed engagement with families that otherwise would not be part of anything, helping to reduce the financial and social exclusion and isolation caused by the cost of living crisis. Just Dive In also found that this removed a barrier to participation. Because everything was free, it removed a real barrier. People didn’t have to choose between attending and covering other costs, which made a big difference, especially over winter. Just Dive In Providing food and free activities helped to ease some of the financial pressure many families experience over the holidays. Re:Hope Next Generation Bible Church reported that parents found this helped to alleviate pressure on them and helped them not to feel isolated. Johnstone Castle Learning Centre found that the majority of the families they supported could not have afforded such luxuries if the project had not taken place and that their services also helped to offer respite to the parents and guardians of the young people who attended. Both Just Dive In and Stronger Communities Glenburn reported that the programme enabled families to spend meaningful time together and share positive experiences without worrying about cost which helped reduce stress. Families were able to enjoy quality time together in a safe and supportive environment without the added stress of financial strain. Overall, the programme supported both the emotional wellbeing and the financial resilience of local families during what can often be a challenging time of year. Stronger Communities Glenburn Page 42 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 25 PUBLIC Children enjoying activies and snacks at a Home-Start group The Preshal Trust and the Thursday Club reported on the impact of having access to free food and drinks, with some members of the Thursday Club stating that they did not usually have a hot meal at lunchtime and that they saved leftover tea from breakfast in a flask to use at lunchtime. The free lunch and activities provided by the club had a big impact on members who were struggling to heat their homes and eat and having a hot meal and a warm place to go to every week resulted in an attendance rate of 88% every week. Home-start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde were able to provide hot food for their weekly support groups for families with young children. They run six different peer support groups across Renfrewshire, including a newly established group for families with children who have additional support needs. Winter Connections funding was used specifically to provide hot food at every group session throughout the winter period, for example hot rolls and soup. This ensured that every adult and child attending could access a warm, nutritious meal at no cost. The offer of hot food made groups more accessible for families facing financial pressures and contributed to steady attendance across 76 sessions, with 1,160 attendances and an average of 15 people per session. Page 43 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 26 PUBLIC Families described the provision of food as removing a barrier to attending, particularly on rushed or financially difficult mornings. It reduced financial stress for families with parents consistently reporting that the hot food made a meaningful difference to their weekly budget during the most financially challenging months of the year. For families facing multiple poverty risk factors, this practical support felt both relieving and dignifying. It contributed significantly to their wellbeing, reducing the stress of providing breakfast or lunch on already stretched budgets. Together with referral partnerships and hardship funding, Winter Connections is a key part of providing additional support to help families experiencing financial hardship. Feedback from parents attending Home-Start groups about the hot food provision: Hot rolls are a massive benefit. It’s something warm that fills us up without me having to stress about the financial side of it. As a single mum I don’t often think of myself in the mornings, I get my daughter up and organised and make sure she has a breakfast before nursery but having the rolls at group helps me remember to make sure I have a breakfast also. It also helps create more of a social feeling within the groups to have a roll and drinks. The hot rolls are definitely a benefit to me and my family.They help reduce the stress of preparing food, especially on busy mornings and ensure my child has something warm and filling to enjoy. It’s a thoughtful and practical support that we truly appreciate. Feedback from Renfrewshire Libraries One Ren received funding to provide hot drinks and cup-a-soups in all libraries throughout Renfrewshire. They also received funding to purchase a selection of games and jigsaws for family play sessions. Library staff feel that the Winter Connections funding helps to enhance the library service and build a warm and welcoming community within the library. Feedback suggests that the hot drinks were popular with children and adults. The simple offer of a free tea or coffee made a big difference, helping people to feel comfortable and encouraging people to stay longer in the library and benefit from the wide and varied programme of free activities provided. Very happy to have the hot drinks available again. It has been sorely missed. It helps to brighten up my day as I read the morning newspapers. Page 44 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 27 PUBLIC Feedback from Erskine library Staff also commented on the value of a hot drink in enabling them to connect with visitors. The librarian at Erskine Library found that some of the less confident library users were encouraged to engage in conversation with staff while having a hot drink. Having the tea and coffee gives an opportunity for us to engage with customers, which is a really important role for the library. There was similar feedback from the librarian at Ferguslie Library. Having the refreshments is almost an ice breaker for those wishing to engage but finding it difficult to find common ground. The Ferguslie Library knitting group meet weekly on Tuesday afternoons and enjoy having access to the Winter Connections refreshments. Their knitting is not interrupted by having to go out somewhere to get a hot drink and it has become an integral part of the activity. It’s become crucial to the group. It’s almost like a comfort in itself, as well as the chat and friendships. Member of the Ferguslie Library Knitting Group Page 45 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 28 PUBLIC Ferguslie Library Knitting Group Libraries play an important role in the Winter Connections programme, offering a safe space for community members to spend time and connect with others. This is especially evident from feedback from the knitting group at Lochwinnoch Library. Last year I had major knee surgery and knowing I had the group to return to when I had recovered, I’m sure aided my recovery. Chatting over a tea and coffee lifts my spirits and is an essential part of my week. I couldn’t live without the Monday knitting group. I have an autistic son at home so I really look forward to being social in a safe setting. The friendship is everything to me. It is great to sit and have a coffee with friends. I am disabled and the knitting group is my one regular activity outside the home and offers me a vital social life and contact with other people. Feedback from Foxbar Library described the hot drinks as a “god send” for library users who attend the library daily to use the computers and read the newspapers. Glenburn library also found that most people tend to have a tea or coffee while reading the newspapers. One customer comes in most mornings, this is part of his routine, and when the milk ran out previously, he would bring his own milk with him so he could have a coffee while reading the paper. Page 46 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 29 PUBLIC Library staff have also noticed that some visitors are making use of the hot water flasks to fill up instant noodles or warm a baby bottle. Johnstone Library found that the hot drinks appealed to children and adults alike. We have a group of 6 boys who come into the library most days after school to play chess and enjoy a hot chocolate. One couple do their daily walk of 1 mile, come into the library, read the newspapers and have a tea/coffee and then head back home. A comment from one visitor to Paisley Library, where an average of 30 cups a day were consumed, clearly demonstrated the value of the hot drinks to library users and the desire to continue this service. It’s great that tea and coffee is back. A great service for people with not much money and nowhere to go. Perhaps a voluntary collection box could be provided so that people like me who can afford to can contribute to costs so service can be provided for longer. One Ren was also able to offer three Gaelic Play sessons in Bishopton Library and in Ralston Library, accommodating 10 adults and their children. These sessions were extremely popular, particularly with young families, and feedback has been very positive, with many people asking for them to continue. One Ren is now exploring further funding options to help make this possible. We had a lovely morning! Really well organised and was great to meet lots of other mums and babes! Great to see more Gaelic classes being introduced. Parent feedback Ralston and Bishopton Libraries both received additional funding for a few board games and jigsaws. These were added to the existing collection, freely available to be enjoyed at any time the library is open. Page 47 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 30 PUBLIC The snakes and ladders game has been extremely popular and the Dargavel and Early Learning Centre children enjoy it very much when their visit the library. All the games are well received including games received in past Winter/Summer connections like the marble run. Feedback from librarian 4.2. Areas for improvement Of the 32 projects that responded to a question about where the Winter Connections programme could be improved, 43% felt that the programme did not need any improvements. The remaining projects suggested the following: Promotion of the programme Along with more advertising in local papers and more Winter Connections leaflets to hand out, Erskine Arts suggested having a poster or 'map' of all the services that displays a weekly timetable of what is on. These options would be helpful for participants who are not “tech savvy” and for whom visiting a website or using Google might be a barrier compared to a poster or flyer with different options across the week. Just Dive In continued this theme with a suggestion of wider council-led promotion across Renfrewshire to help reach people who may not already be connected to community groups or online channels. Other suggestions for improved promotion included the creation of a Winter Connections app and sharing social media posts about each funded activity that is open to the general public, so that organisations can encourage people they know to attend. Additional Funding As in previous years, demand to participate in programme was high and often organisations were unable to accommodate the number of people wanting to attend. In addition, rising operational costs are adding pressure to Third Sector staff and services. Organisations would like support that reflects these rising costs. Page 48 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 31 PUBLIC An increase in funding would also enable organisations to extend the life of the programme and reach more people without compromising on delivery. Securing additional funding would allow us to expand and strengthen the programme’s impact. With more resources, we could increase the number of sessions, provide a wider range of activities, and offer enhanced food provision to support more families facing cost- of-living pressures. Ultimately, increased financial support would help us reach more members of the community and provide deeper, more sustainable support during the holiday period. Stronger Communities Glenburn Additional funding could support organisations with food and activity resources, and specialist facilitators. It would also enable organisations to improve accessibility, invest in staffing and volunteers, and build stronger monitoring and evaluation processes to demonstrate long-term outcomes. It was also suggested that the Council could offer a discount for the hire of community buildings and village halls. Many organisations, including Just Dive In, would like to be able to deliver the programme all-year round. One of the most valuable things would be continued support beyond a single winter period. The need doesn’t stop when the funding ends, so having opportunities for longer-term or repeat funding would allow organisations to build on what’s already working rather than starting again each year. Just Dive In We will ensure that organisations are aware of other potential funding sources, such as Local Partnership funding and of support through Engage Renfrewshire to find information about alternative funding. Timescales Although the application window was opened earlier this year, feedback from participating organisations shows that they would like the application process to start even earlier, allowing projects to start from mid-October. This would provide more time to plan activities and ensure that staff and volunteers are in place to deliver the activities. This year, due to new payment processes within the Council, some organisations experienced delays in receiving their funding, although this should be a one-off with the new process now bedded in. In addition, organisations in the main need to await receipt of the funding prior to starting activities, so quick turnaround in decision-making on the grants is Page 49 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 32 PUBLIC appreciated and would prevent any delays in the programme activities being available to communities. Direct links to other services Most of the organisations delivering activities work closely with local partners but would like to strengthen the connection between organisations and council services, particulary around referral pathways from council teams to ensure that the people most in need are consistently reached. Networking and collaboration Organisations hosting Winter Connections activities are keen to meet and share learning about what has worked well for them in delivering their programme. Some suggested an information day so that organisations can link up with each other, while others would like to have a celebration event for participating organisations to showcase the fantastic work that the funding helps to support. I also think it might be a good idea to meet with other organisations who receive funding, so we can share learning, find out what works for them, how they communicate with their service users, how they plan events etc. Dates-n-Mates 5. Conclusions The Winter Connections programme aimed to encourage people to connect and participate in activities in warm and welcoming spaces across communities in Renfrewshire. Feedback suggests that the programme continues to be successful in benefitting attendees by offering opportunities to connect and sustain relationships over the winter months. There is also evidence that the programme provides an inclusive and supportive environment for people to engage with services, helping to reduce financial and social isolation, reduce financial costs and provide access to information, advice and support. The wide range of activities on offer provided something for everyone and allowed access to new experiences, increasing confidence and enabling participants to learn new skills. Page 50 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 33 PUBLIC Supporting organisations to continue doing what they know works in their communities is important and the programme continues to be a significant part of the Council’s approach to addressing the cost-of-living crisis. Whilst the programme continues to be successful, the areas for improvement around promotion, timescales, networking, links to other services and additional funding should be noted. 6. Appendix 1 Organisations which hosted Winter Connections activity Bridge of Weir Scout Group Loud n Proud CREATE Paisley Our Place Our Families Renfrew Creation Corner Paisley Methodist Church Dates-n-Mates Pastoral Committee Paisley West Church Erskine Arts Ralston Primary Out of School Care Foxbar Community Gardens and Environmental Group Rays of Hope Foxbar Elderly Forum RE: Hope Next Generation Bible Church Friends of Howwood Park Renfrew YMCA SCIO Home-Start Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Robertson Housing Social Activities Group Houston Community Council Sewing2gether All Nations Howwood Community Council STAR Project Johnstone Burgh Community Club Stronger Communities Glenburn Johnstone Castle Learning Centre St Vincent’s Hospice Jones & Us Community Interest Company The Preshal Trust Just Dive In CIC The Tannahill Centre Page 51 of 254
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2026 34 PUBLIC KLAS Care CIC The Thursday Club Linwood Community Council Williamsburgh Housing Association Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP) SCIO Your Community Your Space Youth Inspired Page 52 of 254
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35 PUBLIC Chief Executive’s Service Renfrewshire Council Renfrewshire House Cotton Street Paisley PA1 1BR A big thank you to all of the organisations who provided feedback, quotes and photographs for this report. Page 53 of 254
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 17 June 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Community Planning Six-Monthly Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report is the six-monthly update of recent activity of Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership, covering the period from December 2025 to May 2026. It was agreed at Leadership Board in September 2022 that update reports would be provided every six months and would also include an update on progress being made in developing the seven Local Partnerships. The previous update report was provided in December 2025. 1.2 This report provides an overview of: • The key priorities identified by community planning partners for 2026/27. • Local Partnership priority setting activities. • The national launch of a Place Director / Community Planning Partnership Charter. • The development of a new Community Plan by 2027. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that Elected Members note the content of the report. 3. Background 3.1 This paper represents the regular 6 monthly update submitted to the Leadership Board for consideration on wider community partnership developments. Item 3 Page 55 of 254
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PUBLIC This includes both the work of Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Executive Group and the development of the Local Partnerships, which is part of the community planning structure. 3.2 Community planning is a statutory duty placed on councils in Scotland and defined community planning partners under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. These public, private and third sector bodies are required to collaborate in Community Planning Partnerships. There are 32 Community Planning Partnerships in Scotland, one for each Council area. The broad aims of community planning activity are to improve outcomes for people and communities and to reduce inequalities in those outcomes. 3.3 Partners are also required to develop and jointly progress a Local Outcomes Improvement Plan. In Renfrewshire this is referred to as our local Community Plan, a ten year plan spanning 2017-2027. At the mid term point of the plan in 2022, partners agreed that a refresh exercise should be undertaken, resulting in a 2022-27 update. 3.4 The vision set out within the Community Plan is currently: Working together to make Renfrewshire a fairer, more inclusive place where all our people, communities and businesses thrive. The four priorities of the Community Plan are that Renfrewshire is Thriving, Well, Safe and Fair. The refresh carried out in 2022 identified three main areas of focus for collaborative working through the Community Planning Partnership. These are: • Supporting low income families • Tackling health inequalities • Addressing the climate emergency 3.5 An annual report outlining the key achievements of the Community Planning Partnership during 2024/25 against community planning priorities, was presented to the Leadership Board in December 2025, 4. Update on activities over the last 6 months 4.1 Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Executive Group has met twice since the last update provided to the Leadership Board, with meetings held in December 2025 and March 2026. 4.2 An important juncture in the Executive Group’s annual calendar is the forward look / horizon scanning session each December, where partners come together to consider emerging issues and data in Renfrewshire and agree any changes to the priorities which partners are progressing together. In December 2025, partners identified the following priorities for further exploration during 2026: • The local approach to progressing the nationally agreed Population Health Framework, with an initial focus on health weight and early years outcomes. • Community cohesion, with consideration of the changing nature of Renfrewshire’s population. • Child poverty – recognising the importance of supporting the local programme of work in Gallowhill, and the new Child Poverty Data Insight Partnership. Page 56 of 254
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PUBLIC 4.3 Officers from the Council were asked to consider whether specific sub-groups or working groups would be required to progress these priorities during 2026 and into 2027, either on a short life or ongoing basis as appropriate. The Executive Group also specifically requested that a proposal be developed in relation to an Economy sub-group being established, as a local vehicle for strategic partnership discussions on economic issues, skills etc. 4.4 Over the last 6 months the Executive Group has also considered updates and presentations in relation to the following items: • Response To Guidance To Fair Funding Of The Voluntary Sector – the national Community Planning Improvement Board developed in 2025 guidance for Community Planning Partnerships regarding funding arrangements for the voluntary sector. The CPP Executive considered a paper about this guidance from the Chief Executive of Engage Renfrewshire, on behalf of Renfrewshire Forum For Empowering Communities. • Ask and Act Statutory Duty- The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 aims to prevent homelessness in Scotland. As part of this Act, there is an emerging duty on Councils and other public bodies to ask about a person’s housing situation in their dealings with people and act to prevent homelessness where a risk is identified. Prior to the duty taking effect from 2028, the Scottish Government has designated a number of pilot areas to test this approach, with Renfrewshire one of the selected areas. A presentation on Ask and Act by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde was presented top Renfrewshire CPP Executive Group in December 2025. The CPP Executive Group agreed to provide oversight to the Renfrewshire Ask and Act pilot and received a Quarter 1 progress report from Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership at the March 2026 meeting. • Discussion of Community Planning Partnership Arrangements and Community Plan 2027- discussion took place at the March 2026 meeting regarding how the development of the 2027 Community Plan and Renfrewshire’s arrangements regarding community planning will be delivered. • Renfrewshire Health and Wellbeing Survey Community Response Action Plan – following previous reports on the Renfrewshire Health and Wellbeing Survey during 2025, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership reported to the March 2026 meeting of the CPP Executive on a Community Response Action Plan in partnership with the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel. The priority areas that the action plan addresses are: Vaping Employability Volunteering Health Behaviours Language/Terminology Early intervention on food insecurity including transition between youth/adult services Page 57 of 254
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PUBLIC Men’s Mental Health (including social support) Opportunities to socialise without alcohol and destigmatise substance use Transport Community consultation and local action Housing Place Director/Community Planning Partnership Charter 4.5 The Scottish Government allocates a lead officer to each local authority area to act as a conduit for two way discussion between different spheres of government. This arrangement has operated for a number of years, but has now been formalised at a national level through the establishment of a Place Director / Community Planning Partnership Charter. The Charter will be formally launched in June 2026. Renfrewshire’s allocated Place Director is Lewis Hedge, Deputy Director Curriculum and Qualifications. Lewis meets on a quarterly basis with the Chief Executive and attends all meetings of Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Executive Group. 5. Developing a new Community Plan 5.1 As highlighted in Section 3, the Council with its partners, has a statutory duty to produce a local outcomes improvement plan which sets out how partners will work together to improve outcomes and reduce inequality. In Renfrewshire, the local outcomes improvement plan is referred to as our Community Plan. We are now in the last 12-18 months of the lifespan of the current Community Plan, which was agreed in 2017 and refreshed in 2022. 5.2 A paper was considered by the Leadership Board in April 2026, which set out the approach that would be taken to developing a new Community Plan, in tandem with the Council Plan through a two stage process: Phase 1 – What matters in Renfrewshire (Strategic Needs Assessment Process) 5.3 This stage of the process will involve the gathering of local and national data which will support an initial assessment of the key issues which are relevant to Renfrewshire and its communities. Local data will be gathered from Council services and wider partner organisations through a collaborative process (where this is not already held) and key findings analysed and shared. It is anticipated that this mostly desk-based stage of the process will be undertaken during the first half of 2026. Phase 2 – Your Voice Matters 5.4 Every conversation with local citizens, communities and businesses matters. This type of approach will be the cornerstone of the Council’s new Connected Communities model. Page 58 of 254
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PUBLIC Building on the extensive findings of the recent resident research exercise, employee survey and ongoing engagement across service areas on issues such as the learning estate and the Local Development Plan, we will launch the next phase of our planned engagement campaign which will support the development and finalisation of both Plans. 5.5 The engagement programme will involve a blend of broad engagement, more targeted engagement, and deeper listening – providing opportunities for people to get involved and tell us what matters to them and their communities, and also for the Council and partners to engage on some of the challenges and opportunities that we face locally. 5.6 Elected Members are asked to note that work is also ongoing to align the development of the Council and Community Plans, and the overall engagement process itself, with the refresh of specific partnership plans. Close partnership working will be progressed in order to align the development of both Plans with the Renfrewshire IJB’s Strategic Plan, which is also due to be refreshed next year. Aligning the plans within the same timeframe, provides a very unique opportunity to ensure that a shared understanding of local priorities and actions can be developed in partnership. This also links to the wider national context including the Population Health Framework which specifically notes the role of Community Planning Partnerships. Colleagues in the HSCP are key partners in the local co-ordination group that has been established to progress the strategic needs assessment and the engagement programme. 5.7 Discussions are also underway with wider services to align the development of Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership Plan in 2027 to the work planned in relation to the Community Plan and Council Plan. 6. Wider partnership developments 6.1 Through engagement with specific partners, an action was identified to develop specific strategic partnership agreements to articulate a shared commitment to specific priorities and projects that are or will be progressed in the future. Officers are currently exploring the development of a Strategic Partnership Agreement with St Mirren FC, ahead of its 150 year anniversary celebrations. 6.2 A tripartite strategic partnership agreement is also being developed in conjunction with West College Scotland and the University of the West of Scotland. The first of its kind in Renfrewshire, the agreement sets out how all 3 organisations will work more closely together to improve outcomes for local people and communities. The agreement is not intended to be legally binding, but will evidence the commitment and intent of all 3 partners to strengthening its operational and strategic ties. The Chief Executive will work to finalise this arrangement over the summer period. Any activities requiring board or Council approval, will be presented for consideration as required in line with current governance arrangements. 6.3 At the meeting of Leadership Board on 29 April 2026, the allocation of annual funding for 2026/27 to Engage Renfrewshire was approved. Page 59 of 254
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PUBLIC It was agreed that the six monthly community planning update reports which are presented to Board, would also include information relating to the activities progressed by Engage Renfrewshire over the period. This was requested in order to provide Elected Members with greater information on the role that Engage Renfrewshire plays as a community planning partner and third sector interface organisation. 6.4 Since the last update provided to Board in April 2026: • The CE of Engage Renfrewshire and Council’s Community Partnerships Manager attended the official launch of the Place Director Charter, as representatives of Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Executive Group • The CE of Engage Renfrewshire supported recent meetings with representatives of HMI Education who were conducting follow up meetings with the local Community Learning and Development Partnership, one year after the related partnership inspection. • Engage supported Renfrewshire Integration Network (In-Ren) to successfully deliver Renfrewshire’s first Community Knowledge festival on 30th May. • Successful delivery of the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing funding in Renfrewshire, evidenced through a national report presented to the Community Planning Partnership Executive Group in June 2026. 6.5 A more detailed overview will be provided as part of the next 6 monthly update provided to board in November 2026. 7 Local Partnerships Development Programme 7.1 Since the last six-monthly report on development of the Local Partnerships to the Leadership Board in December 2025, there have been two rounds of meetings of the seven Local Partnerships. These took place in February 2026 and May 2026. As well as localised agenda items at the February 2026 meetings, each of the seven Local Partnerships refined their existing local priorities. The May 2026 round of Local Partnership meetings focused on consideration of funding applications for 2026/27. 7.2 As part of the Local Partnerships Development Programme, in early 2026 the Local Partnership members participated in an exercise to expand the local priorities into achievable objectives and action plans are currently being developed for each Local Partnership to deliver during 2026/27. It is recognised that each Local Partnership works differently in response to different community requirements – some cover one distinct community whereas others may include a number of different communities. 7.3 For example, Renfrew Local Partnership want to encourage local groups and projects to connect and work together to deliver activities. This will strengthen the connections between organisations/groups and develop those relationships to nurture future collaborations and reciprocal support. The Local Partnership Development Officer has made introductions between several community groups to enable collaboration. Page 60 of 254
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PUBLIC This has included connecting a scout group to a local heritage group and connecting an older persons’ group to a group offering indoor activities. 7.4 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, Gleniffer Local Partnership received a dedicated presentation from the youth team about local provision in the Gleniffer area. This generated discussion about supporting existing and new activity in the area. Moving forward, this will include connecting with schools, Pupil Councils, community groups and other youth services. 7.5 The Local Partnership Development Officer has created a Local Partnership newsletter, shared with all elected members, Local Partnership membership and community groups highlighting funding awards, feedback and key dates. The next issue will be produced after the May 2026 meetings. 7.6 Going forward, we will continue to progress the development of the Local Partnerships, with proposals being developed as part of the wider Connected Communities programme to strengthen and develop the partnerships further over the course of the next 12-18 months. 8. Next steps 8.1 The next meeting of Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Executive Group will focus on the Local Child Poverty Action Report for Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership Plan. Implications of the Report 1. Financial – There are no direct financial implications from this report. 2. HR & Organisational Development – none. 3. Community/Council Planning – The report sets out how partners are working together to achieve agreed outcomes defined in the Community Plan. 4. Legal - none. 5. Property/Assets – none. 6. Information Technology – none. 7. Equality and Human Rights – Community planning and Local Partnership work contributes towards the community planning outcomes for people and reducing inequalities 8. Health and Safety – none. 9. Procurement – none. Page 61 of 254
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PUBLIC 10. Risk – Progressing community planning working contributes to mitigating against the risk of poorer outcomes and increasing inequalities for people within Renfrewshire. 11. Privacy Impact – none. 12. COSLA Policy Position – COSLA is supportive of community planning as an approach to delivering outcome improvement and narrowing of inequalities in Scotland . 13. Children’s Rights – The three areas of focus identified in the refreshed community plan – Supporting Low Income Families; Tackling Health Inequalities; and Addressing The Climate Emergency – contribute to setting policy direction that supports progress in delivering Children’s Rights. 14. Climate Risk – The Renfrewshire Community Plan was refreshed in 2022 and one of its three areas of focus is Addressing The Climate Emergency. The Annual Report sets out actions being taken and tracks performance against outcomes. Author: Stuart Graham, Community Partnerships Manager, Chief Executive’s Service, 0141 487 1509 Page 62 of 254
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PUBLIC ________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 17 June 2026 ________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ________________________________________________________________ Heading: Council Plan 2022/27 – six monthly progress update ________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 In September 2022, the Council approved a new Council Plan, which set the strategic direction and vision for Renfrewshire, covering the period 2022 to 2027. In order to best reflect the current context, a refreshed plan was approved by Leadership Board in June 2024, alongside an updated performance framework. 1.2 The Council Plan sits alongside Renfrewshire’s Community Plan. This covers the longer period of 2017 to 2027, but was revised in 2022 to consider how to respond to and recover from the unique challenges over the last few years. The Community and Council Plans are closely aligned, ensuring that the Council’s role in delivering a wide range of community outcomes is clearly understood. 1.3 The Council Plan sets out five strategic outcomes which the Council will work towards, grouped as Place, Economy, Fair, Green, and Living Our Values. Additionally, the Plan outlines a cross-cutting theme of improving outcomes for children and families, which underpins the delivery of the five strategic outcomes. 1.4 Alongside this, each Council service prepares a Service Improvement Plan, themed around the Council Plan’s strategic outcomes, demonstrating how each service will contribute to the delivery of the Council Plan. Progress is regularly scrutinised by the relevant Policy Boards. Item 4 Page 63 of 254
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PUBLIC 1.5 The reporting framework for the Council Plan includes an action plan and performance scorecard, and is reported to Leadership Board biannually, which ensures actions are adaptable to any emerging national or local changes in circumstance while delivering agreed outcomes. This update report covers the 40 high level actions and 34 performance and data indicators in the Council Plan. 1.6 This report provides an update on progress made in the six months since the last update to Leadership Board in December 2025. Council services have continued to make good progress in terms of delivering against the five strategic outcomes and cross-cutting theme, as outlined in section 4 of this report. A detailed summary of progress against the action plan and key performance indicators is provided in Appendix 1. For contextual information, a summary of our 2024/25 performance in relation to the Local Government Benchmarking Framework (LGBF) is provided in Appendix 2. Reports on LGBF performance are provided to the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board every six months. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that Elected Members: • note the progress achieved since the last report in December 2025 in terms of Council Plan delivery; and • note that progress reports will continue to be presented to the Leadership Board every six months with the next update scheduled in December 2026. 3. Background 3.1 Our Council Plan 2022-2027 was refreshed in mid 2024, in order to ensure that this was reflective of the current context in which the organisation is operating. Priority actions and indicators were also reviewed and refined at that time to ensure a stronger focus on key areas of delivery. 3.2 The Council’s vision to 2027, as described in the Council Plan is ‘Creating a fairer Renfrewshire built on innovation, wellbeing, and opportunity’. The five strategic outcomes which the Council is working with partners, communities, and businesses to deliver are: • Place: working together to enhance wellbeing across communities; • Economy: building an inclusive, green, and resilient economy; • Fair: nurturing bright, happy, and healthy futures for all; • Green: leading Renfrewshire to Net Zero; and • Living Our Values: making a difference together. Page 64 of 254
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PUBLIC 3.3 Each of these outcomes is being delivered in a way that directly contributes to the cross-cutting theme - Improving outcomes for children and families. Within the appendix, actions which significantly contribute to this cross- cutting theme are highlighted with a ‘CF’ and there is a section in the performance scorecard with indicators relating to this theme. 3.4 Council Plan activity also sits alongside the Council’s arrangements in relation to progressing and achieving Best Value. As well as the overarching Best Value work, all councils are included in annual thematic reviews. The thematic review area for 2025/26 was Asset Management and the Council provided evidence to our external auditors in March 2026. The findings of that audit activity will be reported to a future Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board and any recommendations arising will be added to the Corporate Improvement Plan. As part of ongoing best value audit arrangements, auditors are also reviewing the Council’s activities against the theme “Fairness and Inequality”. 3.5 The delivery of the Council Plan is also closely aligned with the Council’s budget setting process, with the Council Plan setting the strategic direction and framework, the budget clearly setting out the focus of the Council’s financial spend, and the progress monitoring of the Council Plan, through regular reporting to Leadership Board, demonstrating progress and impact. This golden thread flows through to the Service Improvement Plan process, where services report delivery of Council Plan strategic outcomes at a service-level, again with a range of actions and performance indicators designed to demonstrate impact. 3.6 Linked closely to this is the new phase of the Council’s transformation programme, Reshaping Renfrewshire. This programme links the Council’s financial challenge, and the vision for our place as described through the Council Plan, and explores how we can continue to develop how we work and operate and ensure a financially sustainable long-term future, while transforming our impact across Renfrewshire and improving outcomes for our communities. This phase of our transformation programme also has a sharp external focus on the needs of our communities and to ensure our vital services are financially sustainable for the longer term – again this is closely aligned to the Council Plan. The Leadership Board receives regular updates on Reshaping Renfrewshire. Page 65 of 254
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PUBLIC 4. Progress of delivery of the Council Plan during 2025 4.1 This section provides an overview of recent achievements, progress with actions, and gives information on any areas of action where progress has been delayed. Strategic Outcome 1: Place 4.2 Another important milestone in the Council’s ambitious cultural infrastructure programme has been reached. Construction work on Paisley Museum is complete and the building has now been handed over to OneRen and is currently undergoing fit-out and object installation ahead of its reopening. The museum is the final project in the infrastructure programme which has also delivered a new flagship library in Paisley Town Centre as well as a refurbished Town Hall and Arts Centre for the town. The cultural regeneration is just one of the elements which contributed to Paisley being crowned Scotland’s Town of the Year in 2025. 4.3 The regeneration of town centres continues to progress, with a new Vision for Johnstone developed, with a particular focus on the two civic squares, the reimagining of the Town Hall, and the development of a heritage trail. In Erskine a study to identify potential proposals for improving public spaces and greenspaces was completed, including designs for a new civic square in the town centre, with construction starting - started ?? in February 2026. In Linwood, work is being developed to consider enhancements to the Linwood Lade area as part of a wider centre strategy review. In Renfrew a consultant has been engaged to produce detailed designs for transforming the former Brown Institute site into a new community space, with anticipated delivery in the last quarter of 2026. A new wayfinding strategy for Paisley has been developed to improve the visitor experience in the town centre. 4.4 Construction work on the new Paisley Grammar Community Campus is nearing completion and the construction of the road link has been accelerated to ensure full site access by July 2026. Familiarisation sessions are being arranged to support the transition for students, staff and visitors. The Outline Business Case (OBC) for the Johnstone Primary Schools was approved by the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board in March 2026 and a Full Business Case (FBC) will now be developed. The contract for the Park Mains extension has been awarded and the project remains on track for completion in August 2027. The construction of Thistle Primary is progressing as per targets and the new Head Teacher has recently started in their role. Work is already underway to plan the transition to the new school. Page 66 of 254
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PUBLIC 4.5 Positive progress is being made across in year 4 of our 10 year Housing- led Regeneration and Renewal programme. As reported to the Communities and Housing Board in August 2024, the acquisition and rehousing strategy is performing as planned and various phases of demolition are being taken forward as blocks become fully council owned and vacant. 4.6 Following extensive data-gathering and stakeholder engagement, our new transport strategy ‘Travel Renfrewshire 2035’ was approved by the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board in November 2025. 4.7 The Events Programme for 2025 was fully delivered, with events achieving and exceeding targets across all key performance indicators. Events delivered across the year included new events in Renfrew, Erskine, and Linwood as a result of a broader ‘five towns’ approach within the new events strategy and new community events partnership group. Research data showed that on average 91% of local people said the events programme gave them a feeling of civic pride and made them feel proud of their hometown. Strategic Outcome 2: Economy 4.8 A promotional event took place at the end of February 2026 to launch the new Glasgow City Region Investment Zone Tax Site and to raise awareness of the benefits of investing in AMIDS and the Airport. Further communications on the Tax Site to promote it further are expected later this year. 4.9 Tech Terrace is being progressed by Buccleuch as part of our AMIDS Joint Venture. Planning permission for Phase 1 has been applied for, and Phase 2 is now being worked on. Financial support for Phase 2 could potentially be provided through a City Region Enabling Commercial Development bid, and the business case for this is being prepared. That business case is due for submission at the end of 2026. 4.10 Across the year, Renfrewshire’s Community Wealth Building programme has continued to make steady progress and remains firmly embedded within the council’s approach to inclusive economic growth. With the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act now receiving Royal Assent, we will establish a new local partnership to formalise our work and deliver our new statutory duties in this area. Page 67 of 254
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PUBLIC 4.11 It was another successful year in terms of employability with key targets being exceeded. The Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership (LEP) is considered best practice across Scotland, and working relationships and joint practice is continues to excel. Highlights included Employability Month (September) and the best school destination results ever for Renfrewshire, with 97.9% of school leavers entering positive destinations through LEP partnership working. The annual Renfrewshire Employability Partnership Conference, with 180 people attending, and sessions focusing on the response to the Scottish Government’s No One Left Behind (NOLB) strategy, support to New Scots and Migrant groups, as well as the skills agenda and Renfrewshire’s future labour market. Strategic Outcome 3: Fair 4.12 A new Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan has been developed and approved, detailing the priorities and programme of work over the next 18-24 months. This is focused around four strategic priorities: Improving Financial Security; Strengthening Health, Wellbeing and Community; Embedding Equality and Inclusion; and Using Insight and Evidence for Impact. The Fairer Renfrewshire programme continues to support both the Summer of Fun and Winter Connections initiatives. Over the winter of 2025/26, over 1300 people benefitted from Winter Connections in its fourth year, and over 9000 people (children and their families) benefitted from the summer programme. 4.13 Following a successful bid for funding from the Scottish Government’s Child Poverty Accelerator Fund, work is underway to create a locally governed 'Insight Partnership' that uses existing data to identify families showing early signs of child poverty risk. The partnership will connect these families quickly to the right support, including income maximisation, employability help, cost of living advice, and family wellbeing services. 4.14 A new Equalities Outcome Action Plan was approved by Leadership Board in April 2026, following targeted consultation work with the third sector, community groups and Council services. This provided insight on existing good practices and on barriers across each of the six equality outcome areas. 4.15 The Chief Executive’s Service continues to lead the Trauma Informed and Responsive Renfrewshire programme, with sustained progress achieved over the past six months across leadership, policy, workforce development and wellbeing. Page 68 of 254
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PUBLIC Self-assessment approaches are being rolled out and a focus for the remainder of 2026 will be on providing an outturn report on the current Roadmap and the development of a new Roadmap to steer activity over the next three years. Strategic Outcome 4: Green 4.16 A revised approach to establishing a carbon budget was presented to the Ren Zero Focus Group in March. This approach focuses on implementing a carbon budget across 3 high consuming Council buildings in 26/27 with the aim of reducing energy demand, carbon emission and utility costs. The 3 buildings will act as a pilot prior to a wider roll out across Council buildings, if successful. 4.17 The development of a Low Emissions/Electrification Strategy is being taken forward by Glasgow City Region to ensure a joined-up approach to electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the wider area. This has now progressed to formal procurement with a contractor expected to be appointed by the end of summer 2026. 4.18 The Strategic Property Review will transition to the Strategic Property Programme as the review element is largely complete. Buildings continue to be rationalised where there is no longer a business need to retain them, and this includes some being considered for Community Asset Transfer. The Property Asset Management Strategy 2026 – 2030 was approved by the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board in June 2026. Strategic Outcome 5: Living Our Values 4.19 The latest update on the Council’s Reshaping Renfrewshire transformation programme was considered at Leadership Board in February 2026. Updates were provided across the range of activity underway, including delivery of the Digital Strategy, the Connected Communities programme, place-based programmes such as the Learning Estate Strategy and new- build council housing, and the review of services commissioned from OneRen. 4.20 Work on Best Value in recent months has been focused on this year’s thematic review on Asset Management. Evidence has been submitted to our external auditors and any recommendations arising from the work will be added to the Corporate Improvement Plan. The most recent update to Leadership Board on that Corporate Improvement Plan was in February 2026. Page 69 of 254
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PUBLIC 4.21 Progress continues with planning approaches to engage and consult with services on the four draft strategic outcomes of the new People Strategy, which will now be implemented, following members approval, mid-2027. This timeline will allow us to align the People Strategy to the priorities in the new Council Plan. A survey will be conducted during 2026 to gauge and understand how services’ workforce planning and organisational development needs can be met, whilst navigating current and future financial sustainability challenges. This will support existing engagement approaches such as our Employee Engagement forums. 4.22 A focus of the Digital Strategy work since the last update has been on AI transformation. The business case for the work programme was approved by Leadership Board in April 2026 and this represents significant digital transformation opportunities for the Council over the medium-term. Progress continues within the other key themes of the Digital Strategy including Digital Inclusion and the preparation of an evaluation report on DigiZones and using data to support and evidence a baseline of digital skills across the council. Cross-cutting theme: Improving outcomes for children and families 4.23 The 2026 Annual Report on Keeping the Promise in Renfrewshire was presented to the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board on the 12 March 2026 and is now published. Members of Renfrewshire’s Promise Strategic Oversight Group on the 13 March 2026 meeting were asked to share the report widely across their networks, ensuring strong visibility and awareness across services and partners. The report was also presented to the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board Meeting on Monday 16 March 2026 for the board to note. The report highlights strong local progress, emphasising the inclusion of infants and recognising the need for sustained national alignment and investment. The report will continue to be shared locally and nationally through the Stories of Progress route. 4.24 A new Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership Plan is currently being developed and will be informed by an updated strategic needs assessment. It will align to the new Council and Community Plans which will run from 2027, and to Renfrewshire’s new Promise Strategic Plan 2026-29. 5. Performance Indicators 5.1 The Council Plan performance framework has 34 indicators, of which 21 have targets; the remainder are data only. Of the 21 indicators with targets, 13 are meeting or exceeding the target, 5 are narrowly missing the target, and 3 are behind target. Page 70 of 254
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PUBLIC Within the attached appendix, there is a graphic which shows at-a-glance the overview of performance by Council Plan strategic outcome. Full detail is provided within Appendix 1, however in the next few sections we provide a summary in relation to performance. 5.2 Areas of strong performance include: • Supporting new business start-ups through Business Gateway, with 327 start-ups supported to launch in 2025/26 ; • Reducing CO2 emissions from public lighting, and we are also one of the best-performing councils for overall CO2 emissions; • Keeping our looked after children in family settings wherever possible, with 92.7% looked after in the community; • The uptake of free school meals in our primary schools; • Helping our citizens back into work, with at least 269 people supported by our employability service sustained in paid employment for at least six months; • Reducing the poverty-related attainment gap in literacy and numeracy, whilst recognising that the Council remains committed to progressing further in this area; • The percentage of FOI requests responded to within 20 working days is continuing to meet our target of 90%, despite increasing volumes and complexity of requests in recent years; • The amount of procurement spend which is with local suppliers. 5.3 We are narrowly missing our annual targets in relation to CO2 emissions from the public fleet; the average time to complete all duties for people presenting as homeless; pothole repairs; the percentage of housing stock meeting Scottish Housing Quality Standards; and the percentage of LGBF indicators where we are in the top two quartiles. 5.4 Areas for further improvement and development include: • Recycling rates; • The delivery of affordable housing by a mix of developers in line with projections, with fewer completions than originally planned; • Work days lost due to staff absence, which is currently a focus area for the officer Performance Group. Page 71 of 254
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PUBLIC 5.5 Our performance in relation to the Local Government Benchmarking Framework also demonstrates a number of key strengths. Renfrewshire can demonstrate improvement on 79% of indicators since the base year, higher than all of our family group comparators. In 2024/25 (the latest data available), performance improved in 58 of 92 indicators compared with the previous year, and performance relative to others improved for 63 indicators. Areas of improvement in the past year including in relation to the poverty-related attainment gap for literacy and numeracy, employability services, rent arrears, procurement spend with local suppliers, CO2 emissions and compliance with the Scottish Housing Quality Standard. A one-page overview of our LGBF performance is included as Appendix 2. 5.6 Internal scrutiny processes relating to performance management continue to be developed, including the establishment of a senior officer group to support continuous improvement. 6. Focus for the next six months 6.1 The Council Plan is moving into its final eighteen months, and 24 of the 40 actions have been completed. In the next six months, our areas of specific corporate focus will include: • Supporting the delivery of a balanced budget for 2026/27 and the Reshaping Renfrewshire programme in order to support the financial sustainability of the organisation; • Continuing to progress the delivery of our Learning Estate strategy; • Progressing the Investment Zone and Tech Terrace development at AMIDS and the delivery of AMIDS South transport links; • Progressing delivery of the Corporate Improvement Plan, continuing the Council’s commitment to Best Value; • Progressing Phase 2 of the Connected Communities model, strengthening how we work alongside our communities; • Continuing to refresh and modernise HR and OD policies, as well as prepare for the delivery of a new People Strategy; • Building on the work already delivered by the Resident’s Survey to ensure our consultation and engagement with stakeholders and communities is meaningful and timely; • Continuing to deliver our workforce actions, including improvement actions arising from our employee survey and our Cultural Assurance Model. Page 72 of 254
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PUBLIC 6.2 As reported to Leadership Board in April, officers are currently progressing a programme of work to develop a new Council Plan and Community Plan by September 2027. The Your Voice Matters engagement programme which is linked to the development of the plans, was launched in early June. Regular updates on the development of the Council Plan will be provided to Leadership Board, and also through the Cross Party Sounding Board. Implications of the Report 1. Financial – updates in the appended report relate to areas that fall under the remit of Finance, particularly relating to supporting the Council’s financial sustainability workstreams 2. HR & Organisational Development – updates in the appended report relate to areas that fall under the remit of HR and Organisational Development, particularly under strategic outcome 5, Living our Values 3. Community/Council Planning – the content of the report relates specifically to the delivery of the Council Plan and the appendix shows the associated progress for the first six months of 2026. 4. Legal - none 5. Property/Assets – the report provides an update on actions relating to property owned by the Council. 6. Information Technology – the report provides update on actions relating to IT provision. 7. Equality and Human Rights - The Recommendations contained within this report have not been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights because the report provides an update on progress with current actions and is for noting only. Impact assessments will be carried out by relevant services in relation to actions which require them. 8. Health and Safety - none 9. Procurement – updates in the appended report relate to areas that fall under the remit of the procurement team, under both the strategic outcomes relating to ‘economy’ and ‘green’. 10. Risk – none 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. COSLA Policy Position – none Page 73 of 254
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PUBLIC 13. Climate Risk – the Council Plan priorities are underpinned by actions which will directly support the Council’s response to the climate emergency – ‘green’ has a particular focus on activities supporting this priority area. 14. Children’s Rights – the Council Plan includes a number of actions targeted at improving outcomes for children and young people. The Council is committed to complying with UNCRC and this will be reflected in our activity. Appendices: Six-month update report December 2025 Author: Lisa Fingland, Policy Manager Lisa.fingland@renfrewshire.gov.uk Page 74 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Council Plan Six monthly progress update June 2026 Page 75 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level How we report progress • This update reflects on the past six months of delivering our Council Plan, highlighting areas where we’re already making progress and some areas we’d like to focus on more, perhaps because performance isn’t moving in the direction we anticipated or because of other pressures or factors that makes this even more of a priority for us. We previously reported on our progress in December 2025. • The following pages shine a spotlight on some great projects and practice. Towards the end of this document, you’ll find a full update against all the actions and performance indicators we use to measure progress. • Many of our performance indicators are high-level, annual indicators –our Council Plan spans a 5- year time period so it might take some time to show some trends and patterns. The Council also reports a wide range of performance indicators to our Council Boards through our Service Improvement Plans and also through regular operational performance updates –you can access these reports here. Page 76 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Council Plan Context • As the overarching strategic plan for the organisation, the Council Plan sets the direction and vision that the Council is working towards and can measure itself against delivery. • This aligns closely with the Council’s approved budget –resources are targeted at the priorities for the organisation, as outlined in the Council Plan. • Some key workstreams feed into the Council Plan, which have been further developed over the past 6 months: • Reshaping Renfrewshire –the Council’s fifth phase of transformation, with a focus on how we work together with our communities to improve outcomes • Digital –a new digital strategy was approved in April 2025, aligned to the Council Plan, delivering across four strategic objectives –enabled people; corporate approach to transformation; data driven Council; and modern organisation. • Workforce–reflecting on and taking action to address the feedback from both the Cultural Assurance Model and the Council’s Employee Engagement Survey • The Corporate Improvement Plan continues to progress improvement actions to support our ongoing commitment to Best Value • To reflect the context additional actions have been included and some existing actions have been refocused –this is clearly shown in the action plan. Page 77 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Council Plan: Progress at a glance Page 78 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Place: Working together to enhance wellbeing across communities Town Centre Regeneration Town centre regeneration continues with a new Vision for Johnstone, ongoing construction of a new civic square in Erskine, a landscape framework for Linwood Lade, and designs being developed for the transformation of the former Brown Institute in Renfrew into a new community space. Cultural Infrastructure Programme Another major milestone has been reached with the completion of construction on Paisley Museum. The Museum has been handed over to OneRen and the fit-out and installation programme is underway ahead of its reopening. Learning Estate Construction is almost complete on Paisley Grammar Community Campus ahead of it’s opening in August 2026. Work is also progressing on schedule with both the new Thistle Primary and the extension to Park Mains High School. Page 79 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Economy: building an inclusive, green and resilient economy Empowering People Through Employability It was another successful year in terms of employability with key targets being exceeded. The Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership (LEP) is considered best practice across Scotland, and working relationships and joint practice is continues to excel. Highlights included Employability Month (September) and the best school destination results ever for Renfrewshire, with 97.9% of school leavers entering positive destinations through LEP partnership working, and the success of the hundreds of people who gain qualifications and employment with the support of our services. AMIDS and the Investment Zone A promotional event took place in February 2026 to launch the new Glasgow City Region Investment Zone and raise awareness of the benefits from investing in AMIDS and the airport. We have now applied for planning permission of Phase 1 of our Tech Terrace development at AMIDS, and work is underway to develop plans and a business case for Phase 2. Page 80 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair: nurturing bright, happy and healthy futures for all Child Poverty Accelerator Fund Following a successful bid for funding from the Scottish Government’s Child Poverty Accelerator Fund, work is underway to create a locally governed 'Insight Partnership' that uses existing data to identify families showing early signs of child poverty risk. The partnership will connect these families quickly to the right support, including income maximisation, employability help, cost of living advice, and family wellbeing services Equalities Outcomes Action Plan 2026-2029 A consultation on Renfrewshire’s Equality Outcomes, which involved targeted outreach with third sector organisations, community groups, and Council services, took place later last year. In total 162 people responded to the consultation, including 101 face-to-face engagements, gathering information on areas of good practice and barriers to each of the six equality outcome areas. An action plan has now been developed based on the information gathered Attainment gap between the least and most deprived areas have decreased in both literacy and numeracy Page 81 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Green: leading Renfrewshire to Net Zero Renfrewshire Council’s Carbon Management Plan (CMP) was finalised and approved by the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board in November 2025. Delivery of the plan is now being taken forward over the next 5 years to reduce the Council’s emissions in a number of service areas. We are supporting the delivery of a regional approach to Public Electric Vehicle Charging – the project has now progressed to a formal procurement stage Following the successful pilot the Climate Change Impact Assessment is now being piloted with EH&I projects prior to Council wide roll out over the summer period. Page 82 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living our Values: making a difference together 83,682 people engaging with the Council’s digital channels (not including website) 91.28% of all complaints dealt with at the frontline Driving Performance and Improvement A new Performance group to enhance senior officer scrutiny of council-wide performance was implemented this year The Performance group is now meeting every four weeks, with four initial deep dives covered over the first six months – planning and building standards; absence; complaints and enquiries; and justice social work A range of workstreams is now being progressed as a result of these deep dives and are reporting back to the group regularly Reshaping Renfrewshire The latest update on the Council’s Reshaping Renfrewshire transformation programme was considered at Leadership Board in February 2026. Updates were provided across the range of activity underway, including delivery of the Digital Strategy, the Connected Communities programme, place- based programmes such as the Learning Estate Strategy and new-build council housing, and the review of services commissioned from OneRen. Page 83 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Improving Outcomes for Children and Families 92.7% of our care experienced children and young people are looked after in the community. More than 5000 children received a Winter School Clothing Grant. The Promise We have continued to grow our Promise Keeper network, which now has more than 400 members and we hosted our third annual Promise Keeper Conference. The Council recently approved a new Guaranteed Interview scheme for care- experienced people applying for jobs with the Council who meet all the essential requirements. Page 84 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Actions and indicators Full list December 2025 Page 85 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Place What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Progress Renfrewshire’s Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal programme 31 Mar 2027 Positive progress is being made across all areas where the agreed timeline shows, works scheduled in year 4 of this 10-year programme. As reported to the Communities and Housing Board in August 2024, the acquisition and rehousing strategy is performing as planned and various phases of demolition are being taken forward as blocks become fully council owned and vacant. Support our citizens to access affordable cross-tenure homes that are digitally enabled and meet community needs 31 Mar 2025 The Business Case for Smart Social Assets is now complete and has been shared internally within Renfrewshire Council and also with Glasgow City Region (GCR). The Council continues to investigate potential national funding opportunities via strategic partners such as Commsworld, CityFibre, etc. In addition, work is now underway with regards to the development of other stackable business cases that would supplement Smart Social Assets. Design a new Connected Communities service model for the Council, transforming how we support, collaborate and engage with our communities 31 Dec 2025 Work has been progressed to develop a new Connected Communities function within the Chief Executive’s Service which will bring together staff from the existing Community Learning and Development and Partnership and Inequalities teams. Phase one of this work which focuses on the enabling internal restructure is progressing, with the new service structure agreed and communicated. The Connected Communities Management Team now recruited and in place and progressing recruitment processes for the rest of the new service. Deliver the ambitions in our long-term place visions for our key settlements and town centres 31 Mar 2027 Work is underway to update the town centre strategies to align with the guidance and principles in National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4). Work in Johnstone includes the development of a new vision, feasibility work on several projects and securing funding to demolish a former supermarket, with works on that expected to start in summer 2026. Funding has also been secured to develop the site. In Erskine, work is well underway on the new civic square, which should be completed in the summer. Consultation is planned with residents in the Linwood Lade area on some initial landscape enhancements. Planning consent has been granted for works to transform the former Brown Institute in Renfrew. To complement the significant investment in Paisley’s cultural infrastructure, a new wayfinding strategy for Paisley has been developed to improve the visitor experience. Discussions continue with the owner of the Paisley Centre regarding potential mixed-use regeneration. Page 86 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Place What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Deliver Renfrewshire’s strategic capital investment programmes, including cultural, infrastructure, housing and school estate, and maximise the long- term benefits for our communities 31 Mar 29 As reported to the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board the capital programme is in line to break-even by 31/03/26. At 9 January 2026, 68% of the General Services capital budget and 58% of the HRA capital budget had been spent. A new 10-year capital investment plan was approved by the Council on 26 February 2026. Develop Travel Renfrewshire 2035, our Transport Strategy, supported by revised Active Travel and Public Transport Strategies and aligned to the regional and national travel strategies 31 Mar 2027 The strategy has been completed and was approved by the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board in November 2025. Page 87 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Place What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Deliver the next phase of Local Partnerships development, through our new Local Plans, Local Priorities and Local Voices programme 31 Mar 2025 The final round of Local Partnership meetings for 2024/25 took place in February 2025. All Local Partnerships have now finalised their local priorities following the review of the previously agreed local priorities in autumn/winter 2024/25. Local Partnerships continued to receive presentations on subjects relevant to each area, specifically Civil Contingencies (Gleniffer and Johnstone & Linwood), the refresh of the Villages Investment Fund (The Villages) and Winter Connections (Paisley North West and Central). Erskine, Inchinnan, Bishopton and Langbank Local Partnership also received an update on the development of Renfrewshire Community Transport. Young people’s representatives have now been nominated for Paisley North West and Central Local Partnership and an induction programme has been agreed. New arrangements were agreed for community members of Local Partnerships to claim expenses, which will simplify this process. Applications for Local Partnership funding for 2025/26 were invited from 10 February to 16 March 2025. Over 130 applications for funding were received, to be presented to the April/May 2025 round of Local Partnership meetings. Preparation for the 2025/26 Celebrating Renfrewshire Priority Budgeting exercise to take place during spring/early summer 2025 has also been undertaken. Progress development work in relation to the priority schools identified in the Learning Estate Management Plan. 31 August 2027 Construction work on the new Paisley Grammar Community Campus is expected to complete in June 2026 and the construction of the road link has been accelerated to ensure full site access by July 2026. Familiarisation sessions are being arranged to support the transition for students, staff and visitors. The Outline Business Case (OBC) for the Johnstone Primary Schools was approved by the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board in March 2026 and a Full Business Case (FBC) will now be developed. The contract for the Park Mains extension has been awarded and the project remains on track for completion in August 2027. The construction of Thistle Primary is progressing as per targets and the new Head Teacher has recently started in their role. Work is already underway to plan the transition to the new school. Page 88 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Place Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Opportunities to see or hear something positive about Paisley and Renfrewshire 268,082,849 240,000,000 216,953,038 150,000,000 * 150,000,000 Q4 marketing activity focused on promoting the 2025 events programme, the Paisley Book Festival line up announcement, cultural funding grants and the launch of Paisley Food and Drink Festival with coverage appearing in the following titles: The National (online), The Herald, The Herald (online) The Scotsman (online), Glasgow Times online, List.co.uk, Glasgow Live. The Paisley Daily Express, The Gazette, What’s on network and Foodie Explorers. Marketing paid-for opportunities to see and hear will be available in Q2. *The 2025/26 data is not currently available Amount of land brought forward for re- use and development contributing to economic activity and enhancing the built and natural environment 40 Data Only 4.83 Data Only * Data Only The 2025 vacant and derelict land survey indicates that 4.83 hectares of land has been brought forward for reuse and redevelopment in the year April 2024 to March 2025. The figure varies considerably from year to year. Not all of this land is in council ownership so we have limited levers to influence development. *The 2025/26 data is not currently available Page 89 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Place Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage of Council housing stock which meets the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (LGBF) 68.55% 100% 80.2% 71.5% 80.9% 82.23% Small increase from last year in the percentage of stock passing SHQS, mainly due to a small improvement in EICR and Smoke Detection rates and a minor gain in energy performance. The overall improvement was slightly lower than predicted due to the reduction in stock numbers. Affordable housing completions 196 159 104 159 98 159 This figure represents the total number of units on the three affordable housing sites that fully completed during 2025/26. The actual was lower than targeted. Some of the funding for affordable housing has been used for ‘Rental off the Shelf’ properties, that is, buying existing properties to make available for social rent. Percentage pothole repairs completed within timescales 94% 95% N/A 95% 93.9% 95% We have only recently had the facility to run performance reports on our asset management system ‘Confirm’. As a result, we were unable to monitor pothole performance with the same level of scrutiny as previous years, for the greater part of 2025/26. This has now been resolved. Page 90 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Economy What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Develop an Investment Proposition for Renfrewshire that is clear on our economic ambitions for our place 31 Mar 2026 A new webpage has been created to highlight Renfrewshire’s key investment locations: (https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/article/13818/Renfrewshire-investment-prospectus) Additional information on investing in Renfrewshire and development opportunities has also been added to the Invest in Renfrewshire website: (https://investinrenfrewshire.com/locate-in-renfrewshire/) In addition, a dedicated website has been launched to promote investment opportunities at AMIDS: https://amids.co.uk/ A promotional event took place at the end of February 2026 to launch the new Glasgow City Region Investment Zone Tax Site and to raise awareness of the benefits of investing in AMIDS and the Airport. Further communications on the Tax Site to promote it further are expected later this year. Monitor the benefits of City Deal Projects, including Glasgow Airport Investment Area, Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside and City Region wide employment programmes 31 Mar 2025 Monitoring of benefits reported through the City Region PMO is ongoing. This is currently being transitioned to Regeneration Team as CWRR project now complete. Fully participate in the AMIDS joint venture 31 Jul 2024 AMIDS joint venture fully established and operational, Council is fully participating. Complete the Tech Terrace development and attract the first large occupier 31 Mar 2027 Tech Terrace is being progressed by Buccleuch as part of our AMIDS Joint Venture. Planning permission for Phase 1 has been applied for, and Phase 2 is now being worked on. It is intended that financial support for Phase 2 be provided through a City Region Enabling Commercial Development bid, and the business case for this is being prepared. That business case is due for submission at the end of 2026. Develop a Community Wealth Building Plan for Renfrewshire 31 Mar 2025 A “Community Wealth Building in Renfrewshire” paper has been produced and approved at board to set out the way forward. Additionally, the CWB(Scotland) Bill was published in March 2025 which sets out the way ahead for the public sector. Plans are moving forward with speed now, local events have been organised and board is being kept up to date. Page 91 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Economy What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Continue to support local employment through the delivery of targeted support through the Council’s employability programme 31 Mar 2027 The 2025-26 year was again very productive in terms of employability with some very good results and all targets exceeded. The Renfrewshire LEP is considered best practice across Scotland and working relationships and joint practice are excellent. External funding from both Scottish and UK Governments has been claimed in full. For the first time there was an internal audit on the LEP and grants activity which showed no issues or follow up required. LEP highlights included Employability Month (September) and the best school destination results ever for Renfrewshire with 97.9% of school leavers entering positive destinations through LEP partnership working. All LEP planning and decision making for the year ahead (26-27) has been carried out and we are ready for another good year. Continue to progress core actions to support local and regional economic growth. 31 Mar 2027 The Council continues to focus on securing investment at AMIDS to unlock its full potential for job creation and economic growth. External funding from Scottish Enterprise and the City Deal has been identified to support the development of Tech Terrace—a speculative project that will deliver industrial floorspace for advanced manufacturing SMEs and start- ups. Construction of Phase 1 is due to begin later this year. The Council has worked with the Glasgow City Region and the Scottish Government to secure Investment Zone funding for a new tax site (£25m), which incentivises businesses to locate at AMIDS/Glasgow Airport. It is hoped that this will act as a catalyst for significant investment in the years ahead. Gateways 3 and 4 for the Investment Zone were submitted last year to the Government, and the Investment Zone and tax site are now live. A detailed update on the IZ was reported to Leadership Board in April 2026. Our Start-Up Street initiative continues to be a catalyst for business launch and growth, and has supported 59 new and early stage businesses across the three sites since it started in 2020. It has very high business survival rates – 86% - and strong progression, with 29 tenants so far moving on to larger premises. The model has drawn interest from other local authorities and is helping drive economic activity across our town centres. Page 92 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Economy Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage of council procurement spend spent on local enterprises (LGBF) 20.15% 23% 22% 21% * 21% Growing direct spend with local suppliers is a core principle of Community Wealth Building. The use of public procurement to help generate, circulate and retain wealth within the local economy is explicitly recognised in the new Community Wealth Building Bill, introduced on 25 March 2025. To support this, the Corporate Procurement team is working in partnership with Economic Development to increase local business involvement in market engagement activity, including participation in the development of future council frameworks and bidding for contracts on frameworks approaching renewal. Development of a draft Local Supply Chain Engagement Strategy underway to identify how the Council can improve engagement with local businesses and services can be better supported to identify and invite local businesses to submit bids. Through the P2P Programme, a cleanse of over 6000 suppliers on the Business World system has been undertaken with updated categorisations added such as ‘local supplier’, SME, ‘third sector’ which will improve the recording of local suppliers and help highlight opportunities, where appropriate, to increase local engagement across specific areas. *The 2025/26 will not be available until summer 2026. Page 93 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Economy Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Gross Value Added (GVA) per capita (LGBF) £25,925 Data only * Data only * Data only Renfrewshire had lower percentage GVA growth than the Regional average but performed well in labour market indicators with employment increasing while unemployment and inactivity decreased - including a significant decrease in the number of people inactive due to long term sickness. There was a large decrease in the volume of residents with no qualifications but there was also a reduction in the volume of residents with degree level qualifications. According to ONS figures, overall GVA in Renfrewshire grew by £365 million between 2019 and 2022. Considering this period included the Covid pandemic, the growth is a positive sign. Renfrewshire also contributes the fourth highest level of GVA in the City Region (2022). *This is an LGBF indicator and the latest data is for 2022/23. Number of people supported, sustained in work at 6 Months through Renfrewshire Council Employability Programme (INVEST) 268 180 288 180 269 180 We have been able to confirm of those moving into work that 269 are still in employment 26 weeks later. Number of new business start-ups in Renfrewshire with Business Gateway support 305 320 265 320 327 320 Business start ups increased throughout the year and 327 people received support to start up a business throughout 2025-26.In Quarter 4, targeted marketing, community engagement, and partnership activity raised awareness of available support, resulting in greater uptake of those wishing to start their business. Page 94 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Economy Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Renfrewshire Claimant Count 3,590 Data only 3,315 Data only 3,235 Data only This measure is a snapshot figure from March 2026 and is the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits. The figure continues to reduce. The Council continues to provide employability support to hundreds of people each year. Percentage of Renfrewshire population working age (16-64) 63.9% Data only 64.3% Data only * Data only Work to explore Renfrewshire’s demographics was undertaken by officers following the census release and this also looked at the regular data updates from the National Records of Statistics, this showed that while Renfrewshire has an overall ageing population (in line with the national trends), our proportion of the population of working age is above average and puts us in the higher end, just behind the city authorities. *The 2025/26 data is not currently available. Percentage of Renfrewshire population working age (16–64) who are economically inactive 22.4% Data only 21.4% Data only 25.3% Data only This figure is for the calendar year 2025. The percentage had been falling for several years but has increased and is now above the Scottish average. This measure includes those who are students and those who are retired – 35.3% of the economically inactive in Renfrewshire are long- term sick (compared with Scottish average of 34.7%) and 18.1% are retired (compared with Scottish average of 14.8%). A further 21.4% in Renfrewshire are students. Page 95 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Deliver the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, working with partners to support Renfrewshire residents through the cost-of-living crisis 31 Mar 2027 The Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan has continued to be implemented under the four themes: Improving Financial Security; Strengthening Health, Wellbeing and Community; Embedding Equality and Inclusion; Using Insight and Evidence for Impact. The Winter Connections programme has ended, and an evaluation report will be presented to the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee. Work is underway to expand the network of DigiZones in Renfrewshire to support digital inclusion, and the Device Recycling project with Pachedu, which was funded by Renfrewshire Council has commenced. This project will provide refurbished devices to those who need them, as well as link with the Digital Champions network. Both Advice Works and RCAB have continued to provide advice to residents, and in particular to families with children. A £10,000 grant was paid to Renfrewshire Foodbank to support their work with low-income families and individuals by providing emergency food support. The Fairer Renfrewshire Panel has continued to input to policy and practice within Council services, most recently meeting with the Chief Officer of the HSCP and with the Community Justice Lead Officer. The Panel also input to the Equalities Outcomes work. Page 96 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Develop mechanisms for supporting individuals with lived experience of poverty to influence policy in this area 31 Mar 2024 The Fairer Renfrewshire panel, facilitated by STAR Project, continues to meet with officers across Council services to ensure the voice of those with lived experience of poverty informs Council’s policy and practice. The Panel has provided insight in a number of areas. The initial discussion was around holiday provision in Renfrewshire, with the Panel contributing to the plans for our ‘Summer of Fun’, providing feedback on what is useful for low-income families, eg, provision of food in all settings, provision for siblings, local provision so there are no transport costs and provision for older teenagers. The Panel has also fed into the Council’s new School Meal Debt processes, which now include earlier referral to available supports. They have met the Digital Strategy Delivery Manager to discuss digital exclusion and have provided feedback and ideas to our Climate Emergency Lead Officer around Renfrewshire’s Net Zero Delivery Plan. Discussions with the panel around employability, especially parental employability have been used to inform events, and target work. As part of the Council Tax Debt Pilot, the panel were consulted with, to help those engaged in the Pilot to understand barriers to accessing support, such as advice, and to review correspondence associated with collection of Council Tax as well as potential for enhancing collection processes in general. The Panel has met with the Convenor and Depute of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee and we also intend to bring the Panel together with the full Sub- Committee and Fairer Renfrewshire Officers Group to discuss Panel priorities and their future plans Developing new and radical approaches to tackling child poverty in Renfrewshire (CF) 31 Mar 2027 Significant work has been carried out within this period to refresh EqHRIA reporting templates, guidance and processes in order to continue to improve practice. Renfrewshire Council has made a successful bid to the Child Poverty Accelerator Fund and is creating a locally-governed Insight Partnership which will use existing data to identity families showing early risks of child poverty and ensure that families are connected quickly to the right support. Page 97 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair What we will do Due Date Status Progress update The Promise Strategic Oversight Board and workstreams will progress and ensure Renfrewshire ‘Keeps the Promise’ and delivers improved outcomes for individuals who are care experienced, wherever possible keeping children within their families (CF) 31 Mar 2025 A comprehensive report outlining the first 5 years of Renfrewshire’s work to Keep The Promise was presented and discussed at the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board on the 13th March 2025. The publication of this report coincided with the 5-year midpoint of the 10-year programme to Keep The Promise by 2030. Going forward this report will be updated on an annual basis and presented to the Board for consideration by elected members. The report has been well received and shared across our local and national networks. The Promise Keeper Network sits at 362 Promise Keepers with efforts taking place to grow the network. The network is receiving both local and national interest. There has been engagement with Scottish Government’s Promise Team (Care Experience, Children’s Services Reform & The Promise Division) around the merits and best practice nature of this initiative. On the 26th March three Renfrewshire Promise Funded projects were showcased at the Promise Partnership Showcase Event in Stirling organised by CORRA. The projects, the Youth Services Led Grant Programme and the two Keep The Promise Funded Education Projects, were showcased and shared learning with partners across Scotland. The Promise Manager has been working with colleagues in Environment, Housing and Infrastructure (E,H&I) around how that service will work towards Keeping The Promise and support our Care Experienced Community, and a number of actions have been incorporated into EH&I’s 2025/26 Service Improvement Plan. At February’s Promise Strategic Oversight Group, it was agreed that a review of membership take place and a proposed refreshed membership proposal be made. A suggested proposal has been produced and submitted to the Chair, for approval. The Supporting the Workforce workstream is actively progressing on a number of projects of note: “Promise Human Library,” “Care Experienced network for staff and “Guaranteed Interviews” activity. A full update was provided at recent The Promise Strategic Oversight Group. Page 98 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Build local capacity for transformational whole systems change and to scale up and drive the delivery of holistic whole family support services (CF) 31 Mar 2025 FORT data shows that 636 families have been supported through the community family wellbeing service since recording on this system began. Funded third sector organisations now using FORT to make referrals and record wellbeing information. Three successful family wellbeing launch events in November 2024 reached 559 children and families. Third sector evaluations now underway and outcomes will inform funding for 2025/26. 1086 families to date have been supported by the community family wellbeing team and funded third sector partner organisations. 62% of families supported are from SIMD 1-5 Outcomes recorded include: • Improved parental understanding of the need of child, including healthy attachment • Improved sleep routine • Improved parental understanding of the needs of unborn child • Improved participation in community facilities and universal services • Improvement in parenting, family functioning, relationships and reduction in child’s distressed behaviour Following a successful system proof of concept, a procurement exercise is currently underway to secure a client record system for Whole Family Wellbeing ( including partner third sector organisations) ; community learning and development and educational psychology service Following evaluation of partner third sector organisations, year 4 funding will be awarded to allow continuation and development of family support work already underway, with a key focus on partnership working for added impact. Currently exploring more joined up working with Connected Communities. Page 99 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Develop the Trauma Informed and Responsive Renfrewshire Programme 31 Mar 2025 The pilot of the Level 1 training will take place in the first quarter of 2025/26. The TIRR Steering Group has a refreshed membership and terms of reference and is meeting on a quarterly basis. A new officer is in post to help further roll-out the programme of work. Progress the design and delivery of the Curriculum, Learning, Teaching and Assessment; the Families and Communities; and the Inclusion Portfolios within Children’s Services (CF) 31 Mar 2025 All portfolios continue to focus on the actions plans which they have developed through self-evaluation activity. Portfolio planning teams meet regularly with heads of service to discuss progress and there is now a standing agenda item on challenges, so discussions are solution focused. Data continues to be shared across portfolios to ensure continuous improvement. Portfolio action plans are being developed to align with Service Improvement Priorities. Deliver mental health and wellbeing support, including Ren10 mental health and wellbeing network to support children, young people and their families (CF) 31 Mar 2025 A plan is in place for the next session (2025/26) and there will be a continuation of the support and resources which are demonstrating the biggest impact on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Work is still ongoing to merge the referral process with FORT. Deliver strategic and operational responses to migration and asylum, supporting individuals and families into settled accommodation (CF) 31 Mar 2027 The census releases over the latter half of 2024 provided a significantly updated picture of Renfrewshire’s communities – significant work was undertaken to analyse this data. As part of Members Development Week 2025, a series of Ward Census Profile presentations were delivered to Elected Members and a data dashboard was developed and shared. A Senior Policy Officer post with a focus on Migration and Population was successfully recruited and is developing strategic needs assessment in partnership with the Strategic Migration Group, a workshop with a range of partners took place in October.Work is also being undertaken analysing the latest release of population projections, and Council officers continue to attend the COSLA population roundtable. Page 100 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage of children living in poverty (after housing costs) (LGBF) 24% Data only 21% Data only * Data only The percentage in Renfrewshire in 2023/24 was 21%, compared to 24% in 2022/23. The Scottish average was 22%. The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 set a Scotland wide target of 18% relative child poverty in 2023/24 falling to 10% in 2030/31. Only four local authorities had child poverty rates at or below the 18% target in 2023/24 and these same four were below 18% nearly a decade earlier in 2014/15. *The 2025/26 data is not currently available. Proportion of people earning less than the real living wage (LGBF) 16% Data only 15.5% Data only * Data only In Renfrewshire, about 15.5% of employees earn less than the real living wage (RLW) higher than the Scotland average of 11.3%. The combination of more lower-paid occupations, part-time/insecure work, local labour market dynamics, and structural issues (skill/qualification mismatch, deprivation) contribute to this gap. Because wholesale & retail is a large employment sector in Renfrewshire (14,000 jobs) and this sector nationally has a relatively higher share of jobs below the RLW (~30%) compared to many other sectors, it’s reasonable to infer that retail is likely a significant contributor to the lower-wage share in Renfrewshire. The accommodation & food services sector nationally has a very high share of below-RLW pay (~46% in 2023). Even if this sector’s share in Renfrewshire is smaller than the Scottish average, it may still contribute as Renfrewshire has 6,000 jobs in this sector. The fact that median hourly pay in Renfrewshire is around £19.52 suggests many full-time roles are above RLW—but that masks many part-time, lower-paid, or volatile roles (often found in retail, hospitality) which bring down the share earning below RLW. *The 2025/26 data is not currently available. Page 101 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage uptake of free school meals in primary schools 52.5% 60% 60.2% 60% 59% 60% The uptake for 2025/26 is 59.0% which is slightly below the target of 60%. Uptake did increase throughout 2025/26 and exceeded target for the final quarter of the year. Page 102 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Number of children in receipt of school clothing grants 5,860 Data only 5,316 Data only 5,028 Data only The number of FSM/CG applications in 2025/26 fell by approximately 4.7% compared to 2024/25, with the number of children being awarded a Clothing Grant in 2025/26 falling by 5.5% compared to 2024/25. Whilst it cannot be definitively determined why there has been a reduction in the number of children being awarded a Clothing Grant, it appears that the primary reasons are due to either parental income exceeding the Clothing Grant eligibility thresholds for earned income within Universal Credit, or non-entitlement to Universal Credit. We would suggest that this could be a combination of three reasons: managed migration from tax credits/legacy benefits to Universal Credit where earned income thresholds are less generous but conditionality is more stringent, higher pay settlements as a consequence of inflationary rate pressures increasing wages, and/or parents taking on additional working hours to help alleviate cost of living pressures. Page 103 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Average time from household presenting themselves as homeless to completion of duty (number of weeks) 21.23 26 21.96 26 24.33 26 Average time to complete duty increased due to increased number of presentations. Page 104 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Green What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Develop costed, targeted interventions and actions to support our net zero journey within the Council and working in partnership with key stakeholders (CF) 31 Mar 2026 Priority projects and associated targets for the next 5 years have been identified and scoped in partnership with key service areas including Waste, Transport and OneRen as part of the new Carbon Management Plan (CMP) 2025-2030. Delivery of the CMP plan is now being taken forward over the next 5 years to reduce the Council’s emissions in a number of service areas. Development of Low Emissions / Electrification Strategy 31 Mar 2026 Led by Glasgow City Region, the project has now progressed to formal procurement stage with an invitation to participate process carried out. A new Charge Point Operator is expected to be appointed in August 2026. Develop a Strategic Property Review of Council operational, non- operational and surplus assets 31 Mar 2026 Officers have collated a large amount of data and information in relation to the Strategic Property Review. As such, the “review” aspect will close and move towards the Strategic Property Programme. As previously noted, buildings continue to be rationalised and the lease at 27 High Street has ended and other buildings moving towards Community Asset Transfer. The Head of Facilities and Property Services has reviewed and changed the structure of the team with a Lead Facilities Manager – Development and Strategy (Assets) and Asset Coordinator have been recruited. The structure will also be strengthened by formalising the Strategic Facilities Manager (Asset Management and Hard FM). The Property Asset Management Strategy 2026 – 2030 will be presented to the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board on 11 June 2026. Develop a funding strategy to support the resourcing of actions to deliver net zero 31 Mar 2026 Priority projects have been identified to support our net zero journey within the Council through the new Carbon Management Plan and our Climate Capital Programme for 2025/26. The Capital Programme has been developed over a 3- year period to indicate whether further investment/funding will be required to deliver projects in their entirety. The Council will continue to explore emerging opportunities for funding to support future climate related activity. A revised approach to establishing a carbon budget was presented to the Ren Zero Focus Group in March. This approach focuses on implementing a carbon budget across 3 high consuming Council buildings in 26/27 with the aim of reducing energy demand, carbon emission and utility costs. The 3 buildings will act as a pilot prior to a wider roll out across Council buildings, if successful. Page 105 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Green What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Establish a carbon budget for Renfrewshire Council 31 Dec 2025 A revised approach to establishing a carbon budget was presented to the Ren Zero Focus Group in March. This approach focuses on implementing a carbon budget across 3 high consuming Council buildings in 26/27 with the aim of reducing energy demand, carbon emission and utility costs. The 3 buildings will act as a pilot prior to a wider roll out across Council buildings, if successful. Review opportunities within the Council’s infrastructure pipeline projects to align with the skills transition and green skills development for local people 31 Dec 2026 Renfrewshire LEP have approved funding for a net zero “retrofit” programme to support unemployed people being trained in this area for future job roles. The Economic Development Team work with local contractors to maximise community benefit opportunities in all contracts and are able to identify where local people can benefit. Page 106 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Green Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target CO2 Emissions area wide per capita (LGBF) 4.06 Data only * Data only * Data only Renfrewshire Council is below both the Scottish national average and the Family Group average for emissions area-wide per capita. Renfrewshire Council area saw a decrease of 7.7% compared with previous year. *This is an LGBF indicator and 2024/25 data is not yet available. CO2 Emissions area wide: emissions within scope of LA per capita (LGBF) 3.49 Data only * Data only * Data only Renfrewshire Council is below both the Scottish national average and the Family Group average for emissions area-wide within scope of the LA per capita. Renfrewshire Council area saw a decrease of 8.9% compared with the previous year. *This is an LGBF indicator and 2024/25 data is not yet available. Amount of CO2 emitted from Council buildings 12,719 Data only 12,550 Data only * Data only Please note 23/24 has been amended as original figure did not include water in buildings and electric vehicle charging points. 24/25 figure has decreased from previous year 23/24. *Figures for 2025/26 are not yet available. Page 107 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Green Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Amount of CO2 emitted by the public vehicle fleet 3,118 3,000 3,180 3,000 * 3,000 The total for the year is 3,180 tonnes ofCO2 emitted which is slightly over the target of 3,000 tonnes of CO2e. *Figures for 2025/26 are not yet available Amount of CO2 emitted from public space lighting 1,216 1,100 1,217 1,100 1,053 1,100 This performance indicator is an annual indicator and not measured for quarters. Although not measured in quarters, the emissions levels are anticipated to level out year on year as the LED programme is substantially complete. Page 108 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Green Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023 2024 2025 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage of household waste Recycled (Calendar year data) (LGBF) 44% 50% 42.8% 50% * 50% There are several factors that have contributed to the reduction in recycling rate for 2024, these include: • Scottish Government introduced the legislation around Waste Upholstered Domestic Seating at the beginning of 2024, with the Council enforcing separate collections of these materials, some of which would have been recycled previously, now having to go to incineration. • A change in contractor and processing arrangements for our HWRC black bag waste which means less recycling can be recovered. • There was a general decrease in recycling collected at kerbside, however general market trends show that less Paper, Card and Cardboard is being collected at kerbside. *This is an LGBF indicator and 2025 data is not yet available. Page 109 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living our Values What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Implement the next phase of transformation through the actions arising from the Council’s financial sustainability and improvement workstreams and the new Reshaping Renfrewshire programme 31 Mar 2027 The aim of this action is that the Council is able to maintain a balanced budget by 31 March 2028 within the context of a challenging financial environment. This has so far been achieved for 2025/26, the first of the three financial years in scope. The Transformation Board has met 7 times and considered updates and progress on a wide range of projects and programmes, providing advice and guidance as required. Deliver improvement activity across the organisation in line with revised best value audit methodology 31 Mar 2027 Following the publication of the Controller of Audit’s Best Value Report, the ‘areas of focus’ identified by the Accounts Commission have been added to the Corporate Improvement Plan. These were detailed in a report to Council on 26 June 2025. A progress report was taken to the Leadership Board in September 2025 and thereafter in February 2026, showing the majority of existing actions have been completed or are nearing completion. Two new actions were added from the Best Value thematic review on transformation and five new actions added in relation to the Residents Research undertaken by the Council. Evidence was submitted to the Council’s external auditors, Azets, at the end of March 2026 in relation to the Best Value thematic review on Asset Management. Any recommendations which come from this workstream will be added to the Corporate Improvement Plan. Work continues across all elements of the improvement agenda, continuing to represent a key focus for the CE’s service in the coming year. Page 110 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living our Values What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Continue to develop our approaches and activities in relation to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, responding to the needs and views of our workforce 31 Mar 2027 Key areas of progress include new and revised HR&OD Policies written using friendly, inclusive language and tone. The Council is embedding our economic development employability programmes throughout our recruitment processes ensuring barriers faced by employees and interns are removed. Recruitment, onboarding and pastoral support processes for overseas workers have been established, through participation in a Scottish Government pilot programme. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Awareness is now one of the Council’s mandatory training modules and all employees are being supported and encouraged to complete the training, whether that be online or via face to face/toolbox talks. Our workforce received communications throughout November to encourage them to update their personal equality monitoring information currently held by the Council. This will enable the Council under its statutory duty to ensure the most up to date information is held and policies/strategies, etc are meeting the needs of our people. The Council is currently revising its Equality & Diversity and Respect at Work Policies and associated training, with a view to implementing later in 2025. The 3 year Plan will continue to be implemented throughout 2025 and beyond Develop new approaches to consultation and engagement with our communities, underpinned by our values. 31 Mar 2025 This action is complete. A new policy (with additional checklist and toolkit) and Terms of Reference for an officer-led engagement oversight group has been produced, responding to service engagement and feedback and national best practice guidance. The Policy was agreed in February 2025 and work is now underway on an implementation plan. There is a new action focusing on monitoring the effectiveness of our engagement with communities. Develop a framework to monitor the effectiveness of community engagement 31 Mar 2027 The Consultation and Engagement Advisory Group(CEAG) is now established and meets every 6 weeks. The CEAG is lead by the Senior Policy Officer for Engagement and Consultation and are continuing to develop a toolkit focusing on guidance, training and governance to support, streamline and monitor engagement and consultation activity across the council. Colleagues in Marketing and Comms and Policy and Insight have continued to collaborate on the resident survey and subsequent focus groups have taken place to support this work. As reported to Leadership Board in April, an ongoing programme of consultation and engagement is being delivered to support the development of the new Council and Community Plans. Page 111 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living our Values What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Lead implementation of the council brand, ensuring council communications are responsive, informed, inclusive and accessible (CF) 31 Mar 2025 This action is complete. A report was taken to Leadership Board in 2024 to update members on the outcome of the evaluation of place brand activity over the past five years and the findings of an independent review, and to recommend next steps for place promotion. Officers from marketing and communications will work with regeneration and economic development colleagues and wider place partners to explore the six recommended areas of activity to help drive the marketing of Renfrewshire in future. A further report will be taken to Leadership Board in the autumn to update on progress. Deliver a refreshed approach to workforce planning and workforce innovation, with a focus on recruitment and retention; learning and development; and career pathways. 31 Mar 2027 Progress continues with planning approaches to engage and consult with services on the four draft strategic outcomes of the new People Strategy, which will now be implemented, following members approval, mid-2027. This will align to the key priorities of the new Council Plan. A survey will be conducted early 2026 to gauge and understand how services’ workforce planning and organisational development needs can be met, whilst navigating current and future financial sustainability challenges. We continue to gather insights and views from across the workforce, via our established Employee Engagement forums. As these approaches evolve, they will become an integral part of how we listen and involve our workforce in shaping the future of our organisation.Benchmarking and development of the 4 strategic outcomes has informed the main content of the survey to go to key stakeholders. This will be conducted imminently, following which the year 1 and 2 priority actions of the People Strategy will be identified. Drive improved attendance and reduced absence across the organisation 31 Mar 2025 The Workforce Planning Group are progressing the key priorities of the People Strategy, taking forward the recommendations from the Best Value audit and will work collaboratively with the Head of People and OD on strategic approaches to workforce planning and OD to establish new key priority areas over the next 5 years. A bi-annual report on our People Metrics was presented to FARS Board on 13 February 2025 for noting and monitoring. Page 112 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living our Values What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Embed our Wellbeing Strategy, meeting the current and future needs of our workforce 31 Mar 2025 Training for colleagues who are already mental health first aiders on how to support colleagues with specific types of mental health conditions was rolled out on 5th December – A conversation on Anxiety. Further sessions planned during 2025 will be delivered on Suicide, Depression, Self-Harm and Psychosis. We continue to raise awareness of menopause. An action plan of support based on findings from the Menopause Survey conducted in November 2024 will include further RenTalks on Supporting Menopause during February, toolbox talks on support for employees and managers and ‘Let’s Pause’ sessions, our virtual get-together. Council officers continue to work in collaboration with RCA Trust to provide colleagues with specialist support, training and advice on gambling addiction. ‘Bet you can help now’ training is being rolled out during January and February, with focus groups consisting of line managers, People & OD and Trade Unions. We have recently been recognised as a Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland employer. Training will be rolled out to the Customer Contact Centre employees initially, to provide advice and signposting people to available facilities and Council locations outwith Renfrewshire House. This training will be recorded and developed as a module on iLearn for all employees. A Council website page is being created in the staff information section that will include guidance around reasonable adjustments etc. Wellbeing Support toolbox talks are being rolled out to line managers within HSCP and EH&I. This will also be delivered during the Head Teachers meeting in February. Implement the new Digital Strategy 31 Mar 2030 Since the last update in Jan 2026, there has been significant work undertaken on validating the AI business case with input from senior officers from across all services including Finance Business Partners. The business case is now complete and has been reviewed and approved by the Corporate Management Team. The business case represents one of the most significant digital transformation opportunities for the Council over the medium term. A report is being submitted to the April Leadership Board for approval. Progress continues within the other key themes of the Digital Strategy including Digital Inclusion and the preparation of an evaluation report on DigiZones and using data to support and evidence a baseline of digital skills across the council. The Data Advisory Group (DAG) continue to meet with a focus on data management, data analysis and data skills. It is anticipated that DAG priorities will be to support any future AI programme of work. Page 113 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living Our Values Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Average number of work days lost through sickness absence per employee 12.75 9.9 13.38 9.9 12.88 9.9 Councilwide sickness absence has decreased in 2025/26 compared to the previous financial year, based on total work days lost. The reduction is primarily driven by lower levels of work days lost due to psychological, musculoskeletal, stomach/bowel/blood & metabolic disorders, and respiratory related absence across the organisation. These reductions have outweighed increases observed in a small number of other absence categories over the year. Absence remains an area of focus for the Council’s Performance Group. Employees continue to have access to Occupational Health services and the Time for Talking counselling service, alongside ongoing, timeous caseload management with oversight and support from People & OD across all services. Through continued focus on absence management and sustained support for managers and employees, improvement is expected to be maintained over the coming year. Page 114 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living Our Values Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage of posts of the highest 5% of earners among employees (excl. Teachers) who are women (LGBF) 57.59% Data only 57.1% Data only * Data only Total number of employees = 6,268 Total number of employees in top 5% = 324 (per guidance value 313 has been increased to 324 due to numbers on the salary point) Total number of women in top 5% = 185 (57.10%) The number of employees in top 5% has increased by 1 and the number of women in top 5% has decreased by 1. This has resulted in a decrease of 0.49% for 2024/25. The decrease in this indicator from 57.59% in 2023/24 to 57.10% in 2024/25 has arisen due to turnover activity within the Council. We will continue to monitor this indicator as part of our equality monitoring processes to ensure that our recruitment, training, development, and retention processes treat everyone in an equal and consistent basis. We also now provide senior officers with frequent statistics inclusive of attrition & retention to help create awareness of where potential challenges may exist whilst offering a range of interventions. Due to several external factors out with the council’s control it is difficult to accurately predict future impact, however, based on the council’s trends and interventions over recent years it is hoped that performance levels will improve or at least be maintained over the next financial year. This indicator is taken from the Local Government Benchmarking Framework and data for 2025/26 will not be available until later in the year. Page 115 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living Our Values Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage gender pay gap between average hourly rate of pay for male and female employees (LGBF) 0.44 Data only -0.52 Data only * Data only As at 31st March 2025, the Council’s mean gender pay gap stands at -0.52%. This figure is based on and follows the standard methodology of comparing the mean hourly pay of males and females, excluding overtime payments. Average hourly rate (Male): £21.25 Average hourly rate (Female): £21.36 Gender Pay Gap: -0.52% A number of structural and strategic factors have contributed to this positive shift: · The ongoing implementation of the Council’s revised Pay & Grading Model continues to create a more equitable pay structure across roles and grades. · Service redesigns and targeted workforce planning have supported more balanced recruitment, retention, and progression opportunities across genders. · Natural turnover and external labour market factors have had some influence but appear to be offset by internal interventions. · People & OD continue to develop and implement progressive HR policies which support out workforce to share parental and caring responsibilities. We will continue to monitor, benchmark and report our performance annually. While external factors, such as labour market trends and workforce demographics, remain outside the Council’s control, the consistent downward trend in the gender pay gap in recent years, culminating in a reversed gap, suggests that sustained improvement is achievable. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation will be essential to maintaining this position. This indicator is taken from the Local Government Benchmarking Framework and data for 2025/26 will not be available until later in the year. Page 116 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living Our Values Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Complaints closed at Frontline Resolution as a percentage of all complaints 82.8% 85% 63.5% 85% 91.28% 85% A total of 12,550 complaints were received during 2025/26. From this total, 11,452 Frontline cases were closed during the reporting year. Percentage of FOI requests completed within timescale 89.9% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% As the Council’s performance is currently achieving target, there are no issues regarding this. However it may be worth noting that the increased use of the escalation process over the past few months is one factor which has helped to maintain the Council’s FOI performance. This is against a backdrop of increased FOIs from 24/25 (1528 compared to this year’s 1698). Additionally we are seeing an increase in the use of AI platforms to formulate FOIs which has increased the complexity of requests. During 2025/26 a total of 1698 with 1524 requested completed within target (90%). The Information Governance team are due to conduct bespoke training for our service representatives which will improve their expertise in processing FOIs. Percentage of LGBF performance indicators performing in the top 2 quartiles 50% 56% 50% 56% 55% 56% This figure represents a snapshot and is reported with a one year lag due to publication dates, so the 2025/26 data mainly reflects the reporting year 2024/25. As of April 2026, the 2024/25 data had been published for 92 indicators, and Renfrewshire was in the top performing 50% of councils for 51 indicators, giving us 55%. This is slightly behind target set. The Council's Performance Group supports targeted improvement work on indicators that are behind target and this is expected to support improvement on this measure in the future. Page 117 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Improving Outcomes for Children and Families Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage Point Gap in % Pupils Achieving Expected Level for their stage in Literacy between pupils living in 30% Most Deprived areas and those living in 70% Least Deprived Areas (SIMD) 14 10 9 10 * 10 The size of the attainment gap has decreased by 6 percentage points since 2023-24 as a result of increased attainment of pupils living in SIMD 30% most deprived areas. The size of the gap is the lowest in the previous 7 years at 9 percentage points. Pupils living in most deprived areas were more significantly impacted by the pandemic which caused these gaps to widen. The data indicates that positive progress has been made to rectify this, and the size of the gap is now lower than in 2018-19. Percentage Point Gap in % Pupils Achieving Expected Level for their stage in Numeracy between pupils living in 30% Most Deprived areas and those living in 70% Least Deprived Areas (SIMD) 11 9 9 9 * 9 The size of the attainment gap has decreased by 2 percentage points since 2023-24 as a result of improved attainment of pupils living in SIMD 30% most deprived areas. The size of the gap is the lowest in the previous 7 years. Pupils living in most deprived areas were more significantly impacted by the pandemic which caused these gaps to widen. The data indicates that positive progress has been made to rectify this, and the size of the gap is now lower than in 2018-19. Data on attainment is based on academic years; the academic year 2025/26 does not end until 31 July 2026 and new data will not be available until the end of 2026. Page 118 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Improving Outcomes for Children and Families Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Average total tariff score of leavers living in SIMD 30% most deprived areas 681 700 728 700 * 700 It is not possible to make a like for like comparison to previous years within this measure due to the cancellation of exam diets in 2020 and 2021. Renfrewshire’s data follows national trends with an increase during this period which is now returning to post-pandemic levels. Renfrewshire is consistently ahead of the national figure in this measure but remains marginally below the virtual comparator. The latest data is ahead of the 2018/19 leavers cohort, which was 674. Targets for this measure were set before the pandemic. *Data for 2025/26 is not yet available. Average total tariff score of all school leavers in Renfrewshire 941 965 975 970 * 975 As above, it is not possible to make a like for like comparison to previous years within this measure due to the cancellation of exam diets in 2020 and 2021. Renfrewshire’s data follows national trends with an increase during this period which is now returning to post- pandemic levels. Renfrewshire is consistently ahead of the national figure in this measure but remains marginally below the virtual comparator. The latest data is ahead of 2018/19 leavers cohort, which was 923. Targets for this measure were set before the pandemic. *Data for 2025/26 is not yet available. Page 119 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Improving Outcomes for Children and Families Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 Q1 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Proportion of children being looked after in the community (LGBF) 90.9% 89.9% 91.6% 89.9% * 89.9% The proportion of looked after children residing in community settings has increased by 0.2 percentage points, reaching 91.8%. The majority of looked after children continue to be cared for within the community, either with their families or with alternative carers such as extended family or friends. This reflects the service’s ongoing commitment to prioritising family-based care wherever appropriate. While residential placements may be necessary for a small number of children and young people due to their individual needs, such arrangements are considered only when community-based care is not suitable. The overarching aim remains to support children in environments that promote stability, wellbeing, and continuity of care. This indicator is also reported annually through the Local Government Benchmarking Framework (CHN9: ‘Balance of care for looked after children’), which measures the percentage of children being looked after in the community. The most recent published data for 2023/24 shows that 92.8% of looked after children in Renfrewshire were cared for in community settings, exceeding the national average of 88.8%. *Data for 2025/26 is not yet available. Page 120 of 254
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Council Plan Six monthly progress update December 2025 For more information, please contact: policycefar@renfrewshire.gov.uk Page 121 of 254
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PUBLIC Page 122 of 254
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 17 June 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive _______________________________________________________________________ Heading: Local Child Poverty Action Report _______________________________________________________________________ 1 Summary 1.1 The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 requires that each local authority and each relevant Health Board must jointly prepare and publish a Local Child Poverty Action Report after the end of each reporting year. This report must describe measures taken during the reporting year within the local authority area that reduce child poverty or improve outcomes for children living in poverty. It must also describe planned and proposed future actions. 1.2 This report sets out activities undertaken in Renfrewshire to reduce child poverty between April 2025 and March 2026, and also planned and proposed actions for the future. 1.3 The report highlights work being undertaken across Renfrewshire Council and its partners, statutory and third sector, to support families and respond to the cost of living pressures which continue to impact many families, with the effects being felt particularly by low income families and those within identified Child Poverty Priority Groups. What impact did partners make over the period? • The rate of child poverty in Renfrewshire after housing costs fell from 13.9% to 12.7%. • 461 parents accessed employability supports. • Council funded advice provision helped local residents gain almost £15.4m, and manage debt of £4.6m. • 55 mothers were supported by the Stronger Start service, with Item 5 Page 123 of 254
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PUBLIC £190,000 of income gained. • The Council’s £50 winter clothing grant benefited 4873 children and young people in Renfrewshire last year. • Approximately 9000 people (children and family member) benefited fro the Summer of Fun programme holiday programme. • 97.9% of school leavers in Renfrewshire went on to positive destinations – the 2nd highest rate in Scotland. • Renfrewshire had 407 trained Promise Keepers who are committed to supporting care experienced young people. 1.4 The report has been jointly developed by Renfrewshire Council, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), and Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP). It also includes information about partnership work to tackle child poverty across Renfrewshire’s Community Planning Partnership. _____________________________________________________________________________ 2 Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: • Note the content of the draft Child Poverty Local Action Report 2025/26. • Approves the Local Child Poverty Action Report for publication. _______________________________________________________________________ 3 Background 3.1 The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 sets out ambitious targets for the Scottish Government to significantly reduce child poverty in Scotland by 2030. The Act requires that local authorities publish a Local Child Poverty Action Report within three months of the end of each financial year. 3.2 The Report should provide detail of current, planned and proposed activity which is intended to reduce child poverty in the local authority area. It should also provide detail of preventative actions which will help young people avoid becoming parents in poverty by 2030. 3.3 This is the eighth such report produced for Renfrewshire. The Year 7 report for 24/25 was well received by National Partners who scrutinise all local authority’s reports, being described as ‘a strong plan showing meaningful engagement on the issue of child poverty with some areas that could be strengthened. The report is close to being an exemplar report which other areas could learn from.’ The National Partner in this case who scrutinised the report was Public Health Scotland, who also advised that support from national partners was not required. Page 124 of 254
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PUBLIC 3.4 The feedback also stated, ‘It is clear in the report that child poverty is a key priority across local plans such as LOIPs, Children's Services Plans and corporate plans. That the need to tackle child poverty is driving significant change and improvement locally, over and above business as usual.’ and added, ‘It is also clear that the three drivers of poverty are being addressed in a strategic and structural way.’ 3.5 The 25/26 report has been drafted taking into account the comments of the National Partner on the Year 7 report. 3.6 The most recently published figures on child poverty show that in Renfrewshire the rate of child poverty after housing costs is 12.7%, representing 3,900 children, a decrease of 337 children compared to the previous year when the rate was 13.9%. This figure is less than the Scottish average of 14.8%. Not all wards in Renfrewshire saw a reduction in the proportion of children in low-income families, with two wards seeing a slight increase in rate. There continues to be particularly high proportions of children in low-income families in both Paisley Northwest and Renfrew South and Gallowhill wards. 3.7 Renfrewshire’s Child Poverty Action Report recognises that a significant amount of work has been and is being done which is intended to reduce child poverty. The Report highlights the many activities carried out by Renfrewshire Council, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and wider partners which are intended to tackle child poverty across Renfrewshire. 4 Overview of Local Child Poverty Action Report 4.1 The Scottish Government has identified the three key drivers of child poverty as: • income from employment; • costs of living; and • income from Social Security and benefits in kind. 4.2 This report focusses on the Council’s longer-term response to child poverty as well as shorter term responses to ongoing increases in costs of living, highlighting actions and achievements throughout 2025/26. The report is structured to reflect the strategic priorities within the Scottish Government’s Child Poverty Delivery Plan, Best Start Bright Futures published in Spring 2022 which runs to 2026: • Providing the opportunities and integrated support parents need to enter, sustain and progress in work • Maximising the support available for families to lead dignified lives and meet their basic needs • Supporting the next generation to thrive 4.3 For 26/27 the LCPAR will be aligned with the newly published delivery plan for 2026 to 2031, Bringing Hope, Building Futures. Page 125 of 254
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PUBLIC 4.4 Providing the opportunities and integrated support parents need to enter, sustain and progress in work. • The Council’s employability service, Invest in Renfrewshire, offers a wide range of tailored supports to help residents on the journey towards and into employment. In 2024/25 we have continued to see a steady number of parents coming forward to use the services of Invest and the Local Employability Partnership (LEP) funded organisations with 461 parents accessing the service. • The Renfrewshire LEP has continued to plan and co-commission local employability services to help Renfrewshire residents make a successful transition towards employment and reduce unemployment in the area. Over the last year, the number of residents claiming out of work benefits in Renfrewshire has reduced from 3590 to 3375, equating to 2.9% of the population. There are also 90 Living Wage employers in Renfrewshire. • The Procurement Team has realised 260 Community Benefits this year, almost 100 more than last. 50 of these were to support communities, 84 of these are skills and training opportunities and 34 recruitment, with the rest being supply chain opportunities. 4.5 Maximising the support available for families to lead dignified lives and meet their basic needs • The Fairer Renfrewshire programme, continues to have a positive impact on low-income families in Renfrewshire in 23/24. At the Council’s budget setting meeting for 24/25, a further £1.3 million was invested in this programme to continue a number of existing supports such as free school breakfasts in schools in areas with high levels of child poverty, and funding for the mobile children’s library, the Skoobmobile. The programme also supports the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel as well as advice across schools. • Advice is a vitally important part of the effort to tackle child poverty, with the Council supporting the Healthier Wealthier Children and School Support services which provide dedicated advice services to families with children. Apart from the Advice Works service, which provides advice to families with younger children through their Family Advice Service, the Council also provides funding to Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (RCAB) to provide both a general advice service and a community legal advice service. This year additional services have been funded: • A Welfare Rights service based at RCAB • A School Support service in every secondary school in Renfrewshire and in ASN schools • These Council funded advice services gained almost £15.4 million for the people of Renfrewshire in 25/26, and helped them manage almost £4.6 million in debt. Page 126 of 254
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PUBLIC • The Stronger Start project based within Maternity at the Royal Alexandra Hospital which provides advice and advocacy for mothers with complex needs received a total of 97 referrals in 25/26. A total of 55 women received both advice and advocacy support with almost £190k in financial gains. • In October 2025, the Council paid families an additional £50 per child for children receiving School Clothing Grant to help with winter clothing. Funding has been allocated in the 2026/27 budget to repeat this payment for all eligible children. • The successful Winter Connections Programme saw £75,000 allocated from the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme to fund 37 activities across Renfrewshire, with venues also providing hot drinks, snacks and food. Funding was also allocated across all Renfrewshire’s libraries, including the mobile library to provide hot drinks and cup-a-soup on a universal basis, and snacks for children taking part in activities. • The Summer of Fun Programme was very well received, with £100,000 of Council funding allocated to provide a comprehensive free programme comprising holiday camps, funded activities in the third sector, activities in libraries and activities for families supported with free food and drinks. Whole Family Wellbeing funded ASN provision was also provided, combining to a programme of activities for children and families, which was successful in reaching low income families and children within Child Poverty Priority groups. • Energy Advocates continued to support families with ongoing savings, write offs and Warm Home Discounts, as well as offering fuel vouchers to those in need for the first time. • The Council topped up the Cost of the School Day funding by £75,000 through the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme. This funding is allocated to schools to alleviate financial barriers to education. 4.6 Supporting the next generation to thrive • In Renfrewshire, there is a relentless focus on closing the poverty related attainment gap while raising attainment for all. As a result, there has been an increase in attainment across almost all curricular areas and stages. In addition, 24/25 represented the best school destination results ever for Renfrewshire, with 97.9% of school leavers entering positive destinations through LEP partnership working – the second highest level in Scotland. • With the cost of living affecting so many families this year, Youth Services has developed a number of targeted and inclusive responses that reduce costs of participation, increase access to services, travel and digital tools and promote wellbeing, engagement, and attainment for vulnerable and care-experienced young people. • Work around The Promise has progressed well and there are currently 407 trained Promise Keepers across Renfrewshire, an increase from 362 last year. Promise Keepers are empowered to enact changes within their services, share knowledge, and promote positive, non-stigmatising language as outlined in the Renfrewshire Language Policy. Page 127 of 254
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PUBLIC 5. Next steps 5.1 Collaborating across services and with partners is vital to provide the most comprehensive supports for families living with low incomes. In 26/27 we will continue to join up support and bring partners together, to focus collectively on achieving the most for local communities and families. The Fairer Renfrewshire Plan was approved at the end of 2025, and this new Plan, through the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee, and using the Fairer Renfrewshire Officers Group and wider statutory and 3rd sector links, we will work across services to develop responses to increased costs of living and child poverty and maximise impact of services. 5.2 After a successful year where the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience panel expanded its reach to support the HSCP and third sector, we will continue to fund and consult with the panel working to embed the voice of lived experience in Council policy and practice. Work will continue to bring the Panel together with elected members as well as Council Officers and will support the Panel with its identified priorities. 5.3 Using improved quantitative and qualitative data about local communities, we will better identify required resources and target services where they are needed most, while continuing to respond flexibly to emerging issues affecting families across the whole of Renfrewshire. This year in particular, using funding provided through the Child Poverty Accelerator Fund, we will set up a pilot to use existing administrative data to proactively identify families showing early indicators of child poverty risk - and connect them quickly to the right mix of support to establish whether this leads to improved outcomes. 5.4 With a focus on services in local areas, we will continue to go into local communities to engage those parents who are not working or who are working in low paid jobs to enhance their skills and career prospects and increase their income. Working with partners, we will raise awareness of the many benefits of employment to families and the support available to parents, especially within the child poverty priority groups, to help them start their own journeys towards work. 5.5 Again, with partnership across services at its core, we will develop a summer programme for children and young people, especially targeting those with low incomes or requiring additional support, and their families across Renfrewshire, allowing children from low income families to have the same experiences and make the same memories as those from families with higher incomes. __________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – No implications 2. HR & Organisational Development – No implications. Page 128 of 254
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PUBLIC 3. Community/Council Planning – The Report highlights the continued activities which support the key priorities set out in the Council and Community Plans to tackle inequality and widen opportunity. 4. Legal – No implications 5. Property/Assets – No implications. 6. Information Technology – No implications. 7. Equality & Human Rights - It is anticipated that activities within the Report will have a positive impact on Equality and Human Rights considering the overrepresentation on equality groups within low-income households. 8. Health & Safety – No implications 9. Procurement – No implications 10. Risk – No implications 11. 12 13 14 Privacy Impact – No implications. COSLA Policy position – no implications Climate Risk – no implications Children’s Rights - the articles within UNCRC underpin the work that is being progressed in Renfrewshire, particularly in relation to rights in relation to aspects such as life, survival and development, food, clothing and a safe home and supporting the best interests of the child and their families. Child poverty and family wellbeing are key local partnership priorities. ________________________________________________________________ Author: Annabelle Armstrong-Walter, Connected Communities Manager. Page 129 of 254
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1 OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE nou Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/26 Page 131 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 2 PUBLIC Table of Contents 1. Foreword ................................................................................................. 3 2. Executive Summary ..................................................................................... 3 2.1. Progress during 2025/26 ................................................................................ 4 2.2. Priorities for 2026/27 .................................................................................... 7 3. About Child Poverty ................................................................................... 10 4. Strategic Context ...................................................................................... 14 5. Theme 1: Providing the opportunities and integrated support parents need to enter, sustain and progress in work ......................................................................................... 22 6. Theme 2: Maximising the support available for families to lead dignified lives and meet their basic needs .................................................................................................... 34 7. Theme 3: Supporting the next generation to thrive .................................................. 61 Page 132 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 3 PUBLIC 1. Foreword This, our eighth Local Child Poverty Action Report, sets out activities undertaken in Renfrewshire to reduce child poverty and support our children to thrive. It covers what we have done between April 2025 and March 2026, along with future plans to tackle child poverty. We want every child in Renfrewshire to have a fair start in life—one that is safe, healthy, and full of opportunity. Yet for too many children in our community, poverty continues to shape daily experiences, limit life chances, and place avoidable strain on families. The last few years have been challenging, especially for families with low incomes. Although, in general inflation has reduced, the cost of essentials such as food, fuel and housing remain high and a significant worry for many families in Renfrewshire. This report reflects the continued collective commitment from Renfrewshire Council, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), and Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to addressing these challenges through strong partnership working with Community Planning partners and the third sector to support our families. Working alongside our Fairer Renfrewshire Panel ensures that by listening to the voices and experiences of families, our services are accessible, respectful and grounded in the realities faced by our communities. The actions outlined in this report are designed to make a tangible difference in the lives of those experiencing poverty. They focus on increasing family incomes, reducing the cost of living, and improving access to services that support children’s health, learning, and wellbeing and creating a more stable and supportive environment for families. We recognise that the impact of poverty goes beyond financial hardship. It can affect children’s confidence, educational attainment, physical and mental health, and future aspirations. By investing in early intervention and prevention, we can help ensure that children have the best possible start in life and are supported to thrive throughout their development. While challenges remain, we are committed to building on strong foundations and continuing to work together to reduce child poverty in Renfrewshire. The actions we take now will shape the future for our children, one where they can thrive, regardless of their circumstances. Alan Russell Chief Executive, Renfrewshire Council Chief Executive, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Page 133 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 4 PUBLIC 2. Executive Summary This is Renfrewshire’s eighth Local Child Poverty Action Report. The report captures the range of activity that has taken place in Renfrewshire to reduce child poverty in 2025/26 and looks forward to the actions planned for 26/27 and beyond. As in recent years, cost of living pressures continue to have a significant impact on Renfrewshire’s families and this report describes the actions we have put into place to help our families deal with the financial challenges facing them. These immediate supports, and short-term actions sit alongside our existing initiatives and longer-term plans. This report is set out in a way that reflects the three themes of the 2nd Scottish Government child poverty delivery plan, Best Start, Bright Futures which covered the period 2022-2026: • Providing the opportunities and integrated support parents need to enter, sustain and progress in work • Maximising the support available for families to live dignified lives and meet their basic needs, and • Supporting the next generation to thrive 2.1 Progress during 2025/26 2.1.1. Providing the opportunities and integrated support parents need to enter, sustain and progress in work • Our employability service, Invest in Renfrewshire, offers a wide range of opportunities and integrated supports to help residents on their journey towards and into employment. In 2025/26 we have continued to see a steady number of parents coming forward to use the services of Invest in Renfrewshire and the Local Employability Partnership (LEP) funded organisations with 461 parents accessing the service. • The Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership have continued to plan and co- commission local employability services to help Renfrewshire residents make a successful transition towards employment and reduce unemployment in the area. Over the last year, the number of residents claiming out of work benefits in Renfrewshire has increased slightly from 3305 to 3445, equating to 2.9% of the population. This is less than the Scotland rate (3.5%) and lower than that of Great Britain (4.4%). Page 134 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 5 PUBLIC • Our Procurement Team has realised 260 Community Benefits this year. 50 of these were to support communities, 84 of these were skills and training opportunities and 34 recruitment, with the rest being supply chain opportunities. 2.1.2. Maximising the support available for families to lead dignified lives and meet their basic needs • Our Fairer Renfrewshire programme, continues to have a positive impact on low-income families in Renfrewshire in 24/25. At the Council’s budget setting meeting for 26/27, a further £1.3 million was invested in this programme to continue a number of existing supports such as free school breakfasts in schools in areas with high levels of child poverty, our Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel as well as advice across schools. A further £300,000 was allocated to replace and fit out a new Skoobmobile vehicle to support the continued delivery of our mobile children’s library and £20,000 to expand some of our digital supports.. • Advice is a vitally important part of our efforts to tackle child poverty, with the Council supporting the Family Advice and School Support services which provide dedicated advice services to families with children. Apart from our own Advice Works service, which provides advice across Renfrewshire around benefits, money and debt and to families with younger children through their Family Advice Service, the Council also provides funding to Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (RCAB) to provide both a general advice service and a community legal advice service. This year additional services have been funded: • A Welfare Rights service based at RCAB • A School Support service providing advice in every secondary school in Renfrewshire and in our ASN schools These Council funded advice services gained almost £15.4 million for the people of Renfrewshire in 25/26, and helped them manage almost £4.6 million in debt. In addition, the Stronger Start service set up in partnership with HSCP, NHSGGC and RCAB colleagues, continues to provide advice and advocacy for pregnant women and mothers with complex needs at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, gaining over £184,000 for clients. • The £50 winter clothing grant for each eligible child was paid to families in October 2025. The payment is made to Renfrewshire parents and carers who have received a school clothing grant. Funding has been allocated in the 2026/27 budget to repeat this payment for all eligible children. Recipients this year received a message about the payment which included information Page 135 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 6 PUBLIC about the School Support and Family Advice Services, and Head Teachers were provided with information on how to support families to access financial advice and how to book a Talk Money Week advice appointment. • Our successful Winter Connections Programme saw £75,000 allocated from the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme to fund 37 activities across Renfrewshire during the winter with £4,208 allocated across all Renfrewshire’s libraries. Venues also provided hot drinks, snacks and food. • Our Summer of Fun Programme for children and families was very well received, with £100,000 of Council funding allocated to provide a comprehensive free programme comprising holiday camps, funded activities in the third sector, activities in libraries and activities for families supported with free food and drinks. Whole Family Wellbeing funded ASN provision was also provided, combining to a programme of activities for children and families, which was successful in reaching low income families and children within Child Poverty Priority groups. • Our Street Stuff Programme provides a range of free multi-sport, gaming and educational activities 6 evenings a week, Monday to Saturday, throughout the year. We offer young people aged 8 - 16 across Renfrewshire access to exercise and social activities in a number of areas that they may otherwise not have the chance to take part in. • Our Energy Advocates have had over 500 referrals this year, including 45 for families with children, and started issuing fuel vouchers to those in need for the first time through the Fuel Bank Foundation • We topped up our Cost of the School Day funding by £75,000 through our Tackling Poverty Programme. • Approximately 89% of those young people eligible in Renfrewshire have a Junior or a Young Scot National Entitlement card and free bus travel as part of the U22s Free Bus Travel Scheme saving families money on transport costs and supporting schools trips. This is an increase from 87% last year. • 151 tenants qualified for assistance from the Tenant Support fund to a value of approximately £41,386. The process has the added value of full income assessment and advice provision and through the additional advice, several sources of additional assistance have been accessed which include Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Disability Benefits, as well as food vouchers for those in a crisis situation. In monetary terms this equates to £15,735 between April 2025 and 31 March 2026. Page 136 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 7 PUBLIC 2.1.3. Supporting the next generation to thrive • There is a relentless focus on closing the poverty related attainment gap while raising attainment for all. As a result, there has been an increase in attainment across almost all curricular areas and stages. Attainment is now in line with or ahead of pre-pandemic levels. Renfrewshire is ahead of national figures across all stages and curricular areas in 2023-24. • Contributing to tackling child and youth poverty, the Youth Team has developed a number of targeted and inclusive programmes that reduce costs of participation, increase access to services, travel and digital tools and promote wellbeing, engagement, and attainment for vulnerable and care-experienced young people. Young people engaging in the Youth Team activities can access free food, period products and digital devices and connectivity as a matter of course. • Work around The Promise has progressed well and there are currently 407 trained Promise Keepers across Renfrewshire up from 362 at the same time last year. Renfrewshire actively engages with the Care Experienced community to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met in service design and delivery and they can contribute to the development of policies such as the Renfrewshire Language Policy, which promotes the use of positive, inclusive language when referring to Care Experienced individuals. 2.2 Priority Actions Our priorities in 25/26 have included: Priority Actions for 2025/26 1 Developing a Fairer Renfrewshire Plan 2 Continuing to explore place based approaches to supporting low income households informed by the learning from the community needs assessment in Gallowhill 3 Map and maximise the provision of money advice across Renfrewshire and linked forms of support such as energy advice in light of the cost of living crisis 4 Expand opportunities for parents to enter, sustain and progress at work through the Parental Employability Support Fund Page 137 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 8 PUBLIC 5 Monitor the ongoing impacts of the continued high costs of living, continuing to flexibly respond to emerging issues 6 Better use the voice of our communities in decision making, including development and support for the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel to deliberate on and guide policy and practice 7 Utilise quantitative and qualitative data to inform work This report provides examples of where these priority actions have been progressed, including development of policy responses to child poverty and the continuing cost of living crisis through the Fairer Renfrewshire programme. Following a Community Needs Assessment in Gallowhill, an area with high child poverty rates, a Community Development Officer was employed to build capacity and work alongside the community to develop actions based on its own needs and wants. A number of community led initiatives have now been established including a weekly family programme run by One Ren. Our Fairer Renfrewshire Panel has been running for over three years, and in that time the Panel has developed and become an invaluable resource for Council services and beyond, feeding into policy and practice in a number of areas including our Employability Services, Digital Roadmap, summer holiday programme and Climate Adaptation plans. They have also worked with our Communications and Marketing Team on how the Council can engage and communicate better with the public. Our advice services are making significant gains for families and we have advice embedded in all secondary and ASN schools with Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (RCAB), which has been extended for another year, for 2026/27. The Council’s Advice Works service has continued its initiative where all families applying for Free School Meals or Clothing Grants were offered advice and also provide a Family Advice Service for all families with children of primary school age and below. Advice is also embedded within our employability service and housing services. Looking forward to 26/27 This year we developed our first Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan detailing the priorities and programme of work to be undertaken over the next 18-24 months, and during 26/27 will be working to achieve the actions identified within his plan. This plan refreshes and sharpens focus on the priorities for the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme. Page 138 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 9 PUBLIC Over the next two years, we will concentrate on four strategic priorities: Improving Financial Security - Helping households maximise income, reduce costs, and access early help to prevent crisis. Strengthening Health, Wellbeing and Community - Supporting families and communities through sustainable models of care, food security, and place-based approaches. Embedding Equality and Inclusion - Ensuring services are accessible, inclusive, and shaped by the voices of those who are often unheard. Using Insight and Evidence for Impact - Harnessing data, feedback, and lived experience to drive better decisions and deliver measurable change. While these strategic priorities cover fairness for all Renfrewshire residents, we will carry out specific actions to support our families who are living in or at risk of poverty. How we work is vital and we will continue to collaborate across services and with partners to provide the most comprehensive supports for families living with low incomes. In 26/27, we will continue to join up support and bring partners together, to focus collectively on achieving the most for our communities and families. Using our new Fairer Renfrewshire Plan, through our Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee, and using our Fairer Renfrewshire Officers Group and wider statutory and 3rd sector links, we will work across services to develop responses to increased costs of living and child poverty and maximise impact of services. This cross-cutting way of working will help us in our focus on our areas of highest child poverty. This year we will continue to explore and establishing place-based approaches to tackling child poverty. With a focus on services in local areas, we will go into our communities to engage those parents who are not working or who are working in low paid jobs to enhance their skills and career prospects and increase their income. Working with partners, we will raise awareness of the many benefits of employment to families and the support available to parents, especially within the child poverty priority groups, to help them start their own journeys towards work. Again, with partnership across services at its core, we will develop a summer programme for children and young people, especially targeting those with low incomes or requiring additional support, and their families across Renfrewshire allowing children from low income families to have the same experiences and make the same memories as those from families with higher incomes. After another successful year where the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel expanded its reach to new services, we will continue to fund and consult with the Panel working to embed the Page 139 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 10 PUBLIC voice of lived experience in our policy and practice. We will bring the Panel together with elected members as well as Council Officers and will support the Panel with its identified priorities. Using improved quantitative and qualitative data about our communities, we will better identify required resources and target services where they are needed most, while continuing to respond flexibly to emerging issues affecting families across the whole of Renfrewshire. This year in particular, using funding provided through the Child Poverty Accelerator Fund, we will set up a trial to use existing administrative data to proactively identify families showing early indicators of child poverty risk - and connect them quickly to the right mix of support to establish whether this leads to improved outcomes. 2.3 Scottish Government Child Poverty Targets and Drivers Child Poverty Targets were set by the Scottish Parliament in 2017 and are as follows: The statutory income targets are ambitious and relate to the following measures of poverty: Relative poverty: a child is in relative poverty if they live in a household where equivalised income is below 60 per cent of the inflation adjusted UK median income in the same year. This is a measure of whether those in the lowest income households are keeping pace with the growth of incomes in the economy as a whole. Absolute poverty: a child is in absolute poverty if they live in a household with an income below 60 per cent of the median equivalised net income in 2024-25. This is a measure of whether those in the lowest income households are seeing their incomes rise in real terms. Combined low income and material deprivation: a child is in combined low income and material deprivation if they live in a household with an income below 70 per cent of the equivalised median net income for that year and are unable to afford a number of basic goods and services (material deprivation). By 2030, after housing costs Fewer than 10% of children live in households that are in relative poverty Fewer than 5% of children live in households that are in absolute poverty Fewer than 5% of children live in households that are in combined low income and material deprivation Fewer than 5% of children live in households that are in persistent poverty Page 140 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 11 PUBLIC Persistent poverty: a child is in persistent poverty if they have been living in Scotland and in relative poverty for three of the past four years. In March 2022, the Scottish Government published its second child poverty delivery plan, Best Start Bright Futures under the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017. Best Start, Bright Futures sets out a vision for Scotland, the changes that are needed to achieve this, and the actions Scottish Government intend to take with partners to deliver that change for the period 2022 to 2026 and focusses on three themes: • Providing the opportunities and integrated support parents need to enter, sustain and progress in work • Maximising the support available for families to live dignified lives and meet their basic needs • Supporting the next generation to thrive These combined with the three drivers of child poverty give a focus to the work taking place in Renfrewshire to reduce poverty within our families, focussing on the following themes: In March 2026, the Scottish Government published figures which confirmed that the interim target of 18% of children living in relative poverty was missed with relative child poverty reducing from 22% to 21% in Scotland. The missed target was not unexpected as the interim targets were set when child poverty rates were consistently lower and pre-dated the pandemic and the cost of living crisis. Looking forward, the newly published Delivery Plan for 2026 to 2031, Bringing Hope, Building Futures, focusses on four key themes where further action is needed: • Increasing earned incomes • Reducing the costs of living • Maximising incomes from social security and benefits in kind and • Supporting children and families to thrive. Income from employment Costs of Living Income from Social Security and benefits in kind Page 141 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 12 PUBLIC 2.4 Priority Groups ‘Best Start, Bright Futures’ identified six priority family types that face additional barriers to moving out of poverty, and the new delivery plan ‘Bringing Hope, Building Futures’ maintains a focus on these family types: • Lone Parents • Families that include a disabled adult or child • Large families with 3 or more children • Minority Ethnic families • Youngest child is under 1 year old • Young Mother aged under 25 years old Reporting continues to show that around 90% of all children in poverty in Scotland live within the six priority family types. In March 2026, the Scottish Government published their Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland report for 2022-25 which updated the figures showing the proportion of children in relative poverty after housing costs within the Child Poverty Priority Groups. 23% 36% 37% 27% 52% 35% 41% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% All children Lone parent families Minority ethnic families Families with a disabled person Families with younger mothers (<25) Families with a child under 1 Families with 3+children Proportion of children in relative poverty after housing cost, Scotland 2022-25 Page 142 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 13 PUBLIC Figures presented are for three-year averages 2022-2026 with the exception of young mothers which reflect a seven year rolling average 2017-2024. 2.5 Child Poverty in Renfrewshire In March 2026, the Department for Work and Pensions released statistics on children in low- income families. This year’s publication for the first time calculates the after housing costs figures for each local area but only for the financial years ending 2024 and 2025 along with the usual before housing cost figures that have been reported for a number of years. For 2025, the percentage of children in relative low income, before housing costs in Renfrewshire is 10.8%, representing 3,304 children. This is a decrease of 39 children compared to the previous year, when the rate was 11.0%. The rate for Scotland is 12.3%. The proportion of children in low-income families in Renfrewshire after housing costs has decreased from 13.9% in 2024 to 12.7% in 2025. The decrease is likely to be at least partially due to Scottish Child Payment income being included for the first time, with 2023/24 being the first full year that Scottish Child Payments were paid to all eligible children under the age of 16. Not all wards in Renfrewshire saw a reduction in the proportion of children in low-income families, with two of our wards Erskine and Inchinnan (0.1%) and Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (1.1%) seeing a slight increase in rate. A family must have claimed Child Benefit and at least one other household benefit (Universal Credit, tax credits or Housing Benefit) at any point in the year to be classed as low income in these ‘after housing costs’ statistics. This will automatically exclude those low income families that have either chosen not to claim a household benefit, are unaware they are entitled to a household benefit or are not eligible to a household benefit (including those that have no recourse to public funds), thus child poverty may be underreported. Due to changes in the methodology, this year’s statistics should not be used as a direct comparison with previous years, meaning it is too early to identify long-term trends. There continues to be particularly high proportion of children in low-income families in both Renfrew South and Gallowhill and Paisley Northwest wards, with children living in relative low- income rates at 23.5% and 18.8% respectively. These figures cannot be compared to previous year statistical releases due to the methodological changes. At a ward level, the percentage of children living in relative low income families (after housing costs) are shown below: Page 143 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 14 PUBLIC Number of Children Percentage of Children Ward (2025 % in descending order) FYE 2024 FYE 2025 FYE 2024 FYE 2025 Renfrew South and Gallowhill 488 463 24.8% 23.5% Paisley Northwest 584 555 19.8% 18.8% Paisley East and Central 344 317 16.4% 15.1% Paisley Southwest 433 382 17.1% 15.1% Scotland 136,704 132,484 15.2% 14.8% Renfrew North and Braehead 440 397 15.6% 14.1% Johnstone South and Elderslie 420 383 14.6% 13.3% Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch 278 269 13.5% 13.1% Renfrewshire 4,237 3,900 13.9% 12.7% Paisley Southeast 265 203 14.4% 11.1% Erskine and Inchinnan 322 325 10.7% 10.8% Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank 121 140 7.5% 8.6% Paisley Northeast and Ralston 165 138 10.2% 8.5% Houston, Crosslee and Linwood 389 328 9.0% 7.6% In 25/26 we have continued to use data, including these statistics to ensure we are targeting the right supports in the right areas. 3 Strategic Context 3.1 Fairer Renfrewshire Programme A Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan was agreed by the Leadership Board in December 2025, which sets out the priority actions that the council and its partners will progress to reduce poverty and inequality in Renfrewshire over the next 18 months. The Action Plan has four themes: Page 144 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 15 PUBLIC • Improving financial security • Strengthening Health, Wellbeing and Community • Embedding Equality and Inclusion • Using Insight and Evidence for Impact The Council and its partners continue to work together to progress the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme and overarching plan, with a strong shared focus currently on tackling inequality and improving wellbeing. At Council on 26th February 2026, members further reaffirmed their commitment to the Fairer Renfrewshire programme with continued investments in a number of targeted interventions including the £50 winter school clothing payment, the Winter Connections programme, funding to Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (RCAB) to support their welfare rights advocacy service as well as an allocation of further funding to supplement both Discretionary Housing Payments and Scottish Welfare Fund. The Council’s Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee has been meeting since August 2022. This Sub- Committee considers matters relating to poverty and financial insecurity, including food and fuel insecurity and the continuing high Costs of Living affecting our families. With oversight of the Council’s response to the Alcohol and Drug Commission report and the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme, it makes recommendations to the Council and the Leadership Board regarding those matters. A Fairer Renfrewshire Officers Group, chaired by the Head of Policy and Partnerships, meets 6 weekly. This Group brings together Officers from across the Council as well as Renfrewshire HSCP and OneRen, Renfrewshire’s charitable trust which provides culture, leisure and sporting opportunities. This allows cross service information sharing and scrutiny on matters related to making Renfrewshire fairer, and promotes a cross cutting approach intended to increase impact on outcomes for our households who are living in poverty. The Council Plan 2022-2027 is a key strategic document for Council employees, local people, businesses, partner organisations and voluntary organisations, setting out what the Council is aiming to achieve until 2027. Alongside Renfrewshire’s Community Plan, the Council Plan provides organisational direction, ensuring that the key strategic priorities of the Council translate into specific actions within service improvement plans. One of the key pillars of the plan is ‘Fair – nurturing bright, happy and healthy futures for all’, which outlines a number of key corporate priorities focussed around addressing child poverty. The Plan also describes a cross-cutting theme – improving outcomes for children and families, which runs across all strategic outcomes in the Plan, and underpins all we do. Page 145 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 16 PUBLIC In tandem with the Council Plan, the vision for our Community Plan is "working together to make Renfrewshire a fairer, more inclusive place where all our people, communities and businesses thrive". There are three ‘Areas of Focus’ within the Community Plan, of which ‘Supporting low- income families’ is one, with 4 action areas dedicated to this areas of focus. With an emphasis on joining up support for families within communities, and taken in tandem with the Council Plan, our Community Plan illustrates our commitment, along with our partners, to reducing child poverty and supporting our children to have the best start in life. Work has commenced to develop new Council and Community plans by September 2027, with a programme of engagement and consultation across communities to assess priorities being planned as an early step. 3.2 Renfrewshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership Renfrewshire HSCP IJB Strategic Plan, Shaping Our Future 2022-2025 was refreshed for a further 2 years with a Refreshed Strategic Plan 2025-2027 being published as a ‘bridge’ to a longer-term plan from 2027 which will have a more transformational focus. The Strategic Plan has a number of objectives which impact particularly on children, including ‘Support the health and wellbeing of children, young people and families and work to address child poverty’ and ‘Work with partners to deliver Renfrewshire’s commitments to ‘The Promise’ , although other objectives can also contribute to desired outcomes around child poverty, including that around supporting pathways for neurodivergent adults and children. This report has a strong input from the HSCP Health Improvement Team who focus on prevention and early intervention and have been working closely with Council Colleagues in a number of areas. 3.3 Renfrewshire’s Children’s Services Partnership Throughout Scotland, local authorities and health boards work with community planning partners to ensure services delivered to children, young people and their families are the best they can be. In Renfrewshire, we do this by listening to our communities to identify what support people need, why they need it, when they need it and how best it can be provided. This work takes place through Renfrewshire’s Children’s Services Partnership (RCSP) whose members include the Council, other Page 146 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 17 PUBLIC 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. The new Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership Plan will cover 2026 to 2027 and will set out the steps that will be taken to improve the lives of Renfrewshire’s children, young people and families. The Plan is currently out for consultation therefore new outcomes for 2026 to 2027 are not yet confirmed. The Plan will go to the RCSP Board on 20 May 2026 for approval. The Partnership examined national and community priorities and how these link in with our vision children’s service planning. This includes work around The Promise, UNCRC, GIRFEC, Whole Family Wellbeing and Poverty. The Children’s Services Partnership Oversight and Monitoring Group continues to meet at least quarterly and provides updates to each meeting of the Partnership Board. 3.4 Children’s Services Improvement Plan Renfrewshire’s Education Improvement Plan (2025/26) has been developed through consultation with a variety of stakeholders. Our Education Improvement Plan sets out where we want to improve and how we want to do that, based on the evidence we have gathered on our current performance. Our Plan focuses on 6 main priority areas: Our improvement priorities align to those outlined in the National Improvement Framework and the Education Improvement Plan supports the delivery of the priorities contained within key plans such as Renfrewshire Council’s Plan, Children’s Services Partnership Plan and Children’s Services Improvement Plan. As part of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 an Early Learning and Childcare consultation was carried out in Autumn 2025 and findings will be used to support the future Page 147 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 18 PUBLIC planning and delivery of early learning and childcare services. The responses reflected the perceptions, demand, and experiences of 498 parents and carers who are currently accessing childcare or planning to do so in Renfrewshire within the next 2 years. In June 2025, Renfrewshire proudly hosted the national Action for Change Youth Assembly in partnership with Education Scotland. Held at Paisley Town Hall, the event welcomed over 200 young people from schools across Scotland. A highlight of the day was the keynote address by Jackson Katz, co-creator of the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme. We continue to prioritise the development of staff skills and knowledge across educational settings through a comprehensive Health and Wellbeing (HWB) training offer. The CEOP (Child Exploitation Online Protection) training team delivered highly-evaluated training to staff working with children and young people across Renfrewshire Council. Our ongoing focus on suicide prevention and self- harm awareness includes regular training and targeted support for school staff, informed by referral trends to The Exchange counselling service. This work has been nationally recognised, featuring as a “Pockets of Practice” case study by Suicide Prevention Scotland and in Public Health Scotland’s Creating Hope podcast series. Last session, we introduced our Approaches to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) training for education staff. Feedback from nearly 200 staff from early years, primary and secondary sectors, indicates increased confidence and competence in using therapeutic approaches and language, with pupils reporting improved emotional regulation. One key achievements this year has been that the percentage of school leavers entering a positive destination has continued to improve, increasing to 97.9% in 2025/26 from 97.1% in 2024/25. This is the highest level since this indicator has been measured. This increase in the proportion of school leavers participating in employment, training or education means that Renfrewshire now has the 2nd highest positive leaver destination figure in Scotland. 3.5 How we work with people As a Council, Renfrewshire is very keen to engage with our residents and use their voice and feedback to support the design of policy and practices across services. Some examples of this engagement are below. Fairer Renfrewshire Panel In 2022/23, we established a Fairer Renfrewshire Panel of people with lived experience of poverty to inform Council policy and practice. After a successful 6 month ‘test of change’ to establish whether Page 148 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 19 PUBLIC a Panel would result in meaningful engagement on the part of both people with lived experience and policy makers, the decision was made to extend the arrangement and the Panel has continued to meet since. The panel is diverse, and experiences include being adults and children in poverty, dependent on benefits and in-work poverty, as well as New Scots and those who have been previously consulted without it making a difference. Over 25/26, the Panel has provided insight in a number of areas. The Panel has continued to support employability, this year, as part of Renfrewshire’s employability week, taking part in a session with our local employability service, Invest in Renfrewshire, along with Skills Development Scotland and the Department for Work and Pensions to help these organisations reflect on how well our Employability Services are working for local people. The aim of the session was to help them sense check if communication is getting to the right people or groups and how accessible and effective their services are. The Panel coordinator also met with Aberdeenshire Council employability officers to provide information regarding the Panel structure, composition and how it works with a view to Aberdeenshire setting up something similar. The Panel also contributed to the planning for our free Summer Camps, supporting us to maximise attendance. The also fed into our Digital Roadmap, and met with our Communication and Marketing teams to look at how the Council can better engage and communicate with the public. Further engagement also took place over the Local Transport Strategy and around Climate Adaption Plans. This year, as part of the ongoing work the Panel have carried out with Renfrewshire HSCP on the Health and Wellbeing Survey, the Panel presented to Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership’s Executive Group. The Panel has continued to meet with the Convenor and Depute of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub- Committee and looking forward, will meet with the Convenor of the Community and Housing Board around housing in Renfrewshire in 26/27. In April 2025, the Fairer Renfrewshire panel carried out a self evaluation, finding that membership of the Panel has been a positive experience, with recognition that the Panel has input in a number of areas and with various Council services and partners. We have built good working relationships with several Council services and have had return visits from many of them, which we believe shows that they value our input. Fairer Renfrewshire Panel Self Evaluation April 2025 Page 149 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 20 PUBLIC Plans for 2026/27 include further work with Renfrewshire HSCP, on their ‘Ask and Act’ Pilot, around their Renfrewshire Community Food Education Small Grants and work on the questions for the next NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde adult health and wellbeing survey. They will also work with Renfrewshire Council on the welcome pack being developed for New Scots as well as Community Justice. These conversations and engagements with Council services and beyond will help people on low incomes get their voices heard on the policies and decisions that most impact their lives and help us understand their needs, especially those in the Child Poverty Priority Groups. Youth Team Our Youth Team also support young people to come together and prioritise the issues that matter most to them. Over 25/26, this work has continued in the form of events, residentials and youth forums. This has included: • Youth Voice and Participation. Young people across Renfrewshire were supported to actively participate in local and national decision-making structures. Opportunities were provided for young people to engage with Renfrewshire Youth Voice (RYV), Erskine Youth Council and the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP). RYV hosted its annual Positive About Youth Awards ceremony, celebrating young people’s achievements and contributions. RYV members also engaged in a full council meeting with Renfrewshire Councillors. • Local Youth Voice Groups. Renfrewshire Youth Voice continues to meet regularly to raise local concerns and influence change. • MSYPs. Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament continued to represent their constituencies over the past year, advocating on behalf of young people at a national level. Community Development, Gallowhill During 24/25, a Community Needs Assessment (CNA) funded by Renfrewshire HSCP took place in the Gallowhill area of Paisley. This was in response to increased child poverty rates within the area. In 25/26 Fairer Renfrewshire funding has been provided to employ a Community Development Officer to work in Gallowhill for an 18 month period. The Development Officer will feed into the development of coordinated actions to build capacity and work alongside the community to develop actions based on its own needs and wants. The 3rd sector organisation who carried the CNA out, Active Communities employ the Communty Development Officer. As a result of the placing of the Development Officer, and their ability to draw in funding from diverse sources, there is evidence of the community coming together to take part in activities. Page 150 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 21 PUBLIC While working on the CNA, Active Communities immediately started a Friday lunch and drop in as a first step to supporting the community and building community capacity, and this continues to run. A Team up to Clean Up group has been set up to litter pick in the area, and this is now community led after being led by Active Communities in the first instance. A keep-fit group has been set up which meets prior to the Friday lunch and a Men’s Group has recently formed in March 2026 in response to the high number of male suicide deaths in Gallowhill. In addition to activities set up by Active Communities, a number of other services attend Gallowhill. Our Invest In Renfrewshire service also attends Gallowhill each Friday, as one of their parental employability hubs and One Ren run a weekly family programme in the area. In addition, one of our Family Wellbeing teams is based in Gallowhill Primary School. This service provides a base for the Community Development worker. Going forward, there are a number of other community activities being planned for residents of all ages, including free summer activities for children. It is envisaged that some of these will become community led, and from this galvanisation of the community, the eventual result will be the constitution of some local groups, as well as the reemergence of the Community Council in the area, allowing local people to support decision making for their own community. In addition to work within the community, this year the ‘Gallowhill Link’ was also completed, with a transformed former railway line now connecting Gallowhill to sustainable travel and cycling routes extending toward Glasgow Airport. This provides a direct, safe route for pupils and staff heading to the Paisley Grammar School Community Campus and connects to local retail parks and the AMIDS industrial district. It is hoped that through building community reslilience, through a partnership response to challenges in the Gallowhill area and improved infrastructure opening up access to local employers, child poverty rates will begin to decline. Using Gallowhill as a blueprint, A Community Needs Assessment is currently underway within the Howwood Road area of Johnstone. Externally funded, this again is being undertaken by Active Communities and is in recognition of the challenges faced by some families in the area. This area is currently one of our Housing Regeneration areas, and Active Communities are using the Housing Regeneration flat as a base to speak to the community. Services are working in partnership to provide supports within the area even prior to the needs assessment being completed. Looking forward to 26/27, further areas will be identified for place-based approaches. Housing Regeneration – Community Neighbourhood Renewal Page 151 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 22 PUBLIC In our 8 housing regeneration areas, a Community Neighbourhood Renewal approach is being used in parallel with the physical regeneration plans to look at the needs and circumstances of each area. This approach takes account of broader issues such as links to health and wellbeing, access to outdoor space and sustainable travel and employment or training opportunities that maximise the benefits achievable for local residents. The Housing-Led Regeneration and other Newbuild areas have benefitted from a range of consultative initiatives which have been well attended. Several initiatives have also been established such as a community litter pick, Pop Up Advice surgeries and area walkabouts, where residents can discuss issues with staff. A Regeneration Drop-in office has been established where tenants and residents can pop in to find out more and Facebook pages provide opportunities for residents to comment on regeneration issues. Local community centre events showcase the energy improvements and design features planned and provide further opportunities for tenants to provide feedback on environmental improvement designs. 4 Theme 1: Providing the opportunities and integrated support parents need to enter, sustain and progress in work Income from employment is one of the 3 main drivers of child poverty. As such, increasing income from employment for unemployed and low-income parents is a key objective nationally and in Renfrewshire. 4.1 Local Employability Partnership Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership (RLEP) is the local strategic employability partnership consisting of partner agencies from the Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership. It is chaired by Renfrewshire Council and its purpose is to support the implementation of local and national employability policy (No One Left Behind) through collective leadership, joint planning and co-commissioning. In doing so, the partnership, working closely with local delivery partners, makes best use of resources available to deliver effective needs-led employability services that help Renfrewshire residents make a successful transition towards employment and reduce unemployment in the area. During 2025/26 the RLEP supported 556 people onto employment supported provision through the LEP grants commissioning programmes. 27 LEP funded programmes were spilt across 8 themes as Page 152 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 23 PUBLIC identified by the LEP subgroups to cover support to all of the key priority groups: Parents/Carers, Disabled & Long-term Health Conditions, Criminal Justice, Youth, Mental Health, ESOL, Vocational, Self Employment. Of these, 261 achieved a qualification, 144 gained work experience and so far, 148 moved into employment or FE/HE education. RLEP is committed to reducing those inequalities that exist in relation to employment between different geographic areas and for different groups who face significant barriers to work. Success as a Partnership goes beyond reducing unemployment at a Renfrewshire level to reducing the gaps that exist for these areas and groups. This includes Care Experienced young people which are prioritised by RLEP in its services and programme delivery. Recognising the key contribution that employability services can make to tackling child poverty, RLEP’s performance framework includes a range of indicators to help measure progress in relation to increasing income from employment of parents with low income as well as other outcomes and indicators such as tackling youth unemployment and increasing the disability employment rate and increasing enagagment and positive outcomes for all RLEP priority groups. Renfrewshire LEP has established a number of sub-groups focussing on priority groups and all of these will consider employability related actions to tackle child poverty. Over the last year, the number of residents claiming out of work benefits in Renfrewshire has increased slightly from 3,305 to 3,445, equating to 2.9% of the population, lower than the Scottish rate of 3.5% and that of Great Britain (4.4%). In February 2025, a 6% decrease in the number of people claiming Universal Credit and Jobseekers Allowance in Renfrewshire was recorded. The employment statistics also revealed an 11 per cent drop in Renfrewshire claimants aged 18 to 24, compared to January 2024. The proportion of workless households has also reduced by 1.0% to 16.1% - lower than for Scotland as a whole (18.2%) (2024). Economic Inactivity is a key focus at local, National and UK levels, in particular where this is linked to health issues . Although there was a significant reduction in the proportion of those inactive (due to health issues) that number has started to rise again from 29.8% in 2024 to 35.5% in 2025 and is now slightly higher than Scotland (34.7%). For those who are working, gross average weekly earnings for full time workers have increased to £797 from £745, higher than the Scottish figure of £775. Page 153 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 24 PUBLIC Our employability services use a targeted and partnership-led outreach approach to identify and engage parents who may not traditionally access employability services, providing tailored supports that recognises that employability is closely linked to wider family wellbeing. They also work closely with employers to increase access to flexible and sustainable employment opportunities and provide ongoing in-work support to help employees to maintain employment. 4.2 Parental Employment Support Income from employment is one of the 3 main drivers of child poverty. As such, increasing income from employment for unemployed and low-income parents continues to be a key objective nationally and in Renfrewshire. Renfrewshire’s parents who meet at least one of the priority groups and who are unemployed or low income employed can access practical and financial support including: The support provided to parents is person centred and tailored to meet their individual requirements, aiming to remove the barriers they are facing to progress towards employment or gain improved employment. In addition, the service offers: • Specialist employability support for parents with a disability/long-term condition or who have a child with a disability/long-term condition. • Specialist support for parents with other significant challenges such as having a criminal conviction. Page 154 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 25 PUBLIC • Targeted support to tackle the increased challenge of in-work poverty by helping parents already in work to remain active in the workplace and gain progression through a rewarding career, through the provision of ongoing training and employability support. • Confidential income and money advice which includes: benefit checks and help with any claim processes; better off in work calculations; help with debts; creation of a bespoke budget for the family; and budgeting skills support to ensure long lasting effect. • Client recruitment Incentives aligned to parents, for those with significant barriers including those parents in the 6 Child Poverty Priority groups. • Further work with employers to create family/parent friendly working conditions and working patterns e.g. school hour posts. • A Wellbeing Advisor to support parents who are requiring additional support. • Traineeship opportunities as paid placements within various sections of the Local Authority, where parents can re-enter the job market as a trainee initially to develop their skills and confidence to support them to progress towards gaining employment. Our employability service, Invest in Renfrewshire, offers a wide range of tailored supports to help residents on their journey towards and into employment. In 2025/26 we have continued to see a steady number of parents coming forward to use the services of Invest in Renfrewshire and the LEP funded organisations. During this period 461 parents have been supported, including 296 new parents and 165 parents who were registered in previous years. The parents supported this year included 400 from one or more of the Child Poverty priority groups. The table below shows the priority groups that the parents identified with at point of registration. 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 No Priority Group PES Priority Group - 3+ Children PES Priority Group - Children under age of 1 PES Priority Group - Disabled PES Priority Group - Ethnic Minority PES Priority Group - Lone Parent PES Priority Group - Parents under the age of 25 Grand Total Scottish Government Priority Groups Female Male Prefer not to say Page 155 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 26 PUBLIC In the financial year 2025/26, Renfrewshire Council were awarded funding to support parents through the Child Poverty Funding stream (formerly known as PESF – Parental Employability Support Fund). This funding has enabled services to continue to provide a focused and tailored support for families both employed and unemployed. The Invest in Renfrewshire Parental Employability Support team includes a Child Poverty Co- ordinator who manages the delivery of the Parental Employability Support programme and team members. The team includes 6.5 FTE Parental Employability Advisors who are allocated a geographical area for their caseload. The Parental Employability Team have delivered outreach in locations across Renfrewshire. This approach has allowed parents access to support in their local area as well as being able to access support from Invest in Renfrewshire’s main office at The Russell Institute in Paisley town centre. The team have delivered outreach services in various locations on a regular basis including the below: • Station Seven, Johnstone • McMaster’s Centre, Renfrew • Tannahill Centre, Ferguslie • Bargarran Centre, Erskine • Paisley Central Library, Paisley • Linwood Library, Linwood • Gallowhill Community Centre, Gallowhill • Foxbar Flexible Learning Hub, Foxbar They have also participated in outreach activities in schools and early education establishments and will continue to engage with more education establishments in the year ahead. To support the engagement with parents who are unemployed, the Advisors regularly attend Jobcentre Plus offices across Renfrewshire. This enables residents to meet with Advisors and learn about the support available for parents and provides an opportunity to speak to advisors about their personal support requirements before being referred to the service. Through information gathered at initial assessment and through the ongoing work with people in Renfrewshire, Invest and the LEP subgroups recognised that additional support was required to support people with their mental health as part of their journey into employment. The LEP and Page 156 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 27 PUBLIC Invest in Renfrewshire commissioned counselling support from RAMH and Time for Talking. RAMH were also commissioned to deliver group sessions including Coping with Anxiety and Living Life to the Full. These services will continue into 2026/27 and the LEP have funded additional provision from SAMH and Kustom Kruizers to deliver group activity based support that will be available to all service users. RAMH provided training for Invest and LEP staff to improve their skills and knowledge in supporting residents with their mental health, including training in Scottish Mental Health First Aid, ‘Small Change Big Impact – Trauma Informed Practices’. Staff also had the opportunity to attend ‘Understanding Neurodiversity: An Introduction’ being delivered by Youth Inspired. These courses have been funded for a further year to support more staff to develop their skills. The Invest and LEP funded providers offer a range of barrier removal, prevocational and vocational training opportunities. There are group activities on offer that cover a wide range of topics including interview skills, team working etc, as well as formal accredited training such as care, construction training and other sector specific training which enhances and develops the attributes, skills and knowledge required to support progression into sustainable employment. To improve skills and qualifications, parents have access to Digital College courses that they can work through at their own pace at home or within The Russell Institute. There are over 90 courses that they can select from and their Advisor will assist them to select courses that are relevant to their employment journey. These courses can also be completed in different languages where English is not the first language. Invest host training sessions for service users at The Russell Institute on a regular basis including employability skills workshops, IT skills and accredited training Steps to Excellence, CSCS, World Host and commission Emergency First Aid at Work and REHIS Food Hygiene. The training team in partnership with the Invest Employer Liaison team deliver Sector Based Work Academies (SBWA) focussing on developing skills to enable people to progress into employment within sectors where employers are recruiting. This year Invest delivered SBWA’s including Additional Support Needs Assistant programmes to support people interested in working within Education to support pupils in Renfrewshire schools, this programme was delivered over a 3 week period and included training relevant to the role and site visits to enhance the understanding of the requirements, on completion of the programme participants were guaranteed interviews, this has resulted in 16 parents being offered employment with Renfrewshire Council. The LEP commissioned provision for 2025/26 was delivered by: Page 157 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 28 PUBLIC • West College Scotland ‘YES Programme’ a personalised learning programme to support parents with multiple barriers into employment • BDA Ltd provided support to people interested in progressing into self-employment • ‘I Was Gonnae Charity’ provided a music-based project to support parents through a motivational and creative employability programme • The Lennox Partnership – Spire programme to support parents explore employment, learning and personal growth • Challenges – Make Work Work, personal development and leadership programme certificated by CMI, with the option to continue and achieve CMI qualification • Kairos Women+ Language Café, supports parents to develop their conversational English During the year it was recognised that additional training opportunities were required and Invest delivered Get Hired, a short programme focussed to support parents who required additional support with applications and interviews. The programme will continue to be offered in 26/27. There are many challenges and barriers parents face when considering returning to work including English as a second language, money and debt issues, health related conditions including mental health, criminal convictions and housing issues. With these barriers it is recognised that it can take time to progress through the stages of the employability pipeline to access all the support required. Parents therefore agree a personal action plan suited to their pace. In 2025/26, 127 parents supported by Invest progressed into employment or self-employment. Funded Work Placements were commenced by 9 parents. These are funded roles within a third sector organisation where the full salary costs are provided to the organisation for a period of 6 months to support the parent to develop and enhance their skills and gain valuable work experience. Traineeship opportunities were also funded for 30 parents within the Local Authority where they were able to gain valuable work experience within various sections of the Local Authority. The roles were created to be family friendly and provide flexible working for parents with a view to them developing skills to progress into other employment within the Local Authority or other organisations. In addition, there were 8 parents who entered Further Education and 145 who gained a qualification. The Employer Liaison team engaged with employers to encourage flexible working options when considering recruiting parents and employers were offered funding through the Client Recruitment Incentive to create an opportunity for a parent. Page 158 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 29 PUBLIC The Transition to Work welfare fund was available to parents to support them financially in making the transition into employment. Parents were able to access up to £500 paid over a period of 13 weeks. The funding was available for parents who were unemployed and who met at least one Scottish Government Child Poverty Priority Group. In addition to this funding they were able to receive financial support with clothing for interviews and for commencing employment and funding towards travel costs for the initial 3 months of employment. During 2025/26 Invest continued to receive referrals for people who were arriving in Renfrewshire through resettlement schemes. There were 59 parent refugees and 3 asylum seekers supported by the employability services. There were also 178 parents supported with English as a second language. There are Parental Employability Advisors who speak additional languages including Arabic, Ukrainian, Russian, Urdu and Punjabi and are able to work with parents who speak these languages. The team has been strengthened with the addition of a Traineeship post who works alongside the team to translate for Advisors and can translate Dari/Farsi and Kurdish. This has supported us to engage with people from Afghanistan, in direct response to a request for the Renfrewshire Resettlement Team. Local Transport Strategy The new Local Transport Strategy sets out a range of objectives to support the development of accessible and affordable local transport which can in turn support employability, including: • Supporting fair and equitable access to sustainable modes of transport in Renfrewshire, that are integrated and easy to use for all • Improving transport connections within Renfrewshire and to neighbouring local authorities to support inclusive economic growth The Strategy sets out how the Council will work with SPT and operators to make buses, trains and taxis accessible and easier for all to use, including through reducing physical accessibility barriers and improving the accessibility of travel information. They will also work with partners to explore opportunities to increase the frequency and improve reliability of bus services across Renfrewhire and to expand network coverage of bus services in rural areas of Renfrewshire and between areas of deprivation and employment such as AMIDS, the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland which is based in Renfrewshire and Glasgow Airport . There is a focus on providing support to parents and carers to apply for young persons’ concessionary travel entitlement card and to support measures to make public transport affordable for all, including through actions identified in Transport Scotland’s Fair Fares Review.Again, this can aupport employment within families, rainins household income. Page 159 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 30 PUBLIC 4.3 Looking forward to 2026/27 Invest will continue to deliver outreach services and provide services in local areas across Renfrewshire over the period of 2026/27. They will continue to engage with third sector groups and organisations and other partners to raise awareness of the many benefits of employment to families and the support available to parents to help them start their own journeys towards work. Employability staff will continue to work closely with organisations that already have good relationships with parents, in particular those working with the child poverty target groups. Parents can access LEP commissioned provision for 2026/27 from organisations which have been awarded LEP Grants to deliver projects and support to unemployed and underemployed parents: • Youth Inspired - YI Matter Too programme aimed at supporting parents with their personal development, confidence building and barrier removal • Generation: You Employed UK are delivering an 8-week programme to support people to develop skills to progress into employment in Technology • ‘Challenges Group’ will deliver the Make Work Work personal development and leadership programme certificated by CMI, with the option to continue and achieve CMI qualification. • The Lennox Partnership - Spire programme to support parents explore employment, learning and personal growth • The Salvation Army - Steps Forward programme for developing practical life skills and employability skills • ‘Kairos Language Café’ will provide conversational English sessions to further enhance communication skills • Klass Care programme is designed to empower parents aspiring to rrturn to the workplace by fostering self-awareness, communication skills, and resilience • West College Scotland Care Pathway programme will provide training for people looking to progress into employment in care. This programme will also include work experience • Bridges Programmes - Cultural Integration Group will support New Scots to develop and understanding of workplace cultures and expectations, employment law in the UK, techniques for job search and interviews • BDA Ltd will provide self-employment support for parents looking to progress into self- employed opportunities Page 160 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 31 PUBLIC • Scottish Childminding Association will deliver a programme of support to people interested in being a Child Minder. These commissioned services will work in partnership with Invest in Renfrewshire’s Parental Employability Support team, with Invest providing the wraparound support for parents participating. Invest will work in partnership to recruit parents for each of the programmes and will provide ongoing support during and after the programmes to support with progression to next steps on their employability journey. The team are also working on several programme developments to enhance the services and provide additional support to parents in Renfrewshire. 4.4 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Employment Programmes Throughout 2025/26, NHSGGC has continued to focus on three themes around employability: Apprenticeships, Academy and Career, with work being progressed under those themes including: Apprenticeships • 42 apprentices progressed into substantive employment this year. • Scottish Apprentice week initiatives in March 2026 had around 100 attendees. Academy • A review of Academy programmes to align with Healthcare Support Worker pathways • Project Search continued to support young people with additional support needs or disabilities to move into paid employment Careers • Career focussed information sessions with DWP clients aimed at increasing awareness of NHSGGC as an employer and providing insight into the recruitment process as well as breadth of roles available, with 94 attendees • NHSGGC clinical and technical services supported STEM career events for senior pupils during Scottish Careers week in November 2025, with 1,000 pupils attending. • MCR Pathways mentoring continues. Plans for 2026/27 are to continue these three themes directed by workforce priorities in the NHS GGC workforce plan, Anchor Plan and engagement with partners through the LEPs. NHSGGC will Page 161 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 32 PUBLIC also scale up parental employability activity through paid placements thanks to additional funding from Scottish Government, King’s Trust and the Local Employability Partnerships. 4.5 Procurement In Renfrewshire, we are committed to maximising Community Benefits through Council procurement activities by including specific Community Benefit Clauses and targets within procurement contracts. These cover payment of the Living Wage as well as targeted employment and training opportunities. Fair work practices in areas such as zero hour contracts and worker representation are also scored. During 25/26, a total of 260 community benefits were delivered across 66 council contracts, with 42 suppliers delivering added social, economic and community value to Renfrewshire residents, businesses and communities. 50 of these were for communities, 84 were skills and training opportunities, 34 recruitment, and 23 local supply chain opportunities. There has been a significant increase in delivery across almost all categories of community benefit. In particular, substantial growth has been achieved in work experience placements, workforce upskilling, workplace visits and careers activity, and employment and graduate opportunities, indicating that more local people, businesses and community organisations are benefiting from council contracted spend. Community Wealth Building (CWB) is a key priority and Community Benefits are evaluated as part of the tendering process and monitored on a quarterly basis. Ongoing and future work to improve processes and outreach: Page 162 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 33 PUBLIC Our CWB Coordinator chairs the Council’s refreshed Community Benefits Forum and along with the Corporate Procurement Manager has put in place key terms of reference, strategic purpose and clear performance measures for the delivery of the council’s community benefits. This has included streamlining the monitoring of community benefits to help support better delivery. To help suppliers deliver benefits to those most in need across Renfrewshire, Community Benefit Forum membership has grown to include representation from a wider range of council services such as HSCP, Housing, ICT and Connected Communities as key partners which in turn widens outreach into our communities. The Community Benefits Forum is a key lever for the delivery of benefits from existing contracts and the group has now taken on a key role in strategic development of the community benefit approach in relevant contract strategies. This has enabled identification of new opportunities for the delivery of community benefits including building a range of social, economic, and/or environmental conditions into the delivery of council contracts from pre-tender stage to address local priorities. The Council uses Cenefits, a community benefits tracking system which provides real time monitoring, reporting and evaluation of all procurement contracts with community benefit commitments. Further development of the Cenefits system will support the capture of qualitative evidence alongside quantitative data, improving visibility of who benefits from community benefits, where delivery takes place, and how this contributes to positive outcomes. A proposal is being developed to introduce a locally managed Community Benefits Portal, working collaboratively with Procurement, Renfrewshire Council’s Connected Communities Team and Engage Renfrewshire to enable suppliers to transparently access local community and third-sector support needs. NHSGGC is also a procurer and an affiliate member of the the Supplier Development Programme (SDP), which is a partnership of Local Authorities, Scottish Government and other public bodies that work together to bring free support in all aspects of tendering to Scottish-based small and medium enterprises. Membership of SDP is recognised as a community benefit to the public sector in Scotland. NHSGGC has continued to ensure procurement attendance at local and national "Meet the Buyer" events where appropriate. Further highlights from NHSGGC include proactively supporting the use of the Community Benefits Gateway (CBG) through effective partnership working between NHSGGC Procurement, Public Health and Third Sector Interfaces.The CBG is a free and easy-to-use online service that connects NHS Scotland suppliers with third-sector community organisations within Scotland who are looking for assistance with community initiatives or needs. In collaboration with Public Health Page 163 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 34 PUBLIC Scotland, the CBG helps improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of local areas and assists in the reduction of health inequalities across Scotland. During 2025/26, two awareness sessions were delivered by Health Improvement and supported and promoted by Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector (GCVS). NHSGGC and Supplier Development Programme won Public Procurement Project of the Year for the work on Community Benefits Gateway (CBG). During 2026/27 the NHSGGC Procurement Strategy 2025-28 will continue to be delivered, with corporate social responsibility being a key priority area, with community benefits clauses in local contracts. 4.6 Childcare Since August 2022, all 3 and 4 year old and some eligible 2 year old children receive 1140 hours at nursery, using an approved childminder or a combination of both. In Renfrewshire there are 38 Council ELC establishments, 35 approved funded provider establishments and 11 childminders delivering the ELC entitlement. Most of our early learning and childcare settings are open before and after the school day across the full year to support working parents. The Council, through RLEP, has funded a programme by the Scottish Childminding Association to recruit and train childminders in Renfrewshire to help raise the number of approved childminders. This started in 23/24 and will be ongoing in 26/27 with 8 women currently active on the programme, 4 of whom have submitted their applications to the care commission for registration, and 2 who have now completed the registration process and are now registered childminders. Renfrewshire Council is committed to supporting the independent sector’s contribution to early years provision in Renfrewshire, through the allocation of funding to support a range of private and voluntary sector organisations which deliver services for families with young children. In 25/26 £79,375 was allocated to out of school care groups in the private and voluntary sector and for early years voluntary sector organisations, playgroups and toddler groups. 5 Theme 2: Maximising the support available for families to lead dignified lives and meet their basic needs Families continue to be impacted by high costs of living. Continued high costs are eroding living standards, reducing financial resilience and negatively affecting household debt affordability. Households are struggling to pay bills and pay off debts as a result of cost of living increases and Page 164 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 35 PUBLIC are defaulting on direct debits, with evidence showing that energy is one area where debts are increasing. Food inflation has also consistently been above general inflation rates for some time. We know some households have been disproportionately affected by these developments with low income families hit hardest. This year, Renfrewshire Council has targeted resources to support local households, working to ensure their income is maximised and outgoings are minimised. Our ongoing commitment to advice provision is illustrated in the number of services and projects the Council funds. With a General, a Legal and Welfare Rights advice service funded at Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau, as well as an embedded advice service for High and ASN schools, this is an investment of over £465,000 per year. This provision is in addition to our own Advice Works Team which provides general benefit and money advice to thousands of families every year. Advice Works also supports areas like housing, better-off calculations for employability and specific family advice for families with children from age 0 until the end of Primary School. We have a team of energy advocates who provide energy advice to households of all types and an Improving the Cancer Journey and Long Term Conditions Service for those who have received a diagnosis. Overall, Renfrewshire Council’s advice provision is considerable, and when advice funded, for example through Renfrewshire HSCP and external sources is added, this is a significant investment. In our partnerships with Renfrewshire HSCP, NHSGGC, the third sector and more widely, we have worked together to support families through embedding advice where possible and augmenting processes to encourage take up of advice. For the fourth year, over the winter period, we worked again with partners to deliver the Winter Connections programme - encouraging people to connect and participate in activities in warm and welcoming spaces across communities in Renfrewshire. Our Fairer Renfrewshire work includes projects and activities which help families living in poverty. Our Advice Partnership continues, with advice providers across Council Services, the third sector, HSCP, Social Security Scotland and NHSGGC coming together to share information and work to reduce gaps and coordinate services. Our refreshed School Meal Debt process has support for families at its core and advice is offered to everyone applying for School Clothing Grants and Free School Meals. Our summer programme is not only free to families, but is targeted at those who may need it most. Our digital initiatives bring together a range of partners working together to support the digitally excluded, and our Tenant Support Fund supports tenants who may be struggling to pay their rent. Page 165 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 36 PUBLIC Throughout Renfrewshire, across Council services, and with a variety of partners, our actions help families reduce their cost of living and lead dignified lives. 5.1 Income maximisation through advice A key priority within the Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan is ‘Improving Financial Security’, which focusses on supporting households to increase income and reduce essential costs. The Action Plan recognises the increase demand on advice services and there are five actions focussed on improving access to income advice and support: • Ensure the provision of money and benefits advice • Coordinate Advice Partnership Renfrewshire to streamline provision • Identify need and increase outreach for advice services • Promote Family Advice Pathway across Council services and Advice Partnership • Continue targeted income maximisation for low-income families with children The Council’s Advice Works service continues to provide advice with regards to money, debt and benefits, as well as providing advice and representation at benefit appeals. Overall, the financial gain for clients this year from new claims to benefit was over £12.5 million, with an additional £386,000 in mandatory reconsiderations and appeals. Advice Works have also helped clients manage £2.3 million in debt. The Council-funded Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau’s (RCAB) general service gave over 6,332 appointments and has gained £2.6 million for the people of Renfrewshire this year. This is in addition to the 330 people seen by the Legal Service, which is primarily used to avoid homelessness, and for debt cases. The Welfare Rights service had 211 clients and £207,376 in financial gain for clients. New debt cases this year have led to over £2.2 million worth of debt currently being managed. Overall, between the two services, 6,886 clients fell into Child Poverty Priority families, with the disabled child/adult in a family being the largest category: 2,906 seen by RCAB and 759 by Advice Works. Both Advice Works and RCAB provide outreach services as part of their service provision, and services work together to coordinate outreach and avoid duplication, while looking at provision across Renfrewshire. To simplify the available advice streams, a family advice pathway was created to bring together the School Support Service, Family Advice Service, including what was previously Page 166 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 37 PUBLIC Healthier Wealthier Children and emergency support under an overarching family advice picture in Renfrewshire. The pathway shows a clear and concise route to the appropriate advice provider and their contact details. This year, Advice Works and RCAB have continued to work closely to ensure people are getting the benefits they are entitled to and the best money advice. For example, they worked together on a ‘Talk Money’ week during November 2025 and have both worked with STAR Project in Renfrewshire ensure outreach services met demand. Both organisations are named and details provided in our promotional materials encouraging people to come forward for advice, including those we have recently had printed in languages other than English. We have continued to work closely with Social Security Scotland to ensure that referral between our clients and theirs is as simple as possible to maximise income for parents and parents to be. With both the Local Delivery Lead and Client Support Adviser Team Leader being part of our Advice Partnership, we can ensure relevant information is shared. In our benefits take up work, we continue to cascade specifically designed marketing materials around benefits for parents, including Best Start Grants and Scottish Child Payment to maximise numbers coming forward to claim these benefits. 5.2 Family Advice and School Support During 2025/26, the Family Advice Service provided income maximisation, welfare rights and debt advice to families across Renfrewshire. The team works with families to maximise household income through income advice, but also seeks to increase take-up of wider supports provided by the Council for families, for example, free school meals, school clothing grants or employability support for parents. Support focused on increasing household income through benefit uptake and income maximisation, alongside debt advice and practical support, reducing financial pressure and improving household stability. There were 441 referrals received to the Family Advice Service during 2025/26, with 430 clients engaging. This led to client financial gains of over £85,000. A significant proportion of families supported were within national child poverty priority family types, including lone parents, families with a disabled adult or child and families with children under one year of age. Referrals were primarily received through self‑referral and Health Visiting, with additional referrals from Social Work and Housing, reflecting strong partnership working and effective referral pathways. Page 167 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 38 PUBLIC The Family Advice Service is provided by the Council’s Advice Works and supports families with children in early years and primary school settings, complementary to the advice service for secondary schools that is provided by RCAB. In particular, Advice Works will collaborate with primary school office staff to address issues such as school meal debt more proactively. The service also supports pregnant women, and receives referrals from a number of sources including Health Visitors and other NHS teams. The ‘School Support Service’ delivered by RCAB continued to provide advice in all Renfrewshire secondary and additional support needs schools for: • all secondary and additional support needs school attendees, • their families and carers, • school staff who may approach the service about a pupil/pupil’s family, • school staff who may approach the service about their own concerns. The advice provided by the project covers the following areas which support families to maximise their income: • Welfare Benefits including Social Security Scotland Benefits • Money and debt • Free School Meals, School Clothing Grants, and other benefits in kind, also collaborating with secondary and ASN school office staff to address issues such as school meal debt more proactively • Benefits that come directly to young people, such as free bus travel and Education Maintenance Allowance. RCAB work with school staff, including guidance, pastoral and home link staff to reach families who are struggling with money issues and ensure swift, proactive, and where possible, preventative support is provided. Where appropriate, the support provided is complemented by existing RCAB general and legal advice services. During 2025/26, there have been 322 advice appointments/contacts made and the service has helped 128 families with a client financial gain of £301,700. Almost half of the client financial gains related to Universal Credit, with a significant proportion related to disability benefits. The ‘School Support Service’ was initially a 2 year pilot to establish the most effective way to support young people and their families to maximise their income through utilisation of school premises and staff. The decision has been made to extend the service, with £50,000 allocated for 26/27. Page 168 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 39 PUBLIC 5.3 Improving the Cancer Journey Our Improving the Cancer Journey and Long-term Conditions services help people to get the support they need – whether that’s physical, emotional, practical, spiritual, family/relationships or financial. The services are a partnership between Renfrewshire Council, Macmillan Cancer Support and NHSGGC. The Improving the Cancer Journey service has continued to offer holistic support for those with a cancer diagnosis. With money worries highlighted as the main issue for service users, in the last year, £371,044 has been gained for 435 clients. In addition, our Long-term Conditions service has gained £47,861 for 192 clients. Although these services are universal, many parents have gained from them, with the majority of clients living in SIMD 1 and 2 areas. Both services bringing much needed income and other support into households affected by illness. 5.4 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – Advice in Hospitals Although the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) in Paisley is attended by patients from the West of Scotland, it sees most of those in need of hospital care from Renfrewshire. The Support and Information Service aims to be the first port of call for all non-clinical health & social care enquiries. The information Hub in the RAH provides information about money and benefits, income maximisation support and help with energy bills as well as information and support for carers and patients. It also provides a food supply on discharge for those who need it, in partnership with Renfrewshire Foodbank. The Health Improvement Lead with responsibility for the service, is part of Renfrewshire’s Advice Partnership. In the Royal Hospital for Children, the Money & Debt with advocacy service supports any families who have a child as an inpatient or who attend the hospital as an outpatient. This service sees families from all 6 child poverty priority groups. The service works closely with families who often experience major life changing circumstances due to a child being born with a medical condition, a child suddenly becomes unwell, or they are diagnosed with a lifelong or life limiting illness. These Parents often become Carers, and they are faced with increasing and additional costs of caring for a child with a disability or lifelong or life limiting illness. 14 families from Renfrewshire were supported this year. NHSGCC has allocated funding to continue delivering the Money & Debt with advocacy service until summer 2026 and are working with the service provider, Money Matters, to secure alternative sources of funding to sustain the service. Page 169 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 40 PUBLIC In line with its established approach, the service will continue to engage and collaborate with all key stakeholders through its dedicated multi-disciplinary steering group. This group includes representatives from the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, internal staff across departments, external professionals, and—crucially—the families who access and benefit from the service. This collaborative model ensures that a wide range of expertise and lived experience informs service planning, delivery, and ongoing improvement. Central to the service’s ethos is a commitment to placing the voices and experiences of families at the heart of everything it does. The insights and feedback gathered from the children and families supported by the service will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping priorities, guiding enhancements, and ensuring that the service remains responsive, compassionate, and effective in meeting the needs of its users throughout 2026/27. Stronger Start is an embedded Money Advice and Advocacy Service offered to women who engage with the Blossom Maternity Service across Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire. Stronger Start staff are co-located within the outpatients department at the RAH Maternity Hospital, Paisley, Vale of Leven Community Maternity Unit, Alexandria and Inverclyde Community Maternity Unit, Greenock. The service supports women experiencing financial insecurity during pregnancy and early motherhood and was initially delivered as a one‑year pilot. Strong early outcomes resulted in additional funding being secured to extend delivery and support further learning. The service is delivered in partnership with Renfrewshire CAB and overseen through a multi‑agency steering group. During 2025/26, the service received 97 referrals, including 73 from the Royal Alexandra Hospital, and 55 women engaged in intensive support. Confirmed financial gains totalled £189,403, equating to an average gain of £3,443 per woman supported. Support focused on income maximisation, benefit uptake, debt resolution and housing advocacy. Advocacy was a core element of delivery, supporting women to navigate complex systems, access entitlements and stabilise housing at a critical stage. Housing advocacy contributed to homelessness prevention. All women supported were within national child poverty priority family types. An external evaluation was undertaken in 2025 which found that a notable strength of the project was the individualised approach to providing advice, support, and advocacy, ensuring that these met the specific needs of each service user. The holistic approach ensured that the full scope of circumstances and needs are considered and service users felt that staff worked collaboratively Page 170 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 41 PUBLIC with them towards meeting their goals. Recommendations from the evaluation will inform the future direction of the project. “Overall, the evaluation has demonstrated the effectiveness of the Stronger Start project in improving the circumstances and outlook for vulnerable pregnant women, including effecting significant measurable financial gains, and taking a holistic approach to identifying needs, providing advice and support, advocating on their behalf, and working collaboratively with service users to achieve goals. For a client group recognised as being harder to reach and less likely to engage with services, the project is providing much needed support, with pregnancy being an optimal time for providing an opportunity for intervention...The project is meeting needs that are not being met elsewhere. The description by some service users of the project as a ‘lifeline’ appears apt. Stronger Start Evaluation In addition to Stronger Start, NHSGGC also have a Money Worries in Maternity Service . Midwives and maternity staff are offered training to raise the topic sensitively, understand the links between poverty and health, and know the referral pathways, integrating raising the issue of money worries into routine care. Twelve midwives and maternity care staff attended child poverty briefings to support a test of change and the introduction of a new referral pathway. In addition, a 10-minute bite-sized training session for maternity staff on raising money worries was launched in 2025. The Maternity Emergency Grant (MEG) was a small cash grant managed & delivered through Public Health’s Support & Information Services (SIS) to support pregnant women experiencing financial hardship when attending maternity appointments in NHSGGC acute hospitals. The purpose of the grant was to remove immediate financial barriers to accessing maternity care, particularly travel costs but also food, clothing and other essential needs. The MEG offered a one-off small cash grant (£50) accompanied by a brief, holistic support conversation, with SIS often resulting in referrals to external support services. The grant funding ended in December 2025. The Raising the issue of money worries in early years (HWC) Health Visiting Services work sits within NHSGGC’s wider Healthier Wealthier Children (HWC) programme. It is a preventative, early- intervention approach led by Health Visitors to tackle child poverty and its health impacts. Health Visitors routinely ask parents (especially during pregnancy and early years) about money or debt worries as part of normal care. If concerns are identified, families are referred to specialist money advice/ financial inclusion services. This is the core financial Inclusion service for NHS staff to refer families to for income maximisation. During 2025/26 100 families in Renfrewshire were supported. Page 171 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 42 PUBLIC 5.5 Pregnancy, Maternity and Early Years Staff Resource The Pregnancy, Maternity and Early Years Staff Resource continued to support frontline staff to respond to families affected by cost of living pressures. The resource provides accessible information on financial, practical and wellbeing support available locally and nationally. The resource is available online, as a downloadable PDF and through the NHSGGC Happy Healthy Tots app, supporting consistent access to information for both staff and parents. During 2026/27 use of the resource and the Happy Healthy Tots app will continue to be promoted among frontline staff with content kept under review to ensure information remains current and responsive to cost‑of‑living pressures. 5.6 Cost of the Nursery Day Cost of the Nursery Day (COND) pilot project was delivered by the Renfrewshire HSCP Health Improvement Team during 2024/25. This project supported early-years establishments through upskilling staff to become a ‘Cost of the Nursery Day’ champion. These champions: • Attend two one-hour training sessions and share learning with the rest of their team. • Work with their team to develop actions they can implement to support their families with the cost of living and/or reduce financial pressures. • Become part of an email distribution list to allow the Health Improvement Team share key information, events and opportunities relating to the cost of living with their establishment. Activity in 2025/26 focused on supporting early learning and childcare settings to reduce financial barriers for families. This included strengthening staff awareness of the impact of poverty, improving confidence in having conversations with families about financial pressures and increasing awareness of available support and referral pathways. A second block of COND training was delivered between October and November 2025, including delivery at the Renfrewshire Council Early Learning and Childcare Staff Conference. Evaluation demonstrated strong engagement, with all participants reporting increased confidence and improved understanding of local support options. During 2025/26, development work progressed to create a dedicated COND webpage. This resource is intended to provide early years staff with a single, accessible source of information on financial support, local services and referral routes, supporting consistent practice across settings. Page 172 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 43 PUBLIC For 2026/27 priorities include launching the COND webpage to provide a single, accessible resource for early years staff and embedding COND principles within early years practice to strengthen referrals to money advice, employability and benefits support.COND activity will continue to be delivered and sharing of best practice across early years establishments. 5.7 Tackling food and fuel insecurity Support around food and fuel has had an increased focus since the Cost of Living Crisis. While we recognise that inflation rates and fuel costs have decreased since the height of the crisis, costs are still much higher than they were before the crisis, and work is taking place across the Council, NHSGGC Public Health team and partners to support low income families who are struggling with increased food and fuel bills. Fair Food Renfrewshire / Good Food Nation Renfrewshire’s food partnership, Fair Food Renfrewshire, continues to evolve, with the steering group meeting quarterly, working towards developing food system change in Renfrewshire and achieving their four key priorities: • Ending food insecurity and the need for foodbanks. • Increasing access and availability of growing grounds in every town and village within Renfrewshire. • Widening access and availability to educational opportunities regarding nutrition and cooking skills, and wider use of ‘home economics’ type classes within education, health, and community settings. • Encouraging individuals and businesses to buy local food, and also encourage organisations to place more emphasis on the better value of using local food suppliers within a procurement policy context The food partnership brings together key stakeholders from right across the local food system including the local authority, Renfrewshire HSCP, Health Board, third sector and community groups, public sector establishments and food growers to develop a healthier, fairer and more sustainable food system locally. Fair Food Renfrewshire has been a member of Sustainable Food Places since 2024, giving the partnership access to additional support and expertise from regional and national partners. Partnership coordinators meet with Nourish Scotland and other local food partnerships on a regular basis to share updates and best practice. Page 173 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 44 PUBLIC Fair Food Renfrewshire has established a food support working group made up of representatives from local emergency and community food providers such as Renfrewshire Foodbank and community larders and pantries. The purpose of the forum is to identify and solve issues for those suffering from food insecurity and those providing emergency and community food, exploring opportunities for collaborative working, knowledge sharing and identifying key priorities, including ensuring culturally appropriate food is available and healthy food is promoted. Opportunities to collaborate in community food growing and providing cooking and nutritional skills classes are also being explored. The group is continuing to work develop a collaborative and sustainable model of food provision in Renfrewshire to support those experiencing food insecurity with an improved holistic approach. Community Food Framework – Community Food Education During 2025/26, Renfrewshire HSCP developed and commenced delivery of a Community Food Education pilot, funded through NHSGGC Public Health. The pilot responds to findings from the Health and Wellbeing Survey and engagement with the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel, which highlighted food insecurity alongside gaps in food literacy, confidence and understanding of healthy eating within the context of cost‑of‑living pressures. As part of the pilot, small grants of up to £10,000 were awarded to ten community and third sector organisations, including food pantries and local food initiatives. Funding supports organisations to embed food education within existing provision, shifting focus from food provision alone to building skills, knowledge and confidence. Delivery is supported by the HSCP Health Improvement Team through shared tools, resources and facilitation. The Community Food Education pilot will continue to be delivered with funded organisations during 2026/27 and monitoring and evaluation returns will be collated to evidence the impact on food literacy, confidence and affordability. Learning from the pilot will be used to inform development of a sustainable model and support potential roll‑out across NHSGGC. Emergency Infant Feeding Pathway Directive from NHSGGC Public Health Maternal and Infant Nutrition Group identified the need for all HSCP areas across the Health Board to develop and implement an Emergency Infant Feeding Pathway. This pathway is based on guidance published by UNICEF and the Scottish Government. Page 174 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 45 PUBLIC The Emergency Infant Feeding Pathway in Renfrewshire provides short‑term financial support to families experiencing acute financial pressure to ensure infants can be safely fed. The pathway supports early identification, rapid response and follow‑up to prevent escalation to wider crisis. During 2025/26, 19 referrals were received, with the majority originating from Health Visiting. Coordination through the Family Wellbeing Service ensured families received timely support and were connected to wider advice and family support services where appropriate. The pathway documents, including referral form and SOP, sit on the Pregnancy, Maternity and Early-Years webpage hosted by Engage Renfrewshire, so they are easily accessible for staff. The pathway will continue to be promoted during 2026/27 across health and advice services to support early identification and rapid response. Referral patterns and outcomes will be monitored to ensure timely access and alignment with wider family support pathways. Energy support Supported in part by Fairer Renfrewshire funding, Renfrewshire Council’s Energy Management Unit comprises a team who provide advice to anyone struggling with energy costs and advocate for clients with energy companies. The advisers can also access available funds to support clients reduce bills/access emergency fuel. In 25/26 there were over 500 referrals to the Energy Management Unit and of those, 45 had children under the age of 16 in the household. In total, 70 children under the age of 16 lived in households that were given support. Energy Advocates have been working with the Fuel Bank Foundation since late 2025, allowing them to provide fuel vouchers to those in emergency situations. 5.8 Digital For specific groups of people there remain real barriers to accessing digital which exacerbate existing inequalities. Digital exclusion can broadly be considered in terms of connectivity, access to a device, skills and the ability to engage safely and positively online. Renfrewshire has a strong reputation nationally for its partnership and place-based approach to tackling digital exclusion and has continued to be strengthened throughout 2025/26. Renfrewshire Council was the only local authority in Scotland to be named as an exemplar in the refreshed national digital strategy. Digital Strategy Page 175 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 46 PUBLIC The Council's Digital Strategy 2025-2030 was approved during 2025/26 and includes a dedicated strategic theme on Digital Inclusion. By prioritising digital inclusion, the Council aims to bridge the digital divide that disproportionately affects children from low-income families. This priority aims to ensure that residents can access appropriate digital tools, connectivity and skills which will enhance their opportunities and future prospects. Key actions include promoting affordable internet access, distributing digital devices, and expanding community-based digital support. These efforts are crucial in mitigating the impact of poverty and overall well-being, ensuring that everyone in Renfrewshire can thrive in an increasingly digital world. DigiRen Network – Information for organisations supporting families The DigiRen Network promotes digital tools, guidance and resources that local organisations can cascade directly to the families and individuals they support. This approach helps ensure that families affected by child poverty receive timely and reliable information on financial and digital support, for example on Family Fund Scotland programmes and Ofcom guidance on Broadband Social Tariffs. DigiKnowVember Renfrewshire’s Digital Inclusion event, DigiKnowVember expanded in 2025 from a week-long programme to a full month of digital inclusion activity delivered throughout November. This initiative offers a series of free events and workshops designed to enhance digital skills and awareness. A total of 174 events were registered, with 164 delivered across the region, resulting in more than 1,250 interactions. Over 80 per cent of events were delivered in person, helping to remove access barriers for families who may lack confidence, connectivity or digital skills. Many events focused specifically on families, children and young people, covering online safety, digital skills development and inclusive access to technology. Funding to support DigiKnowVember was approved as part of the Council’s 2026/27 budget, with planning already underway for DigiKnowVember 2026. DigiZones Significant progress has continued through the DigiZones programme, which provides free, place-based access to devices, Wi-Fi and digital support across Renfrewshire. The DigiZones Early Implementer Evaluation Report, covering the period January to December 2025, was finalised during 2025/26. The evaluation framework was co-designed with delivery organisations and combines qualitative and quantitative measures of impact. During the evaluation period, DigiZones recorded more than 96,000 visits, delivered over 800 training sessions and nearly 1,000 hours of digital champion support. Thousands of device accesses and public Wi-Fi sessions were recorded. Page 176 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 47 PUBLIC DigiZones play a critical role in tackling child poverty by reducing barriers to digital access, supporting parents and carers to develop skills, and enabling families to engage with critical areas such as employability and public services. Continued Council funding for DigiZones was approved as part of the 2026/27 budget, with work underway to open the next funding round. Public Wi-Fi and Connectivity Renfrewshire is regarded as one of the best connected regions in the UK in terms of its connectivity infrastructure and Renfrewshire Council recognises connectivity as a critical enabler for effective digital inclusion. The full rollout of the public WI-FI programme has delivered free across up to 180 Council, cultural, leisure and community venues as well as in town centres. Connectivity is also available in children’s homes, care homes, sheltered housing and social care facilities. Increased bandwidth across our learning estate allows faster access to digital learning resources, with WI-FI available both within and beyond classrooms, enabling children and young people to continue learning online while on school grounds. These measures help mitigate the impact of digital poverty for children with limited connectivity at home. Pachedu E-Quality Access - Device Reuse During 2025/26, the Council supported the launch of Pachedu E-Quality Access, a community-led, pre-loved device reuse project. Council officers worked alongside the local charity Pachedu to develop an end-to-end reuse model that enables donated devices to be refurbished and redistributed to people experiencing digital exclusion. The project launched on 6 March 2026 and received fifteen donated devices within its first week. The initiative directly supports families who do not have access to a suitable digital device, helping to reduce the impact of device poverty. Families are also signposted to local digital skills and connectivity support where required. Digital Champions Project The Digital Champions Project has continued to demonstrate strong positive impact across Renfrewshire communities and remains supported through the Fairer Renfrewshire programme. During 2025, the project delivered support to 925 learners through 568 sessions across nine libraries. A total of 180 people from low-income households received free data and voice SIM cards, with more than 1,200 months of data issued, equating to over 41 Terabytes. The project has also built a committed volunteer base of 35 digital champions, who collectively delivered almost 1,000 hours of support. This work directly contributes to tackling child poverty by reducing digital costs for families and supporting parents and carers to access online services, benefits and educational resources. Page 177 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 48 PUBLIC A recent internal evaluation found that the service has resulted in increased confidence and skills in using digital devices by creating accessible spaces for people to learn. Through Digital Champions there is increased engagement at a local level, supporting people to develop basic ‘core’ digital skills and raising awareness of the availability of social tariffs. The team work closely with the Council’s Invest programme linking their volunteers to additional employment support and opportunities for further training, as well as providing volunteering experience for people working with Invest to get back into employment. Broadband ‘Social Tariffs’ There is recognition that Broadband ‘Social Tariffs’ remains a barrier to helping people and families get online, both in terms of cost and also awareness. These are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. The latest OfCom figures reveal that fewer than 10% of eligible families across the UK were taking up these reduced cost tariffs. Low uptake continues to present a barrier for families experiencing financial hardship, increasing the risk of digital exclusion for children who require internet access for learning and school engagement. Throughout 2025/26, the Council has continued to promote social tariffs through DigiRen Network communications and partner networks in order to improve awareness and support take-up among eligible families. Strategic and Community Benefits Approach Digital inclusion is now embedded within Renfrewshire Council’s Community Benefits Menu, enabling suppliers to contribute to digital inclusion outcomes through contracted activity. In addition, funding secured through community benefit obligations will support the delivery of a Council tenant digital champion programme during 2026/27. Strategic capacity has also been strengthened through the continued role of the Digital Strategy Delivery Manager and the recruitment of a Digital Assistant (Modern Apprentice) in March 2025, reinforcing the Council’s long-term commitment to digital inclusion. 5.9 Winter Connections The Winter Connections programme has been running during the winter months since November 2022. The programme, which is delivered in partnership with local organisations, aims to encourage people to connect and participate in activities in warm and welcoming spaces across communities in Renfrewshire. Page 178 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 49 PUBLIC Local community and voluntary organisations can apply for small grants of up to £2,000 to support with the additional costs of making venues, activities and sessions open as part of the programme. Items eligible for funding include equipment, food, energy costs, and rent. The programme has been evaluated each year and has positively contributed to Renfrewshire Council’s continued wider response to the cost-of-living crisis. As a result, in February 2025, £75,000 of funding was allocated from the Fairer Renfrewshire programme to support the delivery of a fourth year of Winter Connections for 2025/26. The programme continues to attract new organisations bidding for funding, with this year’s programme being delivered by a mix of organisation that have received funding before, and those new to Winter Connections. Funded activities need to fit the criteria of Winter Connections and be: • Open, free and easy to access • Inclusive, welcoming, respectful, and safe • Able or willing to provide connections to other services and supports • Able to offer warm drinks/snacks/food along with activities, where possible The assessment panel comprises representatives from the Council, HSCP and third sector to ensure a transparent cross sector approach, and 37 projects were funded across Renfrewshire, alongside funding for One Ren to support the programme by providing hot drinks, soup, and snacks in all Renfrewshire libraries and a selection of games and jigsaws to support extra play sessions in a couple of libraries. Winter Connections branded materials, including posters and stickers as well as leaflets with advice on where to find support with financial worries were also distributed to organisations participating in the programme along with free period products. This year’s programme delivered a wide range of activities, some of which were tailored to the age/needs of those attending. Some activities were open to everyone and aimed to attract families and multiple generations, however some organisations focussed specifically on delivering sessions for children and younger people . Activities included: • Youth club • Basic cooking class • Exercise activities for young mums • Arts & crafts • Homework/after school club • Fun events for Halloween/Christmas Page 179 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 50 PUBLIC Evaluation has shown that over 1,300 people benefitted from the programme in a number of ways, including the provision of free food alongside activities ensuring that the programme discretely supported families who are continuing to experience financial hardship. The free access was a big part of it working. Families didn’t have to think twice about whether they could afford to come. That removed a huge barrier straight away and meant we reached people who wouldn’t normally access this kind of space. Just Dive In Families consistently told us that knowing a warm meal would be available made it easier to attend, reduced the stress of providing breakfast on tight budgets and created a relaxed, sociable start to each session. As a result, we saw strong and consistent attendance across all groups, with some sessions requiring waiting lists. Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde 5.10 Summer of Fun In February 2025, core funding of £100,000 was allocated through the Fairer Renfrewshire programme to support the development of a summer holiday programme, with a focus on providing fun activities, support and healthy food over the holiday period to low-income families. This built on the previous two year’s successful Summer of Fun and the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel provided feedback on strengthening the programme. A small grants programme was delivered using £50,000 of the funding, allocated to local community groups and organisations. They delivered free activities over the summer holidays reaching communities that might be underserved by mainstream activities, particularly low-income families. Renfrewshire’s Community Learning and Development team used the remaining £50,000 to develop a programme of activities for children and young people through a summer camp model in partnership with Street Stuff, and with the provision of a healthy meal. Summer Additional Support Needs (ASN) provision was located at Riverbrae School, with 3rd sector organisation, KLAS Care, funded to provide some places as part of wider work through the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund. In addition, One Ren delivered a free summer programme in the libraries and with the Skoobmobile team. 20 organisations received funding through the small grants programme. A wide range of engaging activities aimed at different ages and often including day trips to places of interest, resulted in a Page 180 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 51 PUBLIC successful programme that enabled children and young people to try new activities and make memories with their families. The removal of financial barriers to participation and the welcoming and inclusive nature of activities created an accessible programme for families. The programme worked well because it was free for families to attend, which removed financial barriers and meant everyone could take part regardless of circumstances. Offering a mix of activities such as cinema trips, soft play, and arts & crafts gave children plenty of choice and kept them engaged. Providing food alongside the activities worked particularly well, as it helped ease pressure on families during the holidays and made the days feel like a complete experience. Parents appreciated the chance to spend quality time with their children, while children enjoyed trying new things, making friends, and having fun in a safe and supportive environment. Stronger Communities Glenburn Renfrewshire’s Community Learning and Development team’s summer camp model offered places to children and young people in six venues across Renfrewshire. Work was undertaken to prioritise access to camp bookings to families with low incomes, especially in the child poverty priority groups and through referrals from Childrens Services before opening up access more widely. A programme was developed offering several core activities and targeted to young people aged 5 to 14 years whose families received the school clothing grant, in addition to separately funded youth work provision, a youth voice and participation programme, sports activities and youth bus delivered by Street Stuff. The approach built on the successes from previous summer programmes and the partnership working between services. Care was taken to work closely with services such as Social Work, Education and other partners to identify families and young people that would particularly benefit from organised summer activities and to signpost them towards and sign them up for universal activities. The aim was to develop a programme of integrated provision to address the barriers and isolation faced by people in the most deprived areas, but at the same time open to families across Renfrewshire, concentrating on the Scottish Government’s child poverty priority groups. Street Stuff continued to deliver their core programme of activities in the evenings from Monday to Saturday for young people aged 8 to 16 throughout the summer holidays which also included the provision of healthy food funded by Fairer Renfrewshire. For children with additional support needs attending activities at Riverbrae, the aim was to provide activities that focussed on providing a welcoming, fun and safe environment, allowing children and young people to build good relationships with staff and other children and young people who Page 181 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 52 PUBLIC attended the playscheme. A nurse was available two days per week for children who required a higher level of support/complex medical needs. There were arts and crafts activities, games and play opportunities offered indoors for children who enjoyed this. Assigned quiet areas offered low stimulation, with tents, soft furnishings and quiet activities for children and young people who required this type of environment. The Riverbrae camp also offered free transport to and from the venue to maximise opportunities and support for families during the summer holiday period. Places in the Adult and Family Learning Programme were offered to families of learners that face multiple barriers and who are already engaged with the service. Families enjoyed a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, including a trip to the Science Centre. An ESOL specific group offered families fun ways to practice English by taking part in activites and games that helped to build vocabulary and boost confidence. Renfrewshire Libraries ran their own summer programme and linked it to the annual Summer Reading Challenge in which 1,571 children took part. All activities were free and focussed on using recyclable materials and items that were easily sourced. Over the summer holidays they delivered a range of events for children and families in their libraries, which covered areas where no Summer of Fun activity was being delivered. OneRen received £1,227 from Fairer Renfrewshire to purchase healthy snacks and drinks such as popcorn, cereal bars, juice and hot chocolate for children visiting the Skoobmobile and for all 12 Renfrewshire libraries, which were really appreciated by families. Skoobmobile provided access to library activities in areas where there was no other local provision, either through libraries, Camps or the grant funded programme. The Skoobmobile offered families free access to different play and crafting opportunities without having to travel or make reservations. The Fairer Renfrewshire Programme provided funding for new toy provision to be used by families, thus boosting the offer of the service. Feedback from the small grants programme suggests that the programme benefited around 726 adults and 2,233 children by providing inclusive, safe environments for children to participate in activities, make friends and create lasting memories with their families. In addition, there were 1,973 attendances at the holiday camps and 1,800 at Street Stuff, while the Adult and Family Learning team supported 61 families in Renfrewshire. ASN provision at Riverbrae supported 195 families. Evaluation of the programme found that the wide variety of activities were well spread out across Renfrewshire and reached many families who would not normally be able to afford to attend a summer programme. It also provided access to food, activities, and advice, providing support in a dignified manner which reduced the potential for stigma. Page 182 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 53 PUBLIC Reaching Child Poverty Priority Groups By their nature, the ASN holiday provision was attended only by those families with a disabled child, so all falling within that priority group. For summer camps, families receiving School Clothing Grants were advised of the camps by text message and we able to book places first, before the camps were opened to wider bookings. This ensured they were targeted at low income families. Attendees of the camps were as follows: Category Yes Responses % of Families Lone parent families 289 out of 807 35.8 Families with 3 or more children 278 out of 801 34.7 Families with a disability 181 out of 800 22.6 Black and minority ethnic families 72 out of 800 9.0 Families with a child under 1 65 out of 812 8.0 Families with parents under 25 9 out of 818 1.1 The aim of the small grants programme overall was to provide a range of activities that would be accessible to low-income families across Renfrewshire, in particular supporting families in the six child poverty priority groups, who are at higher risk of living on a low-income as well as Care Experienced young people. All 19 small grants funded projects that provided feedback responded that they had managed to reach these families through their activities. Just over a fifth of projects (21%) were able to reach families in all of the child poverty priority groups and those with care experience, whilst 89% of projects were able to reach families in four or more of the six child poverty priority groups. Over a third of projects (37%) managed to reach six of the seven priority groups. Projects were most successful at reaching the following families: • lone parents (100%) • families with three or more children (95%) Page 183 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 54 PUBLIC • families where someone in the house has a disability (95%) • black and minority ethnic families (84%) Over half of organisations managed to reach families with a child aged under one year old (58%) and 53% of organisations reached care experienced children and young people. 5.11 Street Stuff Utilising £182,000 of Council funding, St Mirren Football Club delivers our Street Stuff programme, which provides free multi-sport, gaming and Youth Club activities for children aged 8 – 16 across Renfrewshire up to six evenings a week and at weekends throughout the year. Street Stuff youth buses have free Wi-Fi to ensure young people aren’t digitally excluded and provide games consoles, iPads and a seating area for young people to sit and chat with other young people and staff. Delivering in the community gives young people across Renfrewshire access to exercise and social activities, including football, basketball and dance, that they may otherwise not have the chance to take part in. They also provide/support school holiday programmes for ages 5 – 14 which includes the provision of a healthy meal. Street Stuff delivery is regularly reviewed to ensure they are provided in the areas most at need and the buses are also used for small group work sessions and informal youth work intervention. The sessions are a great way for young people to get out, take part in sport and meet new friends in a safe and positive environment with the opportunity to access volunteer and employment pathways. Street Stuff supports young people to move from participation to volunteering and into employment. We also work with Invest to support traineeship opportunities for different age groups where possible. 5.12 Period Products This year, the service providing period products within communities and the service providing products in schools continue to work closely together to coordinate and promote provision across Renfrewshire. Although schools are provided with products, through stigma, there can be a reluctance for young people to use this service. To ensure widest distribution of products to young people, all Page 184 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 55 PUBLIC community groups engaged with young people, including scouts, guides and YMCAs have been sent details of our period product ordering, and invited to bulk order for their service users/members. We have also provided options to order reusable products such as period pants with these groups, as well as showcasing these with different groups, for example, Adult and Family learning groups based in our local community centres. As part of a wider promotion of reusable products, we have carried out a number of ‘Reusables Roadshows’ at libraries and events across Renfrewshire, including at the Health and Wellbeing network event, school health events and a Cost-of-Living event. We have also ensured our Youth Team and Community Learning and development venues have supplies of products. We continue to provide period products in libraries, leisure centres and town halls, and our targeted provision in 3rd sector organisations who work with families such as Home-Start. We have also continued provision of products, single use and reusable, at Renfrewshire’s Foodbank and community pantries. Our Winter Connections and Summer of Fun venues were offered free products and many have now signed up to keep a permanent supply for their service users or the wider public. We will continue to look for opportunities for extending provision within our communities. 5.13 Cash-first approaches to supporting families Scottish Welfare Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments Locally, we continue to administer both the Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP). Families in need of emergency support are encouraged to apply for crisis grants where appropriate, rather than other, non-cash supports. Over 25/26, RCAB staff were located in Renfrewshire Foodbank to help clients resolve issues which led them to use the Foodbank, and also direct to crisis or other grants where available. In 25/26 we topped up our DHPs by £450,000 and for 26/27 we are topping up the DHP budget by £200,000 and the SWF budget by £600,000 which will allow us to support more individuals and families on a cash first basis. Winter Clothing Payment For the fifth year running, funding was allocated to provide a £50 payment per child for winter clothing for children in receipt of School Clothing Grant. At the Council’s 2025 Budget meeting, Page 185 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 56 PUBLIC £275,000 was allocated to these payments and paid in October 2025. This payment has been well received and will be repeated in Winter 2026, with again, £275,000 allocated in the 2026/27 Budget. We have also administered cash payments of £2.35 per day, per child for free school meals for the periods of times children have been on school holidays. The payment is made at a flat rate regardless of age and is paid before the start of the summer holidays. 5.14 National Entitlement Card and Free Bus Travel Around 89% of eligible under 22s in Renfrewshire have access to free bus travel via the National Entitlement Card (NEC) scheme and 66% of eligible 5–11-year-olds have a Junior NEC with free bus travel, saving families money on transport costs. Barriers to access have been removed for targeted groups of young people by setting up application agreements with partners such as Invest, Blue Triangle, Kibble, The Good Shepherd Centre, Social Work, Family and Wellbeing Teams, and Housing. This removes the burden from young people to collect documentation and helps make sure access is as fair as possible. Extra support has been put in place to help boost uptake of the Junior NEC, offering parents a manual form to complete within primary schools. The delivery of a targeted bulk application process for Primary 7 pupils has supported 1,923 pupils to either apply for a new Young Scot NEC or upgrade their existing Junior card. This removes the cost burden for families of providing documentation or paying for passport photographs by arranging photography in schools. The Youth Team, who support sign up for the NEC and free bus travel have provided direct support to our ASN schools. Both Riverbrae and Mary Russell have received direct support for all pupils to access the Junior or Young Scot card with free bus travel. While a Disabled NEC card cannot be provided locally, schools are provided with information packs to ensure that parents of pupils who need this card type get clear information and instructions on how to apply. The Young Scot National Entitlement card can be used as part proof for opening a bank account with some banks, is accepted by Renfrewshire Council’s Housing service for tenancy agreement proofs and will be an accepted form of proof for voting under the new legal requirement. It is also used in our local ‘Celebrating Renfrewshire’ participatory budgeting fund where people aged 12 – 25 have a direct say on which projects are funded in their local area. Page 186 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 57 PUBLIC 5.15 Housing Renfrewshire’s Housing Strategy, approved in October 2023, has five strategic priorities. Each priority has a range of actions that will support delivery over the next five years. The five strategic priorities are: 1. The supply and delivery of housing is increased across all tenures to meet the housing needs of different groups and create attractive and sustainable places. 2. People live in high quality, well managed homes in sustainable neighbourhoods. 3. Address the challenges of the climate emergency, delivering homes that are warm, energy efficient and fuel poverty is minimised. 4. Prevention of homelessness and providing support for those in housing need. 5. People can live independently for as long as possible in their own home and the different housing needs of people across Renfrewshire are being met. The actions underpinning the priorities include: • continuing to provide good quality fuel poverty advice, income maximisation and information to Council tenants, owners and private tenants. • continuing to strengthen the approach to prevention and repeat homelessness by providing holistic wraparound support to households in Renfrewshire. • ensuring new build homes are energy efficient, and retrofitting existing social rented homes with measures to improve energy efficiency , which will support reduction in energy bills as well as emissions, and • working towards meeting national fuel poverty targets. In 25/26, the number of service users supported via a Housing First approach has increased substantially to support 93 individuals to move into (and then sustain) a tenancy. The Housing Support team launched a ‘Housing Support 2 Go’ (HS2GO) winter initiative towards the end of 2025. Housing Support Officers attended two staffed accommodation sites as well as going out into the community to visit people they support to offer warm food and snacks to help with the cost of living and fuel poverty crisis. This also provided a further opportunity to discuss/ review any ongoing or new support needs and provide information on services who can offer additional advice and assistance throughout the winter months. The project, which was delivered in partnership with Blue Triangle Housing Association along with funding provided by Paisley churches, proved to be very popular. A pilot service ‘Opening Doors’ was launched during 2025 in partnership with the RCA Trust, and has grown to support 23 individuals and families to stabilise their housing situation, access wraparound care and achieve personal goals. The impact of this initiative will be reviewed during 2026. Page 187 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 58 PUBLIC The Refugee Resettlement team have been working in partnership with Skills Development Scotland to find a route to recognise and convert qualifications gained in Ukraine to be recognised in Scotland. This involved working with interpreters to convert documents and identify modules which when completed would allow these qualifications to be recognised by the SQA, and employment and training opportunities have now been improved for a number of those displaced from Ukraine. The Refugee Resettlement team also continue to work in close partnership with Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau, supporting individuals and families with specialist benefits, visa and legal advice. A new post of Health and Wellbeing Coordinator joined the team and a wide range of advice and wellbeing activities to support resettlement and integration are now offered including: • Know Your Rights – Information sessions with guest speakers, designed to support better understanding of services, systems and life in Scotland • Befriending Service - For those who are struggling with feelings of loneliness and isolation • Digital Inclusion Support – to empower service users to develop skills on devices, stay safe online, access online services, manage money and access educational and employment opportunities • Wellbeing Drop-in – Coffee and conversation with the wellbeing team and other community members • Smudges - a sensory-play art group for toddlers and parents. The Resettlement Team currently support 244 refugee households across Renfrewshire. Housing Led Regeneration and Renewal Programme Significant progress is being made in line with the delivery timeframe for Renfrewshire Council’s 10- year Housing Led Regeneration and Renewal Programme, which will improve council housing by creating modern, affordable, high-quality, energy-efficient council homes with eight regeneration areas identified. This programme is being taken forward as a key Council priority, designed to deliver maximum benefits for residents and with the active involvement of services across the Council and Community Planning partners, to deliver modern, high quality, energy efficient, affordable Council housing that will not only significantly enhance the Council’s housing stock but will also contribute to the wider transformation of communities across Renfrewshire. The programme will make major improvements to existing buildings, but also consider how to improve the wider environment, including outside and communal areas, and how to keep fuel bills Page 188 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 59 PUBLIC down by making homes more energy-efficient. As well as improvements to existing homes, around 350 new council homes are being built across four areas. Each regeneration area has a dedicated Housing Regeneration Officer and Development Officer with responsibility for the delivery of key actions, including the effective communication with tenants, residents, and private owners. The Council’s website has a dedicated Housing Regeneration and Renewal section, and this is updated regularly to ensure that residents can access current and up to date information as and when they require it. Neighbourhood Renewal Groups are continuing to be established to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to developing neighbourhood renewal plans that consider wider issues than just housing and the immediate environment. These groups ensure that maximum benefits from housing regeneration are delivered such as links to health and wellbeing, access to outdoor space and sustainable travel and employment or training opportunities. This approach aims to strengthen community voices and improve place-based decision making across all regeneration areas in Renfrewshire to enhance the impact of the physical regeneration programme. Rent Collection Our approach to rent collection ensures that Officers have continued to proactively contact tenants where there has been missed rent payments or changes to rent payment patterns to offer advice on accessing benefits and other support services as appropriate. A Tenant Support Fund was launched in October 2023, which has continued into 25/26. The Fund is intended to supplement the current rent collection process to alleviate existing and emerging financial stress, prevent and reduce escalating rent arrears and contribute to sustaining Council tenancies in Renfrewshire. The Fund supports tenants experiencing financial difficulty, through no fault of their own, where it has been identified that financial challenges exist due to a change of circumstances including, but not limited to: • Increase in household costs / cost of living (eg. energy, food, fuel, rent). • Reduction in income (eg. loss of employment, reduced hours, loss of a household member). • Changes to Welfare benefit, Housing Benefit and/or Universal Credit. As part of our existing rent collection process, tenants are encouraged to engage with the housing team at the earliest opportunity if they are experiencing difficulties in paying rent. A wide range of advice and support is available to help tenants to meet their rent payment responsibilities and to manage household budgets that will be under increased pressure at this time. In recognition of these continuing pressures, in addition to the introduction of the Tenant Support Fund, as part of the budgetary process on 2 March 2023, Council agreed to fund additional service Page 189 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 60 PUBLIC provision in the form of Specialist Income Advice to allow for exclusive support to tenants in hardship. Apart from benefits checks and support when an application to the Scottish Welfare Fund or for a Discretionary Housing Payment should be made, the specialist Income Advisors and Housing Staff are able to make a referral to the local Housing Team to consider the appropriateness of making a payment from the Tenant’s Support Fund. A decision on the award of Tenant’s Support Fund is made as soon as possible following engagement with the tenant and payment is made directly into the tenant’s rent account. Income maximisation assessments are carried out to support tenants to meet their long-term rent payment responsibilities. In 2025/26, 266 tenants have been referred for Tenant Support Fund assessments, which have the added value of full income assessment and advice provision and 151 qualified for assistance from the fund to a value of approximately £41,386. Through the additional advice, several sources of additional assistance have been accessed which include Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Disability Benefits, as well as food vouchers for those in a crisis situation. In monetary terms this equates to £15,735 between April 2025 and 31 March 2026. Ask and Act During 2025/26, Renfrewshire HSCP secured Scottish Government funding to pilot local delivery of ‘Ask and Act’ ahead of new homelessness prevention duties. The funding supports a time‑limited pilot approach, enabling testing and learning prior to wider implementation. Delivery commenced in November 2025 and focused on establishing the conditions required to pilot Ask and Act safely and effectively. This included development of local pathways and agreement of governance arrangements, with oversight provided through the Community Planning Partnership. The pilot will be co‑developed with people with lived experience, including engagement with the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel, as delivery progresses. The pilot initially focuses on community‑based mental health and wellbeing services, reflecting the close relationship between housing insecurity, financial hardship and mental health. The aim of the pilot phase is to understand how Ask and Act can be embedded within routine practice in a proportionate, trauma‑informed way, and to generate practical learning to inform future roll‑out. The pilot will be progressed into frontline delivery during 2026, with continued monitoring and learning. Learning from the pilot will be used to inform future implementation, scale‑up and alignment with statutory homelessness prevention duties, including contribution to national toolkit and guidance development to support national implementation planned for 2028. Page 190 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 61 PUBLIC 5.16 Family Friendly Working To support employees with families at risk of child poverty both Renfrewshire Council and NHSGGC have a range of family-friendly working policies and supports. Council staff have access to support around wellbeing and financial wellbeing, with a dedicated online employee wellbeing hub, regular newsletters and a series of webinars covering varied topics, including advice and affordable credit. Flexible working and work-patterns across the Council support those with childcare responsibilities, and there is also support for those with caring responsibilities as well as a Carers Connected Forum. Throughout 2025/26 NHSGGC Staff have had access to the following: • Staff Hardship Fund • Delivery of 6 Home Energy Scotland (HES) sessions, which were attended by 12 staff members, and covered different topics around managing energy costs • Delivery of 6 Credit Union sessions, which were attended by 23 staff members • Access to the All About Money webpage which provides information and resources around money management and was updated with a new Staff Money and Advice App • Promotion of activities and resources via core brief, Staff Hub, staff events, leaflets, posters. • Training in ‘Financial Inclusion Awareness’ delivered to 17 Occupation Health staff • Quarterly Payslip messaging about money advice support During 2026/27, NHS GGC plan to continue delivering the above. 6 Theme 3: Supporting the next generation to thrive 6.1 Fairer Renfrewshire Programme Renfrewshire’s Fairer Renfrewshire programme supports a number of projects which help our young people thrive and help break down some of the barriers to attainment. The programme: Page 191 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 62 PUBLIC • Provides £75,000 Cost of the School Day funding which is used by head teachers as discretionary spend to meet the needs of their pupils • Provides funding for Breakfast Clubs in schools in some of our most deprived areas, relieving financial pressure on low-income families, but most importantly, making sure that children start the school day ready to learn. • Funds the Peer Health project in partnership with Active Communities, working with young people in secondary schools across Renfrewshire to identify key health priorities in their school and developing young people to lead their own activities to improve health and wellbeing, with a focus on mental health. • Supports Summer of Fun holiday activities via Community Learning and Development summer camps and a small grants programme, along with the provision of free healthy meals. • Ensures the Skoobmobile continues to provide a children’s mobile public library service, including play sessions directly to children and families in communities • Supports dedicated income maximisation and welfare rights advice for families with children of all ages as well as pregnant women. Breakfast Clubs are part of a number of schools, some of which are funded through the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme and others which are funded through other means or organised by individual schools. In 25/26, 68,551 free breakfasts were provided to children through Fairer Renfrewshire funded breakfast clubs. Breakfast Clubs support parents with their working schedules and with the family budget. Breakfast Clubs have also been found to have an impact on children’s learning, with teaching practitioners recognising impacts, such as children being ready to learn and improved concentration and focus in those attending breakfast clubs. Skoobmobile The Skoobmobile plays an important role in providing a mobile public library service in areas where public libraries are not available or are less accessible. This service aims to help improve children’s life chances by encouraging a lasting interest in reading, literacy, physical activity and learning. This year, Skoobmobile has provided a full programme of library access, nursery and school visits, bedtime reading and Bookbug sessions, attendance at gala days and outreach provision in communities. The Skoobmobile staff also worked closely with the Whole Family Wellbeing Service to add value to their service. Page 192 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 63 PUBLIC During 2025/26 the outreach service has carried out 434 visits engaging with 9,530 children and 2,094 adults. The service has also been instrumental in encouraging families to join Renfrewshire Libraries, with 225 new registrations and 2,188 books borrowed over the year. In Autumn, public Wi-Fi was installed onboard the Skoobmobile which is now a Digizone offering free Wi-Fi access throughout Renfrewshire. Staff are also working with Digital Champions about offering support at outreach visits to promote the databank, digital assistance and onboard Wi-Fi. The bus is also in great demand during the school holidays, giving families free access to activities without having to travel or make and keep reservations. It is an important part of the Council’s Summer of Fun programme, providing flexibility to deliver services in areas where there are no other activities being delivered. In summer 2025, funding was allocated through Fairer Renfrewshire to Renfrewshire’s Toy Library, which allowed new smaller toys and games to be purchased which sould be used as part fo the Skoobmobile service. This also encouraged interest in the toy library as a no cost source of toys and games for families. At its budget meeting in February 26, the Council committed £300,000 to fund a replacement vehicle, recognising that the current model of service provision also requires modernisation into a sustainable, flexible outreach service. This work to consider the a longer term sustainable service delivery model was already identified within the Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan, and officers will continue to work with OneRen colleagues to progress this. A recent evaluation highlighted the importance of the Skoobmobile in providing flexibility to deliver services where they are needed and the nurturing environment created onboard in building good relationships with parents. Children see the bus and staff as a safe and trusted place. Feedback from visitors over the summer holidays indicated that 96% of visitors enjoyed their visit onboard and 78% agreed that the Skoobmobile increased reading for their child over the holiday period. “We really enjoyed the bedtime reading sessions. It has been very engaging and has increased my child’s enjoyment for reading”. Parent feedback Peer Health Hearty Lives delivers a peer-led approach to promoting mental health and wellbeing across all Renfrewshire High Schools. The project is managed by third sector organisation, Active Communities, delivered by teachers and pupils in high schools and in the community by youth Page 193 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 64 PUBLIC workers. The partnership aims to tackle poverty through a peer education approach and pupils are trained and supported to become Peer Health Educators, leading activities in their schools which support healthy living, for example, mental health, healthy eating, drugs and alcohol, physical activity and sexual health. In 2025, 190 Peer Educators were recruited and trained, engaging with 5573 peers. Key issues being addressed by the project included bullying, body image, exam stress, low self- eteem, anxiety, self-care, and promoting positive mental health and schools train their peer educators, with examples being: • Basic Mental Mealth Awareness (Trinity High) • Mentors in Violence Prevention (Paisley Grammar) • Mental health and vaping (Linwood High) • Additional Support Needs (St Andrew’s Acadmey) Schools are linking their Hearty Lives projects to: Saltire Awards, L6 Leadership Awards and Duke of Edinburgh Awards. The Peer educators design and develop their own initiatives, allowing activities to be tailored to the needs of the young people at that school. Schools have delivered targeted assemblies focussing on mental health, run breakfast and lunchtime drop ins to allow younger pupils to connect with peers and explore new hobbies and distributied self-care packs to pupils transitioning to high school. At one school peer educators contributed to shaping their school’s new anti-bullying policy. A recent evaluation found that the Hearty Lives programme has raised awareness of mental health issues and has improved understanding of the issues affecting young people in each school. Peer educators have enjoyed being mentors to younger pupils and have increased confidence due to their training and delivery of workshops and lunchtime clubs. Participation in the programme has equipped peer educators with several skills that will be helpful for future volunteering and work experience, including organisation, communication and leadership skills. The programme has also led to pupils reflecting on their own mental health and, in some cases, benefiting from sharing these experiences with others. The project has a community arm which is an extension of the schools work and is delivered by Active Communities at a lunchtime youth drop in in Linwood High and at Station Seven in Johnstone after school on Wednesdays. Hearty Lives also supports the Create Club in Station Seven on a Thursday after school, and Games and Grub for P5 – P7 of St Margaret’s Primary, where pupils come along straight after school to play games, do arts and crafts and have a warm two course meal. Page 194 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 65 PUBLIC “One of our peer educators is a young person who is care experienced. This pupil presents as extremely joyful and confident within school but outside of school has struggled with anxiety and attachment and as a result can be particularly vulnerable. They are the most motivated pupil I have ever had involved as a Peer Mentor. She greatly benefited from the feeling of belonging to this group and was able to build her own self esteem by helping others and being able to share her experiences and difficulties.” Mary Russell School Project Leader "I’ve really enjoyed being a wellbeing ambassador. It felt good being someone younger pupils could talk to if they needed help or just someone to listen. I liked being part of raising awareness about mental health and looking after your own wellbeing — it even made me think more about mine Peer Educator Health and Wellbeing Survey Community Response Following publication of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health and Wellbeing Survey 2022 to 2023, partners progressed a community‑led response to ensure findings informed local understanding and coordinated action. Engagement with the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel supported interpretation of findings and identification of priorities linked to poverty, mental wellbeing, access to services and inequality. The Health and Wellbeing Survey Community Response Action Plan was presented to the Community Planning Partnership in March 2026, setting out shared priorities, agreed actions, leadership and reporting arrangements. Priorities for 2026/27 include progressing delivery of short‑term actions set out in the Community Response Action Plan and embedding lived and living experience within ongoing Community Planning Partnership activity and the development of the new Community Plan. 6.2 Attainment In Renfrewshire, there is a relentless focus on closing the poverty related attainment gap while raising attainment for all. As a result, there has been an increase in attainment across almost all curricular areas and stages. Attainment is now in line with or ahead of pre-pandemic levels. Renfrewshire is ahead of national figures across all stages and curricular areas in 2023-24. Attainment gaps in literacy are below pre-pandemic levels for the first time and the gap in literacy Page 195 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 66 PUBLIC has also reduced. Attainment has improved significantly for pupils living in SIMD 20% most deprived areas and gaps are reduced since 2020-21. There has also been an increase in literacy for care-experienced pupils, rising by 11 percentage points, and for pupils with additional support needs. Attainment at National 5 and Higher have improved since 2024 and positive school leavers destinations are at the highest figure achieved in Renfrewshire, with more than 97% of school leavers entering positive destinations. Schools continue to utilise Pupil Equity Fund (PEF) to support the needs of children and young people and reduce the impact of poverty on learning. Tracking systems clearly evidence impact and data is used very effectively to target support and demonstrate progress. PEF funding has a strong focus on literacy in the schools visited this session, including the purchase of whole-school resources, resulting in clear progression and improvement in reading and writing and the development of more inclusive learning environments. Interventions are targeted at children impacted by poverty and are supported by clear plans with defined outcomes, alongside strong approaches to evaluation, including intervention reports completed by staff delivering support. A range of universal, bespoke and targeted professional learning in literacy and numeracy has been delivered and this is having a positive impact on staff working in our schools to close the poverty related attainment gap. There are 17 schools participating in the successful Target Schools Programme which aims to close the poverty related attainment through bespoke support in literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing. Three schools in the most deprived areas of Renfrewshire are ahead of the national quintile 1 average for 2024-25 across all curricular areas. The Talk for Writing programme was extended to include additional primary and early years settings this session. One early years and one primary setting have been identified as ‘model schools’ and visits have taken place to share effective practice in the literacy approach. Very good progress is being made towards the target to achieve 100% positive post school destinations by 2028. The Pathfinders employability programme, established in August 2024 and now delivered by Invest in Renfrewshire, has expanded to two weekly groups to support school leavers who have not yet sustained a positive destination. Since its launch, 48 young people have taken part, and an additional programme has been developed to support Christmas leavers. Six school leavers have been successfully recruited into Soft FM positions within the authority, and the programme’s strong uptake is expected to support continued delivery in future years. Page 196 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 67 PUBLIC Creative Paisley is providing all S3 pupils across the 13 secondary schools with access to the region’s cultural, creative and visitor economy sectors along with related educational and career pathways. The Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme has been recently showcased as an example of effective practice. The case study can be accessed here. The case study highlights the positive impact of the MVP programme on young male mentors, the younger pupils they worked with, and the wider school ethos. So far this session, The Exchange Counselling Service have supported 772 children and young people across primary and secondary sectors with many reporting positive outcomes. The data collated from referral themes and needs that emerge nationally are used to inform both curricular and professional learning needs across education establishments. Fairer Renfrewshire Cost of the School Day (COSD) funding is directly allocated to schools to alleviate financial barriers to participating in school life. A recent evaluation showed that the cost- of-living crisis has resulted in schools increasingly spending the funding on basics such as uniforms, PE kits and food. The funding has raised awareness within schools of the impact of financial pressures on families, with schools being able to respond flexibly to the unique needs of their pupils and their families. COSD has been instrumental in reducing the barriers to participation in school activities with associated costs and has helped to minimise the risk of any child/young person being unintentionally discriminated against due to financial circumstances.Schools have been better able to support learners from low-income families, with 60% of schools reporting that educational attainment has been positively impacted. The Career Ready coaching programme supported 23 young people across 4 secondary schools during session 2025/26. Thirteen percent of participants are care-experienced young people. In addition, 40% of mentees will be paired with a Career Ready coach from Renfrewshire Council, contributing to workforce planning across the authority. This programme aims to work with employers and education to help young people get a kickstart towards their career ambitions. The two-year programme includes a series of skill masterclasses and meeting mentors who share their skills and knowledge to support young people towards their career future. Good progress is also being made towards widening access and participation to further and higher education. Nine out of 11 Renfrewshire secondary schools are confirmed to participate the in Top Up programme in association with Glasgow University. This is a preparation course for higher education for pupils who are currently applying for, or are considering applying for, Higher Education courses in university or college and are from backgrounds of socioeconomic disadvantage and underrepresented groups. Page 197 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 68 PUBLIC Community Benefits programmes continue to provide valuable industry experiences for pupils across all 13 secondary schools, including site visits, work placements, and industry-awareness activities. On average, 12 opportunities are offered to each school every month. The work placement model is being refreshed to ensure all learners—including the most vulnerable—have access to relevant work based learning opportunities. Young Leaders of Learning has been recognised in Renfrewshire as an area of good practice in relation to quality improvement. The purpose of the programme is to ensure children and young people are actively involved in on-going self-evaluation activities leading to improvement. 40 primaries and 9 secondaries are participating this session, ensuring that the voice and rights of children and young people are being included in school planning and evaluation. 6.3 Whole Family Wellbeing Nationally, the Whole Family Wellbeing approach is an important element in relation to Children’s Services Planning which focusses on a whole systems approach across public and third sector partners to: promote wellbeing; shift resources to early intervention and, where possible, prevention; and to make best use of local assets, workforce and budgets across partners, with support to families at the core of this. This approach ensures that families can access the right support, at the right time, reducing the need for crisis intervention. The Renfrewshire Family Wellbeing Service launched in January 2024 providing a place-based, early intervention model that provides a wide range of supports to meet family needs, including individual and whole family support. The Fund will continue until 31/03/2027 to allow Children’s Services Partnerships the opportunity to plan for sustainability and further embed the work of transformed children’s services. Family Wellbeing Team key developments and activities for 2025-26 • Post pilot launch of our Fast Online and Referral Tracking system (FORT) across Community Teams and partner 3rd sector organisations • Expanding our Non Violent Resistance (NVR) parent and carer group offer, to include evening and online groups. NVR supported 229 parents and carers during this period • Delivery of Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC) peer led parenting programmes ‘Being a Parent’ and ‘Being a Parent - Autism’, through partnership with 3rd sector organisations. • Seasons for Growth groups, to support children and young people aged 6-18 affected by loss, grief and change and the development of Seasons for Growth adult groups Page 198 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 69 PUBLIC • Increased membership of our Additional Support Needs (ASN) development group, with representation from families with lived experience, Children’s Services, CAMHS and 3rd sector organisations. This group is influencing developments for families with children and young people with ASN • Delivery of Let’s Introduce Anxiety Management (LIAM) supporting children and young people aged 8-18, experiencing mild to moderate anxiety. Development of partnership with third sector organisations The Renfrewshire Family Wellbeing Service has worked collaboratively with third sector organisations since 2024, through a funded grants process to extend its reach, build capacity in the system and increase the offer of support available to families. During 2025-26, 9 projects were funded. Home Start Supporting families through intensive family support, peer family befriending and ASN/ Neurodivergent family group Active Communities and Klas Care Delivery of EPEC peer led parenting programme, including ‘Being a Parent’ and ‘Being a Parent - Autism’ and training for local Parent Group Leader to deliver both programmes. Brick Lane Music experiences for children and young people with ASN, and their families, delivered in partnership with schools and 3rd sector organisations and respite music activities at weekends. Youth Interventions Supporting young people aged 11-15 who are neurodivergent or displaying risk taking behaviours, and their families. Support is provided through mentoring, counselling and family interventions. Pachedu Working in partnership with minority ethnic communities to support families with children and young people who are neurodivergent, pre or post diagnosis. Early Years Scotland Providing early years support through Baby Massage, Baby Yoga and Stay, Play and Learn sessions for families across Paisley and Linwood. Renfrewshire respite out of school care for Providing respite care and support for families with neurodivergent children and young people though play sessions during school holidays and weekends. Page 199 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 70 PUBLIC neurodivergent families (RrOSCN) Impact Arts Delivering therapeutic art sessions with children, young people and their families. Klas Care Nurture Working in partnership with schools to provide nurture support for identified children and young people. Planning for the future Increase the voice of families in service development Families’ views and experiences have been at the centre of developments to Whole Family Wellbeing. This has resulted in increased access to group programmes, through evening and online delivery, and 3rd sector organisations funding focused on projects delivering activities for families with children with ASN during school holidays and weekends. Moving forward we will look to build on our engagement with families to ensure that their voices are central to future service design and development. We will do this by Hosting local events for families to raise awareness of the support available from the Family Wellbeing Team and partner 3rd sector organisations will provide the opportunity to hear directly from families about their experiences of accessing supports or gaps in local service provision. Through our ASN Development Group, we will use the expertise of our families with lived experience to drive developments and our offer for families with children with ASN. Availability and access The FORT system has been central to removing barriers and enabling families to access help where and when they need it, from our Communities Teams and partner 3rd sector organisations. The Schools Teams will be moving to FORT over the summer; this will enable a streamlined pathway for families and partners to request support through a single point of referral and prevent families from having to tell their story multiple times to access the right support, from the right service. Whole system approach As we move forward, our focus is to ensure the work of Whole Family Wellbeing is aligned with key workstreams across the local authority including Connected Communities and Fairer Renfrewshire Page 200 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 71 PUBLIC Programme to avoid duplication and maximise impact to collectively improve outcomes for children, young people and families across Renfrewshire. Reducing Developmental Concerns The Early Language Project is a multi-agency improvement programme focused on strengthening early language and communication support for young children across Renfrewshire. It brings together health, education and community partners to improve early identification of speech, language and communication needs, increase the consistency and quality of support within early learning and childcare settings, and strengthen advice and support for parents and carers. Activity includes joint working between health visiting, speech and language therapy and ELC services, improved information sharing linked to the 27–30 month review, the use of link speech and language therapists for settings, workforce development and cross-sector training, and the provision of practical resources for families. Delivery is overseen through a Steering Group, using an agreed action plan to monitor progress and a driver diagram to guide quality improvement activity and ensure changes are tested, tracked and embedded over time. 6.4 The Promise Reducing child poverty for our Care Experienced community is a shared priority for Renfrewshire’s Community Planning Partners and Renfrewshire continues to demonstrate strong leadership in delivering The Promise. Oversight is provided through the Promise Strategic Oversight Group, a multi-agency forum reporting to the Children’s Services Partnership. The group brings together senior leaders from across the Council, NHSGGC, HSCP, Community Planning partners and the third sector, providing strategic direction, shared accountability and alignment across services. Progress is monitored through a Promise Mapping Tool and a Care Experienced Data Dashboard, tracking outcomes including wellbeing, attendance, attainment, housing stability and access to employment. These tools help to provide more targeted support at key transition points such as changing school, leaving care and entering adulthood. The Promise Manager and Ambassador in Renfrewshire provide support to teams and services within the council to raise awareness about The Promise and assess how they can best support Care Experienced individuals and implement The Promise effectively. The Promise team also engage with the Care Experienced community to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met in service design and delivery and they can contribute to the development of policies such as the Renfrewshire Language Policy, which promotes the use of Page 201 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 72 PUBLIC positive, inclusive language when referring to Care Experienced individuals. In 2026/27 we will progress the review of the language policy in consultation with the Care Experienced community and with partners with a view to producing and promoting an updated policy. The Promise Champs programme, led by the Youth Team, empowers Care Experienced young people to voice their needs and drive change. Activities such as leadership training, summer clubs, and festive events foster a sense of belonging and community among participants. Additionally, the Promise Arts and Culture Programme provides creative opportunities for Care Experienced young people, helping them build social and cultural capital. The Promise Champs have played a pivotal role in shaping services and leading change. Their involvement in youth-led initiatives has included co-designing a six-week summer programme, organising inclusive events such as the WinterFest, and youth-led redesign of four community venues to create welcoming, youth-friendly environments that support wellbeing, learning and connection. A cornerstone of Renfrewshire's approach is the Promise Keeper Network, comprising, by end February 2026, over 407 local champions from various services, including social work, education, and the third sector. These Promise Keepers are empowered to enact changes within their services, share knowledge, and promote positive, non-stigmatising language as outlined in the Renfrewshire Language Policy. Several initiatives support the workforce in delivering The Promise, including the Promise Human Library, which matches Care Experienced young people with professionals in their field of interest, and the development of a Care Experienced Staff Network. This network provides a safe space for staff with Care Experience to share their views, seek peer support, and access learning and development opportunities. Across the past year 5 young people have been supported to access the Promise Human Library, with positive feedback being reported about the experience. Recruitment to the Library will continue in 2026/27 alongside raising awareness of the resource across teams and services. The introduction of guaranteed interviews for Care Experienced individuals who meet the minimum requirements for job roles in the council launched in early 2026, aimed at addressing some of the barriers to employment. A range of briefings and learning materials were made available to hiring managers and those involved in the recruitment process. There will be monitoring of data around the uptake of the scheme. Our achievements in 25/26 are illustrated below. Page 202 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 73 PUBLIC In 2026/27, we will continue to grow the Promise Keeper Network by recruiting more local champions and increasing visibility and awareness of The Promise across various services. We will also further enhance workforce support by expanding initiatives such as the Promise Human Library and the Care Experienced Staff Network. These initiatives will provide more opportunities for Care Experienced individuals to connect with professionals and access learning and development opportunities. Over the next three years, work will be directed by the Keep The Promise in Renfrewshire Action Plan 2026 – 2029, which provides a clear and practical framework to guide the work of the Promise Team and sets priorities, clarifies roles and outlines how progress will be measured. The plan is ambitious, achievable, and shaped by the voices of children, young people, families and communities . Reducing child poverty for Care Experienced people will remain a core priority and the plan supports stronger alignment between The Promise, Fairer Renfrewshire and Children’s Services planning. Key priorities include amplifying Care Experienced voices in poverty and place-based work and expanding early help and whole-family preventative support. to support dignified lives and improved outcomes. Progress will be reported each year through Renfrewshire’s Promise – Keeping The Promise Report. 57 – Number of Promise Team Engagements with external partners around Renfrewshire’s approach to The Promise 7 - key partner/service plans aligned with The Promise 101 – Number of Promise Human Library staff members 407- The number of promise keepers in Renfrewshire by 31 March 2026 102 – Attendees at the Annual Promise Keeper Conference (Dec 2025) 146 – Number of Promise Team Engagements with internal partners around Renfrewshire’s approach to The Promise Page 203 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 74 PUBLIC 6.5 Community Learning and Development nity Learning and Development Community Learning and Development reaches out to children, young people, adults and families, including those who face barriers and experience disadvantage, and takes a preventative and asset-building approach to working with people, families and communities. The Renfrewshire Community Learning and Development Partnership Plan for 2024 - 27 was published last year and sets out our priorities. Community learning and development work in Renfrewshire has many strands and reaches many people. We recognise that our learners and our communities are at the heart of what we do, and as an initial priority of the new Partnership Plan, we will be looking at how we further strengthen local voice and lived experience in developing and shaping future activities and programmes of work. Priority 1 - Provide a programme of high-quality lifelong learning, accessible to all. Priority 2 - Build strong, connected communities where people can participate and influence in their local area. Priority 3 - Deliver targeted opportunities to reduce barriers and tackle inequalities. Priority 4 - Strengthening our CLD Partnership and developing our local workforce. These four priorities are aligned to our existing Community Planning Themes and the Community Plan also includes a specific action to provide support that allows families to live dignified lives and respond to the cost of living crisis. Over 25/26, the CLD Adult and Family Learning team continued to work actively in partnership with a nember of organisations and services. They offer courses for adults including literacy, English language, crafting and mending, equalities, money management, parenting, personal development, life skills, wellbeing, women's history and digital skills. They also offer family learning where parents and children come together to work on literacy, numeracy and communication skills. CLD work with young people includes universal and targeted actions such as community-based youth work to build strength and capacity amongst young people. Contributing to tackling child and youth poverty, the Youth Team has developed a number of targeted and inclusive programmes that reduce costs of participation, increase access to services travel and digital tools and promote wellbeing, engagement, and attainment for vulnerable and care-experienced young people. Young people engaging in the Youth Team activities can access free food, period products and digital Page 204 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 75 PUBLIC devices and connectivity as a matter of course. Working with young people gives the service insight into their issues and priorities and ensures the responses are appropriate. This year the activities included: • Free Duke of Edinburgh Award places to targeted groups, including young carers, New Scots and pupils attending ASN schools and well as childrens houses and LGBT SafeSpace. Appropriate kit is also supplied free for schools and groups to help ensure pupils who would not normally be able to afford to participate and purchase kit can complete the award programme with their peers. • The Evolve programme delivered personal and social education to young people at Paisley Grammar School. Sessions focused on developing personal skills, confidence and positive relationships through group work. Practical cooking sessions were delivered to help young people develop essential life skills, support independence and encourage healthy living. • The Foxbar Youth Drop-In opened general access provision for young people, with a focus on delivering a homework club to support educational attainment and engagement. This provision helped reduce barriers associated with poverty, including limited access to study space and digital resources such as WiFi. This Good Vibes Only programme recently incorporated a five-week enterprise skills block delivered by the Social Enterprise Academy. • Supporting the Promise Champion Present Drive, which provided Christmas gifts to 304 care experienced young people organised by the Promise Champions youth group who are care experienced young people who meet weekly to discuss issues that affect care-experienced young people and their views on support and care they have received. • Fund Your Fun in partnership with Children’s services, supporting young people who are Looked After At Home, and enables them access to positive experiences that may otherwise be financially inaccessible. • Love2Week 2026, involving up to 40 young people participating in activities aligned with the themes Love2Lead, Love2Learn and Love2Care included a Mindful Sip Café, a leadership training day at Lapwing Lodge and a Care Day trip to Level X Glasgow for care experienced young people and young carers. • Young people supported by the Youth Team and Throughcare have successfully completed six weeks of Barista training and recently put their new skills into practice by planning and hosting a small coffee morning event. They demonstrated strong teamwork, organisation, and customer service skills while working towards their Dynamic Youth Awards. The group showed growing confidence and communication throughout the process, taking pride in delivering a welcoming and well-run event. Page 205 of 254
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Local Child Poverty Action Report Renfrewshire 2025/2026 76 PUBLIC Looking forward, the service will again deliver Easter and summer camps targeted to low income families via messaging to those in receipt of School Clothing Grants. They will also continue Youth Voice Development for Care Experienced young people through the Promise Champions. The Bring Unity to Communities group (Evolve New Scots) will be working in partnership with a local organisation to deliver workshops for young people focussed on sustainable fashion. The young people will also design and deliver an anti-rascist workshop. 6.6 Celebrating Renfrewshire In 2025/26, 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. The fund process empowers young people to make decisions that will benefit and enhance their local communities. Over the last year, Celebrating Renfrewshire has supported 65 projects from 41 groups, totalling £149,340 spent on projects for young people across Renfrewshire. 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. 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. Also funded 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. The fund is facilitated by Renfrewshire Council’s Community Partnerships Team who support a steering group of young people. The group represent the voices of young people across Renfrewshire and provide an essential role in shaping the guidance for the fund each year. Organisations bid for funding in each Local Partnership area and young people then use their Young Scot card to vote for what they think is most needed and to make a positive difference to their own, and their friends, lives. Page 206 of 254
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 17 June 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Migration and Asylum Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This paper provides an overview of recent developments in relation to migration and asylum provision in Renfrewshire. 1.2 Services and partners continue to work closely to respond to emerging policy developments in relation to migration and asylum activities and have established several partnership groups and structures to work closely on any identified issues, including through the Strategic Migration Group chaired by the Chief Social Work Officer. 1.3 Regular updates will be provided to Elected Members as these develop, with regular briefings provided to Group Leaders in line with a previous decision of the Leadership Board. Information at ward level will be communicated to Elected Members should significant information at this level be provided to the organisation. 2. Recommendations 2.1 Members are requested to note the content of the report. 3. Background 3.1 Renfrewshire has a strong history in terms of supporting people who come to live and settle in the area through different humanitarian programmes or resettlement routes, and services and partners have worked very closely in recent years to develop the skills, experience and supports required in response. Item 6 Page 209 of 254
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PUBLIC 3.2 The level of change experienced in terms of migration and asylum related activities is considerable and has required officers to work with partners to monitor and consider the impact of these changes through new partnership groups and initiatives. 3.3 As highlighted in previous updates, the focus throughout 2025 and 2026 has been on working with partners to assess how services should respond to increasing levels of diversity in Renfrewshire’s communities, and to develop initial actions to support New Scots as they resettle in Renfrewshire. 3.4 As previously reported to Elected Members, the 2022 Census evidenced significant change in terms of the diversity of Renfrewshire’s communities in relation to ethnicity in particular. A report was previously provided to the board in November 2024 which highlighted how international migration has driven short-term increases in our local population. Officers recently offered presentations on ward-level demographic changes, as part of Elected Member Development Week, which were well received. 3.5 This paper provides an update for members on the work programme being progressed by officers and partners and highlights a number of emerging issues for consideration. 4. Resettlement Programmes 4.1 The Council and its partners have supported a number of resettlement programmes since 2015 in Renfrewshire. In recent years these have involved support for Ukrainian people displaced because of the invasion by Russia, and the Afghan Resettlement Programme. 4.2 Others have arrived via the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), which operates in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This is a humanitarian route that brings the world's most vulnerable refugees to the UK where it is unsafe from them to return to their home country. Refugees resettled on the UKRS can apply to become a British citizen following 5 years of continuous residence. 4.3 As of 31 March 2026, just under 600 people are known to be accommodated across Renfrewshire through resettlement or humanitarian protection schemes. This includes families and individuals from Afghanistan, Gaza, Myanmar, Somalia, Syria and Ukraine. These resettlement schemes typically operate on the basis of a visa being provided for a period of between 3 and 5 years, with participants coming to the UK being approved for resettlement by the UK Government prior to entry, and gaining rights to education, employment, and welfare benefits for the period of residency. 4.4 The Council receives funding from the UK Government to provide resettlement support through the above programmes, although elements of the Ukraine programme funding are now ending. Page 210 of 254
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PUBLIC The funding is used to resource the resettlement team, with recent developments including the recruitment of specialist posts to support the health and wellbeing of refugees being supported by the team. This ensures there is enhanced signposting to services such as employability and advice services. 4.5 Support for Ukrainian Displaced Persons (UDPs) has been a significant undertaking in recent years, with this group representing the majority of the caseload for the Council’s resettlement team. At this time, 506 UDPs across Renfrewshire are currently being supported, totalling 215 households; 188 of which are being supported through tenancies with social landlords including the Council. 4.6 The rate of arrivals has slowed significantly following the closure of the main visa schemes, and all UDPs have now applied for the 18-month extension offered by the UK Government on their existing 3-year visa. In February 2026, the UK Government announced a further extension to the UPE scheme of a further 24 months, meaning the maximum length of the extension from the original Visa ceasing would total 3-and-a-half years. 4.7 The Council has also been asked in recent years to support Afghan nationals through a number of specific resettlement programmes. In March 2025, these were replaced by a new umbrella Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), with the UK Government writing to all local authorities in the UK to request participation and support given the urgent requirement for Afghan nationals to be resettled within the UK. There are currently 26 Afghan households being supported in Renfrewshire through the various resettlement programmes. 5. Asylum Dispersal 5.1 As previously reported to the Leadership Board, the UK Government have rolled out a programme of asylum dispersal over the past few years, in order to ensure that the requirement to provide support to asylum seekers is shared more proportionately across regions and local authority areas. 5.2 It is important to note that people have a legal right to seek asylum once in country. If assessed as destitute, support and accommodation is provided by Home Office and Mears whilst a formal application to remain is assessed. This may be in hotel accommodation or in an individual property procured or leased through Mears. In Renfrewshire, both hotel accommodation and individual properties are utilised by Mears. 5.3 The most recent Home Office statistics (as of 31 March 2026) showed that 114 asylum seekers are resident in Renfrewshire; with 44 supported in dispersal accommodation (housing) and 59 supported in contingency accommodation (hotels). This equates to 6.03 asylum seekers per 10,000 population being supported by Mears in Renfrewshire, up from 5.97 in the previous quarterly update. Page 211 of 254
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PUBLIC This remains below both the Scottish average of 11.88, and the UK-wide average of 14.08 asylum seekers per 10,000 population. The Home Office publishes information on those seeking asylum by country and local authority, which can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data- sets/immigration-system-statistics-data-tables 5.4 Local authorities are not responsible for housing people who are seeking asylum and do not receive funding to provide this support. However, they do have a statutory duty to provide support once people have been granted asylum and the right to remain in the UK. Regular updates on any housing related issues are reported regularly to the Communities and Housing Policy Board. 5.5 During 2024/25, 123 former asylum seekers have presented to the Council’s homelessness/housing support team following a positive decision; highlighting that individuals can receive a decision while living in one local authority area before moving to another with no local connection. 78 former asylum seekers presented to the homelessness/housing support team during 2024/25. 5.6 In the past year, Council officers have received notification of a small number of family reunion cases in Renfrewshire linked to the asylum dispersal process, with individual sponsors being able to apply for a family reunion decision, subject to the individual sponsor receiving a positive asylum decision or refugee status. The family reunion scheme has been paused to new applications by the UK Government since September 2025. 6. Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children and Young People 6.1 The Home Office indicates there remains significant pressure on the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) in the UK and there is a possibility that the allocation to individual authorities will increase through the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) Protocol. 6.2 Renfrewshire continues to receive arrivals through the scheme and like all other local authorities remains under a duty to comply. The UASC Team receive referrals from Migrant Help and Mears, and work collaboratively with Council services to ensure that the needs of all children are met. In total, by the end of March 2026 there were 41 UASC being supported by Renfrewshire Council. 6.3 The National Transfer Scheme (NTS) Protocol for UASC was updated in June 2025, however all local authorities with children’s services remain under a duty to comply with the NTS. The Home Office will not transfer UASC to an authority that is looking after a number of UASC in line with, or greater than, 0.1% of its general child population. Page 212 of 254
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PUBLIC 7. Recent development activities 7.1 Officers have worked with partners over the past 12-18 months to form a Strategic Migration Group to consider the impact of Renfrewshire’s changing population, and to commence the process of developing a New Scots action plan for Renfrewshire. A needs assessment session with partners was held in October 2025 to initially consider information available on provision and support for New Scots and a local action plan is currently under development. 7.2 Officers are also working closely with the Renfrewshire Integration Network (In Ren), who have been working on an action plan relating to the integration of ethnically and culturally diverse communities in Renfrewshire. They have launched a pledge – linked to a “We Are All Renfrewshire” campaign. 7.3 A community leaders session is being scheduled for June 2026, which will focus discussions on how partners can work together to “build stronger communities” and to specifically address some of the issues being experienced across local communities in terms of community cohesion and connection. 7.4 Partners are also working on a local New Scots information pack which can support local resettlement. 8. Next Steps 8.1 As outlined above, officers will continue to engage through the Strategic Migration Group chaired by the Chief Social Work Officer, to monitor and respond to the impact of any emerging pressures as a result of the developments outlined in this paper. 8.2 In line with the previous decision of the Leadership Board, officers will continue to brief Group Leaders on any strategic developments outwith the Leadership Board meetings as scheduled, whilst ward members will be specifically briefed should any emerging information be relevant and available at that level. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – The increasing demand on services has been largely managed within existing resources with some additional staffing being put into place through migration and asylum funding streams allocated to the Council by the UK and Scottish Government. 2. HR & Organisational Development – Grant funding allocated by both the UK Government and Scottish Government for different schemes has been utilised to fund additional support staff as required. Page 213 of 254
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PUBLIC 3. Community/Council Planning – Supporting New Scots to resettle in Renfrewshire is an important element of the Fairer Renfrewshire programme and has been identified as a priority by members of the Fairer Renfrewshire lived experience panel. 4. Legal – Relevant legal advice is sought from colleagues in relation to proposed policy changes and their impact on Renfrewshire as required. 5. Property/Assets – None. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality and Human Rights – The recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. The New Scots strategy supports a human rights-based approach to the resettlement of people in local communities. These principles remain core to local discussions with partners in relation to proposed policy changes which may arise 8. Health and Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None. 10. Risk – The paper notes potential risks in terms of increased pressure on local resources as a result of national policy changes around asylum dispersal and wider resettlement programmes and particularly highlights increased financial risks which have been identified in relation to potentially significant pressures on housing and homeless services. 11. Privacy Impact – None. 12. COSLA Policy Position – Regular updates on migration and asylum developments are considered through COSLA Leaders and policy boards. 13. Climate Risk – None. 14. Children’s Rights – Children’s rights are considered in relation to the support that is offered to children and young people receiving support in Renfrewshire through asylum and resettlement programmes. Author: Laura McIntyre, Head of Policy and Partnerships Page 214 of 254
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PUBLIC To: Leadership Board On: 17 June 2026 Report by: John Trainer, Head of Children and Justice Social Work, Renfrewshire Council Heading: Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership Plan – Interim 1-Year Plan 2026/27 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership (RCSP) Interim 1-Year Plan for 2026/27 has been developed collaboratively with key partner organisations. The Plan sets out the core joint outcomes that Renfrewshire Council, statutory partners and third sector organisations will deliver over the year to ensure that children and young people in Renfrewshire are happy, healthy, safe and able to thrive. 1.2 For 2026/27, the partnership has produced a 1-year interim plan. This approach allows the next full plan to align more effectively with wider strategic frameworks, including the Council Plan, Community Plan and the IJB Strategic Plan, ensuring coherence across the whole system. 1.3 The Plan sets out five key outcomes that partners aim to achieve for children and young people in Renfrewshire: • Improved physical and mental health — supporting wellbeing at every stage. • Nurtured, safe and loved — strengthening care, protection and relationships. • Empowered, heard and influencing — ensuring children and young people can shape decisions. • Included and valued in their communities — promoting belonging, participation and connection. • Reduced impact of poverty and improved life chances — tackling inequalities and supporting long-term outcomes. ___________________________________________________________________ Item 7 Page 215 of 254
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PUBLIC 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Council Leadership Board: • Note the content of the RCSP Interim 1-Year Plan 2026/27. • Note the statutory joint duty on Renfrewshire Council and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde to prepare the plan. • Note the intention to refresh the plan during 2026/27 to align with wider strategic planning. __________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 Children’s Services Planning is a statutory requirement under Part 3 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. The Act places a joint duty on local authorities and health boards to prepare a Children’s Services Plan that sets out how partners will work together to safeguard, support and promote the wellbeing of all children and young people. 3.2 The legislation requires partners to plan and deliver services in a way that improves outcomes, strengthens early intervention and prevention, and ensures that resources are used effectively across the whole system. Plans must be prepared every three years, with an annual report on progress. 3.3 In Renfrewshire, Children’s Services Planning is delivered through the Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership, which brings together the Council, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Police Scotland, the third sector and other key agencies. The partnership works collaboratively to understand local needs, agree shared priorities and deliver coordinated support for children, young people and families. 3.4 For 2026/27, the partnership has produced a one-year interim plan. This approach allows the next full plan to align more effectively with wider strategic frameworks, including the Council Plan, Community Plan and the IJB Strategic Plan, ensuring coherence across the whole system. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – none 2. HR & Organisational Development – none 3. Community/Council Planning – The report outlines partnership activity that supports key community planning priorities, including protecting vulnerable children and young people, strengthening early intervention, improving community safety, and promoting health and wellbeing. 4. Legal - none Page 216 of 254
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PUBLIC 5. Property/Assets – none 6. Information Technology - none 7. Equality and Human Rights – The recommendations have no negative equality or human rights impacts as the report is for noting. Any impacts arising from implementation of the Plan will be monitored and published in line with Council requirements. 8. Health and Safety - none 9. Procurement – none 10. Risk – none 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. COSLA Policy Position – none 13. Children’s Rights – The Plan supports the promotion of children’s rights under the UNCRC, particularly in relation to participation, protection, family support and wellbeing. 14. Climate Risk – none ___________________________________________________________________ Report Author: John Trainer, Head of Children and Justice Social Work/ Chief Social Work Officer Contact Officer is Annie Torrance, Senior Policy Officer Email: annie.torrance@renfrewshire.gov.uk Page 217 of 254
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1 PUBLIC Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership Plan 2026 to 2027 - Interim One Year Plan Page 219 of 254
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2 PUBLIC Table of Contents 1. Foreword: A message to our children and young people 2. Our Partnership for children, young people and families in Renfrewshire 3. National Policy Context 4. Our Joint Strategic Needs Assessment • Our approach • Our data profile for Renfrewshire • Our services for children and young people • How we listened • How this Influenced our plan 5. Our Plan for Improvement • Building on success • Our agreed outcomes • Our priority actions for 2026 to 2027 6. How we will oversee delivery of our plan 7. Annex A – RCSP Delivery Plan 2026 to 2027 Page 220 of 254
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3 PUBLIC Foreword A message to our children and young people from the Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership You deserve the best possible start in life, free from poverty and neglect. You deserve to feel safe, secure, loved, cared for and respected. You deserve chances to learn, grow, stay healthy and feel valued. You deserve to have hopes, dreams and opportunities for a bright, happy future. We are here to support you. We will help you and your family by providing the right help at the right time. We want Renfrewshire to be the best place for you to grow up, and we will help you get ready for the opportunities and challenges life brings. Our work is guided by five key outcomes. These outcomes help us stay focused on what matters most, and they mean you can expect the following: Outcome 1: You enjoy improved physical and mental health We want you to feel healthy, confident and able to enjoy life. Support will be available when you need it, helping you look after your physical and mental wellbeing. Outcome 2: You are nurtured, safe and loved You should feel protected, cared for and surrounded by people who want the best for you. We will work with families and communities to make sure you grow up feeling secure and supported. Outcome 3: You are empowered, and your voice is heard and influences what we do Your views, ideas and experiences help shape the support and services we provide. We will make sure you are listened to, involved in decisions about your life, and able to influence what we do as a partnership. Outcome 4: You feel included and valued in your community, you are supported to develop your skills, aspirations and pathways for the future You should feel part of your community, welcomed and respected for who you are and able to take part in the things that matter to you. We will help you build your skills, confidence and knowledge so you can explore the world around you and reach your potential. Outcome 5: You are supported to live free from the impacts of poverty We want you and your family to have what you need to feel secure, included and able to take part in everyday life. You should not miss out on opportunities because of cost, transport or other practical barriers. We will work with you to reduce the pressures you face, improve financial security and make sure support is easy to find when you need it. Page 221 of 254
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4 PUBLIC Our Partnership for children, young people and families in Renfrewshire Introduction Throughout this plan, when we talk about children and young people, we are using the definition set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This means we are referring to anyone from birth up to their 18th birthday, including babies, infants, children and teenagers. Using this shared definition helps ensure that all partners are working to the same understanding of who our services are here to support, and that our commitments, actions and approaches reflect the rights and needs of every child and young person as they grow and develop. Across Scotland, Councils and Health Boards work with local partners to make sure children, young people and their families receive the best possible support. In Renfrewshire, we do this by listening to our communities. We learn what support people need, why they need it, when they need it, and the best way to provide it. As corporate parents, every partner shares a collective responsibility to ensure that care‑experienced children and young people are loved, supported and able to thrive. Our work is trauma‑informed and recognises that trusted relationships, stability and compassion are essential to children’s wellbeing. This work is led by the Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership (RCSP). The Partnership brings together key organisations and professionals who play a role in improving the lives of children and young people. This Plan sets out the outcomes we will work to achieve over the coming year and the priority actions we will focus on during this time. During 2026/27, the partnership will refresh and realign the timescales of the plan to support our other key plans and strategies. The Plan is supported by, and should be read alongside, a suite of documents that provide the evidence, insight and analysis underpinning our priorities. These include: • RCSP Data Profile • Renfrewshire Secondary Schools – Health and Wellbeing Survey Analysis 2022–2025 • RCSP Growing Up in Renfrewshire Focus Groups Report • RCSP Priority Setting Partner Survey Analysis • RCSP Mapping Exercise RCSP is made up of representatives from the following organisations: • Renfrewshire Council • Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership • Police Scotland • Scottish Fire and Rescue Service • NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde • Scottish Children’s Reporter Association Page 222 of 254
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5 PUBLIC • Skills Development Scotland • Engage Renfrewshire • 3rd Sector Representatives: KLAS Care and Home Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde • OneRen Each organisation within the partnership also develops its own plans and priorities for the services it provides. These include strategies for children’s services, education, health and social care, community learning and development, skills and employment, culture and sport. The Fairer Renfrewshire Programme and Action Plan sets the strategic direction for tackling poverty across Renfrewshire. It brings partners together around shared ambitions to address the drivers and impacts of poverty and strengthen financial security for families. Sitting within this wider framework, our Local Child Poverty Action Report (LCPAR) sets out the specific actions we are taking to reduce child poverty and improve outcomes for children, young people and families. Together, these approaches ensure our work contributes to Scotland’s national ambitions to reduce child poverty by 2030. Our third sector partners are often the eyes, ears and heart of our communities. The support they provide children, young people and families is built on strong, trusted relationships. Their work responds directly to local needs, and their approach reflects the unique character of each community. We want families to know who they can turn to, when support is available and how to access it. We will continue to make the most of the strong relationships our partners have within their communities, using what they hear and see to help us understand local needs and respond effectively. Our Vision Our jointly agreed vision is that: “Renfrewshire’s children and young people are happy, healthy, safe and thriving.” Our vision is underpinned by our commitment to: • Tackle poverty and inequality • Promote prevention, early support and intervention • Focus on the areas where working collaboratively can have the biggest impact National Policy Context Children’s Services Planning in Scotland is guided by national legislation and policy that sets out how local areas should work together to improve outcomes for children and young people. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 requires every local authority and health board to produce a joint Children’s Services Plan every three years. These plans must show how partners will work together to safeguard, support and promote the wellbeing of all children and young people. For this year, we have chosen to produce an interim one-year plan, Page 223 of 254
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6 PUBLIC which will be refreshed in 2026/27 to ensure full alignment with the Council Plan, Community Plan and the IJB Strategic Plan. The National Performance Framework (Figure 1) articulates the vision of creating a more successful country by setting out eleven ‘national outcomes’ we will work towards collectively. For children and young people, the national approach to improving outcomes for children and young people is called ‘Getting it Right for Every Child’. This provides the framework for our work. It emphasises early help, strong partnership working and putting children, young people and families at the centre of decisions. The Children’s Services Planning landscape is complex and ever changing, however, there are several national policies and commitments that guide how we plan and deliver services for children, young people and families in Renfrewshire. This helps to ensure our local work supports Scotland’s wider ambitions. The Promise Scotland has committed to transforming the care system so that care-experienced children, young people and families feel loved, safe and respected. This shapes how we design support and work together across services. As statutory Corporate Parents, partners have a duty to promote their wellbeing, and this responsibility shapes how we design support and work together across services. Page 224 of 254
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7 PUBLIC Whole Family Wellbeing National policy encourages early, flexible support that meets the holistic needs of the whole family. The aim is to help families earlier and reduce the need for crisis intervention. Child Poverty Commitments Reducing child poverty is a national priority. Local plans must show how partners are helping to tackle the causes and impacts of poverty and supporting families most affected by the cost of living. This work aligns with Scotland’s Bringing Hope, Building Futures: Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2026–2031, which set out national actions to reduce child poverty by 2030. Our Local Child Poverty Action Report, alongside the Fairer Renfrewshire programme and action plan, outlines how partners in Renfrewshire are contributing to these national ambitions and supporting families in our communities. Children’s Rights The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) sets out the basic rights that every child is entitled to. In Scotland, the UNCRC helps guide how we make decisions and ensures children’s rights are considered in everything we do. It supports our aim of giving every child the chance to grow up safe, healthy and happy. The UNCRC also underpins Scotland’s national approach to supporting children, known as Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC). GIRFEC GIRFEC helps families by making sure children and young people get the right help, at the right time, from the right people. The aim is for every child to grow up feeling loved, safe and respected, so they can reach their full potential. GIRFEC also helps the different agencies, services and teams within the Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership work well together YOUNG CARERS The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 introduced new rights for young carers. It gives young carers the right to a Young Carer Statement, which is based on an outcomes-focused conversation about their personal circumstances. This must include consideration of the impact of caring on their wellbeing and whether the care they provide is appropriate for their age and stage of development. Where a young carer’s identified needs meet local eligibility criteria, they have a right to support to meet those needs. As part of this process, the local authority must also consider whether the young carer would benefit from a short break from caring. Universal Health Pathway The Universal Pathway, delivered through health visiting and school nursing services, provides a national framework for prevention, early intervention and reducing inequalities in the early years. It ensures consistent support for families from pregnancy through childhood, helping identify needs early and strengthening the foundations for lifelong wellbeing. Page 225 of 254
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8 PUBLIC Mental Health Strategy Scotland’s Mental Health Strategy places strong emphasis on prevention, early intervention and community-based support. It highlights the importance of promoting positive mental health, reducing stigma and ensuring children and young people can access the right help at the right time. This aligns closely with our local priorities around wellbeing, early support and whole-family approaches. Population Health Framework The Population Health Framework sets out Scotland’s approach to improving health and reducing inequalities by focusing on the wider factors that shape people’s lives — including income, housing, education, employment and community connections. It reinforces the importance of prevention, early help and tackling the structural drivers of inequality. For our Children’s Services Partnership, the framework strengthens our commitment to addressing the wider determinants of health that impact children, young people and families, ensuring our local actions contribute to long-term, sustainable improvements in wellbeing across Renfrewshire. National Child Protection Framework Keeping children safe is a core national priority. Scotland’s National Guidance for Child Protection and the wider national child protection improvement programme set expectations for how agencies work together to protect children from harm. In Renfrewshire, this work is led by the Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee (RCPC), the multi-agency strategic partnership responsible for child protection. The RCPC Improvement Plan sets out how partners are strengthening practice, improving consistency and ensuring children experience protection that is safe, compassionate and rights-based. National Education Priorities National education policy focuses on improving attainment, closing the poverty-related attainment gap and supporting wellbeing. These priorities guide how we plan learning and support in schools and early years settings. Examples of how we have implemented these national policies and commitments are included in the ‘Building on Success’ section. Local Context and Strategic Alignment Our Children’s Services Partnership Plan sits within a wider set of local plans and strategies that guide how services work together to improve outcomes for children, young people and families in Renfrewshire. These plans share a common ambition: to reduce inequalities, strengthen wellbeing and support communities to thrive. The Renfrewshire Community Plan (the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan) sets the long-term vision for the area. It focuses on inclusive growth, prevention, early intervention and tackling the social and economic factors that shape people’s lives. Our work contributes directly to these priorities by supporting families earlier, improving access to help and strengthening community connections. Page 226 of 254
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9 PUBLIC The Council Plan sets out Renfrewshire Council’s commitments to reducing poverty, improving life chances and delivering high-quality, person-centred services. Our approach aligns with these aims through a focus on relational practice, children’s rights and support that responds to what matters to families. The Integration Joint Board (IJB) Strategic Plan highlights the importance of improving population health, reducing health inequalities and supporting mental wellbeing. Our work supports these priorities through trauma-informed practice, whole-family approaches and services that help children and young people stay well, safe and connected. The Fairer Renfrewshire programme and action plan provide a partnership-wide framework for tackling the drivers and impacts of poverty. This includes improving financial security, reducing the cost of living pressures on families and widening access to opportunities. Our Children’s Services Plan contributes directly to these ambitions by focusing on early support, reducing barriers and improving life chances for children and young people most affected by poverty. The Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee Improvement Plan sets out the actions partners are taking to strengthen child protection practice, improve consistency and ensure children experience care and protection that is safe, compassionate and rights-based. Our Children’s Services Plan aligns closely with this work by supporting early help, strengthening relationships and ensuring that children and young people are protected within a coordinated, multi-agency system. We also align with wider local strategies in education, social work, employability, community safety and housing. This ensures that children’s services are part of a coordinated, whole-system approach rather than working in isolation. Together, these strategic links help us target resources effectively, respond to local need and deliver meaningful, long-term impact for children, young people and families across Renfrewshire. Building on Success Across Renfrewshire, there is already strong work happening to support children, young people and families. Our services, early years centres, schools, community organisations and partners are making a real difference every day, and this plan builds on those successes. We have seen positive impact from early years support, mental health and wellbeing programmes, youth work, family support services and community-based initiatives. Strong partnership working means families get help earlier, and services are better connected and more responsive to local needs. By recognising what is working well, we can continue to strengthen effective approaches, share good practice and focus our efforts where they will have the greatest impact for children and young people. Page 227 of 254
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10 PUBLIC Keeping The Promise in Renfrewshire Renfrewshire continues to make strong progress in delivering The Promise locally, we remain fully committed to ensuring that care experienced children, young people and their families feel loved, safe and respected. Our work over the next three years will be guided by Keep The Promise in Renfrewshire: Action Plan 2026–2029, which sets out a clear and practical route for local delivery. The plan is ambitious and shaped by the voices of children, young people, families and communities. These next three years are significant as we contribute to Scotland’s national aim of fully Keeping The Promise by 2030. In Renfrewshire, this means strengthening relationships, embedding trauma-informed practice and ensuring that support is built around what matters to children and families. Achieving this will require sustained collaboration, long-term investment and a shared commitment to continual improvement. A wide range of activity continues across the partnership, examples include: Voice and Participation Renfrewshire Promise Champs Group is a youth club for Care Experienced young people. The club aims to provide a supportive environment where participants can build confidence, develop skills through activities like arts, cooking, and games, and have their voices heard to improve services. The Champs continue to lead youth-voice activity, including campaigns, co-design and participation in planning and service redesign. An example of their significant success is the design and delivery of the annual Promise YouthyFest, remains a major participation event. Promise Keeper Network A growing network of over 400 Promise Keepers across council services, Health and Social Care Partnership, partners and community organisations continues to champion rights, awareness, culture change and service improvement. The annual Promise Keeper Conference remains a key space for learning and cross-sector collaboration. In addition, Renfrewshire’s Language Policy continues to be implemented across services, with a full review underway in 2026–27 to ensure it remains current and stigma-free. Workforce Development and Support The Supporting the Workforce workstream continues to coordinate system-wide improvements in culture, language, support and employability. A couple of key projects are as follows: • The Promise Human Library, connects young people with staff who can offer informal career insights through calls, emails, meetings, or work shadowing. • The Guaranteed Interview Scheme for Care Experienced applicants has been launched, giving those who meet essential criteria an interview if they choose to self-identify. The scheme aims to reduce employment barriers, with HR providing guidance for hiring managers and ensuring constructive feedback for unsuccessful applicants. Page 228 of 254
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11 PUBLIC Children’s Hearings System Improvement The Paisley Children’s Hearings Improvement Partnership (CHIP) is a multi-agency group working across three council areas to improve the Children’s Hearings System in line with The Promise. It brings together a wide range of partners to create a trauma-informed, rights-based system, and has already developed shared resources and initiatives to support children and young people’s participation. Promise, Housing and Community Support We have strengthened housing support for families, carers, and Care Experienced young people by focusing on early intervention, trauma-informed practice, and tailored assistance to prevent homelessness and ensure stable, nurturing living environments. Our Care Experienced Housing Pathways continue to provide personalised support, enhanced housing options and homelessness prevention. It is also important we continue to support kinship and foster carers to access appropriate accommodation and overcome barriers that affect children’s stability. The Whole Family Wellbeing Service The Whole Family Wellbeing Service (WFWS) is a major redesign of early help in Renfrewshire, bringing three previously separate services together into one coordinated model. This has created clearer pathways for families, reduced duplication and improved consistency of support. WFWS is built around the staged intervention framework and operates across three levels of need, ensuring families receive the right support at the right time. WFWS provides early, practical and relationship-based support to families when challenges begin to affect children’s wellbeing, development or family life. This can include help with routines, relationships, school attendance, emotional wellbeing, parenting, and wider pressures that may be impacting family stability. The service works alongside families to understand what matters to them and to help them access the right support as early as possible. Families can be referred through schools, other agencies or self-refer, and all referrals receive a consistent assessment and response. New internal guidance and triage processes help determine which team or tier is best placed to support each family, which is particularly important given the high levels of demand and complexity of need. WFWS has also prioritised strong partnerships with the third sector. These relationships are now embedded through regular contact, shared planning and a dedicated steering group. Third sector partners play a central role in delivering flexible, community-based early support as part of the wider model. Tackling Poverty and Inequality Collaborating across partners is vital to providing the most comprehensive supports for families living on low incomes. Through our Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee and using our Fairer Renfrewshire Officers Group and wider statutory and 3rd sector links, we work across services to develop responses to increased costs of living and child poverty and maximise impact of services. Fairer Renfrewshire partners have continued work across financial security, community wellbeing, food support, equality, and lived-experience engagement. Page 229 of 254
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12 PUBLIC Improving Financial Security Renfrewshire has a strong network of services across the public and third sectors aimed at improving financial security. These efforts deliver real impact—local advice services helped put over £17 million back into residents’ pockets in 2024/25. The School Support and Family Advice Service provide targeted support to children with families to access the benefits that they are entitled to, mainly through Universal Credit and disability benefits. Strengthening Health, Wellbeing and Community Following the place-based community needs assessment in Gallowhill, the Council has funded a new part-time, Community Development Officer who is now in post at Active Communities who are also converting a donated mobile bank into a mobile pantry and outreach service to service this area and other areas where there are high levels of child poverty. The Winter Connections small-grants programme provides a programme of events and activities across Renfrewshire that are open to everyone, held in warm, inclusive community spaces over winter. OneRen Libraries also received funding to offer hot drinks and activities in areas without local projects. Embedding Equality and Inclusion Following consultation, the Equality Outcome Action Plan has now been agreed and addresses barriers across six key equality priority areas. • New Scots feel welcomed, supported, and have equity of opportunity to thrive in our communities • Disabled and older people experience improved access to buildings, services, and transport, ensuring greater independence and participation in community life. • Improved economic prospects for women, minority ethnic people and disabled people • All residents can access information and services in an inclusive and accessible manner. • Our workforce better reflects the diversity of our community, in terms of ethnicity and disability • People with lived experience of inequality and exclusion will be more involved in informing and co-designing policy and practice that affects them Using Insight and Evidence The Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel is made up of people with lived experience of poverty to inform policy and practice. The panel has made significant contributions to work on health and wellbeing, school meals, summer activities for children and young people and the Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan, with further engagement planned with HSCP leadership, climate adaptation officers and community justice partners. One of the focusses has been around digital inclusion, with the development of DigiZones across all Renfrewshire’s libraries and Community Learning and Development locations. These provide free wifi, access to devices, along with support to use devices. These are supported by the Digital Champion’s programme which offers accessible support through a network of volunteers to those who are digitally excluded, as well as data sims to low-income households. Page 230 of 254
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13 PUBLIC In addition, a project with local third sector organisation, Pachedu, and OneRen libraries, collects, refurbishes and redistributes digital devices to families who need them. Using funding from the Scottish Government’s Child Poverty Accelerator Fund, which was awarded in late 2025, a small scale, locally governed Insight Partnership will be developed that uses existing available administrative data (e.g. education, housing, employability, benefits advice, public health) to proactively identify families showing early indicators of child poverty risk - and connect them quickly to the right mix of support (income maximisation, employability help, cost-of-living advice, family wellbeing). This project, which runs until March 2028, will test whether early, light-touch intervention improves outcomes for families, for example increased benefit uptake, improved income, reduced debt and improved wellbeing. Children’s Rights Children’s rights are well-embedded in our training, practice and professional standards, giving us a strong foundation to build on. The actions in this plan will help us continue to “further and better” children’s rights, as required by the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. The Scottish Parliament has passed the revised UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, and national work is now focused on preparing for commencement and supporting local areas to get ready for implementation. It is important to the partnership that by adopting a rights-based approach it places children’s rights at the centre of how we design policy, deliver services and work with families. It ensures that we consider rights in everything we do as agencies, organisations and individuals. Youth Voice - Connected Communities Youth services and community partners continue to strengthen opportunities for youth voice, leadership and inclusion across Renfrewshire. Through the Connected Communities approach, young people are not only being heard but are actively shaping the places where they live and learn. Recent activity highlights a strong culture of participation, celebration and community-led change. The annual Duke of Edinburgh Celebration brought hundreds of young people, families and partners together to recognise the achievements of more than 200 award recipients. Care-experienced young people remain central to local engagement through the Promise Champs, whose community projects and events continue to support peers and influence local priorities. Renfrewshire’s involvement in the West Partnership Youth Voice Ambassadors Programme also ensures young people contribute to regional change, with locally produced resources now being used across youth settings. Locally, the Renfrewshire Youth Assembly brought together young people from schools and community groups to explore issues that matter to them, supported by the YES Renfrewshire project. Alongside this, long-term programmes such as Evolve and Street Stuff continue to provide safe, supportive spaces and positive activities that build confidence, support wellbeing and help young people stay connected to school and community life. Young people also play a key role in shaping Renfrewshire’s future through the Celebrating Renfrewshire participatory budgeting fund and youth-led Place Standard consultations. Page 231 of 254
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14 PUBLIC Together, these achievements show a strong and ongoing commitment to ensuring young people are at the heart of decision-making, celebration and community life across Renfrewshire. Mentors in Violence Prevention Renfrewshire’s Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme trains around 500 senior pupils each year to act as confident, safe bystanders, supported by over 400 trained staff since 2016. The programme strengthens leadership, promotes positive relationships and helps create safer school environments. Close partnership with Education Scotland has enabled contributions to national resources and efforts to increase male mentor involvement. All secondary schools have now adopted Equally Safe in School (ESS), providing a framework to address gender inequality and embed prevention across school culture. Building on MVP and ESS, the Young and Equally Safe in Renfrewshire (YES Renfrewshire) project extends this work into primary, youth and community settings. Young people’s voices continue to shape the agenda, highlighted at the 2025 Youth Assembly focused on “Action for Change.” Active Schools and One Ren Active Schools, delivered with One Ren, offers a wide range of opportunities for children and young people to get active and build confidence through sport. This includes clubs, camps, community sessions, leadership programmes and pathways into volunteering and employment. Annual pupil surveys help shape a balance between universal access and targeted support for those facing the greatest barriers. Recent expansion has strengthened targeted work with care experienced children, LGBT young people, pupils with additional support needs, ethnic minority groups and those at risk of exclusion or inactivity. Renfrewshire’s approach focuses on equality of opportunity by providing low-or no-cost activities, accessible childcare and clear pathways into training and volunteering. Sport also plays a key role in supporting mental health and social connection. Participation levels continue to improve, with positive feedback from children, young people and partners, reflecting Sport Scotland’s Sport for Life framework. Ongoing investment, training (including The Promise) and collaboration across services ensure programmes remain inclusive, responsive and linked to wider support. Together, Active Schools and One Ren are helping build a sustainable, inclusive sporting system that supports wellbeing and life opportunities for children and families across Renfrewshire. North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose Partnership Renfrewshire continues to play an active role in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose Partnership, which reports into the Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee and is one of six national pathfinder areas. Since 2020, the partnership has delivered the Scottish Child Interview Model (SCIM) for all joint investigative interviews with children. In 2023, we opened Scotland’s first Bairns Hoose. Between August 2024 and July 2025, 87 Renfrewshire children were interviewed, with 85% taking place in the Bairns Hoose. Over 80% of children made a disclosure, and feedback from children and families has been consistently Page 232 of 254
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15 PUBLIC positive, highlighting the calm environment and the care taken to explain the process and meet individual needs. Children and families are offered recovery support from the Children First recovery team at the point of interview. Over the last year, 38 Renfrewshire families—92 people—began receiving advocacy and recovery support. Among those who completed their work, all reported feeling safer, experiencing improved relationships, and feeling more heard. The Bairns Hoose also includes a court suite linked to Paisley Sheriff Court. Since October 2024, thirty-three children have used this facility to give evidence without attending a court building, improving their experience of the justice process. A new Bairns Hoose Procurator Fiscal Depute joined the partnership in September 2025 through Scottish Government test-of-change funding, strengthening our focus on improving children’s experience of court. Recruitment of a senior nurse will be a key priority over the next year as we continue to develop a fully integrated Bairns Hoose model. Joint Inspection of Services for Children and Young People at Risk of Harm In 2024, Renfrewshire took part in a joint inspection of services for children and young people at risk of harm. The inspection ran from April to October and was carried out by the Care Inspectorate, working alongside Education Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland. Inspectors found major strengths in how we work together to support children and families, and Renfrewshire was awarded a Very Good evaluation for Quality Indicator 2.1, reflecting strong collaborative practice, effective leadership and a clear commitment to children’s wellbeing and safety. The inspection team spent time listening to children, young people, parents, carers and staff across our communities. They heard from 49 children and young people, 47 parents and carers, and gathered views from 558 staff through a multi-agency survey. Inspectors also reviewed 60 case files, examined key documents and met with around 253 staff and leaders from across services. Their findings show that strong relationships, committed staff and a shared focus on early help and protection are making a real difference. While there is still more to do to ensure every child has the best possible experience, the strengths identified clearly outweigh the areas for improvement. The inspection gives us a strong foundation to build on and helps shape the next steps in our Children’s Services Partnership Plan. Stronger Start – Supporting Women and Babies Through Early Financial Help Stronger Start is a person-centred, wrap-around money advice and advocacy service supporting women engaging with the Blossom Maternity Services across Clyde. The service addresses financial insecurity during pregnancy and early motherhood, recognising the impact of poverty on maternal wellbeing and child health. Delivered within maternity services, it provides early intervention at a point when women may be particularly vulnerable to financial stress. Initially delivered as a one‑year pilot from February 2024 within the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Inverclyde Royal and Vale of Leven maternity units, the service is delivered in partnership with Page 233 of 254
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16 PUBLIC Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau and overseen by a multi‑agency steering group. Strong early outcomes led to additional funding, enabling continuation and further integration into maternity pathways through to January 2027. The service provides early, practical advice and advocacy across a wide range of issues, including welfare benefits, debt, housing, immigration and asylum, alongside access to financial and charitable support. Most support focuses on income maximisation, including assistance with Best Start Grants, Crisis Grants, Council Tax Reduction and Universal Credit. Advocacy supports women to navigate complex systems, access maternity and employment rights and stabilise income and housing. Additional support includes referrals to food and fuel banks and access to essential baby items through a Baby Bank established via community grant funding. During the pilot year from February 2024 to January 2025, Stronger Start received 135 referrals, with 98 women receiving advice and advocacy, generating £150,000 in financial gains, averaging £1,500 per woman. In 2025/26, a further 97 referrals were received, including 73 from the Royal Alexandra Hospital, with 55 women engaging. Confirmed financial gains totalled £189,403, averaging £3,443 per supported woman. Women were supported across multiple, inter‑related issues, most commonly welfare benefits and financial assistance. Housing advocacy contributed to homelessness prevention and improved stability, with targeted support provided to women with care experience. All referrals aligned with national child poverty priority family types. Monitoring and evaluation will continue through the Steering Group, supported by external evaluation to inform service development, sustainability planning and future funding. Thrive Under 5 – Supporting Families to Eat Well, Stay Active and Reduce Inequalities Thrive Under 5 is a pilot programme developed to support families with young children in Johnstone to improve health, reduce financial pressure and lower the risk of diabetes in the early years. Led by the HSCP Health Improvement team and delivered in partnership with Active Communities and Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau, the programme focuses on families most at risk of poverty and aims to make healthy living more affordable, accessible and achievable. Running from May 2024 to March 2025, Thrive Under 5 offered a wide range of practical supports for families with at least one child under five. This included help to apply for Best Start Grants, Best Start Foods, Scottish Child Payment and other financial supports, alongside access to fuel assistance and onward referrals. Families received meal packs twice a week for eight weeks, free membership and shops at the local food pantry, cooking classes with equipment provided, weekly fruit and vegetables, and opportunities for physical activity for the whole family. Additional food support was also offered during school holidays and after the programme ended. A total of 42 families, including 75 children, took part in the pilot. Over the course of the programme, 241 meal packs and 516 pantry vouchers were distributed, and all families received cooking equipment and weekly fresh produce. Nine families supported by RCAB Page 234 of 254
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17 PUBLIC achieved a combined financial gain of more than £1,700, helping to ease financial pressure and improve stability at home. The pilot was evaluated positively, showing strong engagement and clear benefits in improving access to food, financial support and healthier routines. While time‑limited funding means the programme is not sustainable in its original form, learning is being used to identify the most effective elements and explore how these can be integrated into existing services and partnerships. Future development will align with the Population Health Framework, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and reducing inequalities in the early years. Gallowhill Community Needs Assessment – Listening to Local Voices and Shaping Place-Based Change The Gallowhill Community Needs Assessment was carried out in response to the high levels of child poverty in the area and reflects our commitment to understanding what matters most to local residents. Led by the HSCP Health Improvement Team, Stage 1 of the assessment was delivered in partnership with Active Communities, who used the Place Standard Tool to explore 14 themes relating to the physical and social environment. This was supported by detailed public health intelligence gathered and analysed by the Health Improvement Team to build a fuller picture of local strengths, challenges and opportunities. The findings reflected a mix of complex community views, alongside a clear desire for improved services, better connectivity and more opportunities for local involvement and leadership. Residents shared strong aspirations for their area, and this insight is now helping shape the next phase of work. Following Stage 1, Renfrewshire Council’s Head of Policy and Partnerships is chairing a 12–18 month steering group to share the findings and co-develop an action plan with the community. Progress will be monitored and reported to the Community Planning Executive Group to ensure accountability and momentum. Fairer Renfrewshire funding has enabled the recruitment of a dedicated Community Development Officer, employed by Active Communities and based in Gallowhill for 18 months. This role will support local engagement, help drive forward the action plan and strengthen community-led activity. The evidence gathered through this assessment, alongside learning from the next stages, will inform future place‑based work across Renfrewshire. It supports a more prevention‑focused, place‑based approach in line with the Population Health Framework, using local insight to shape priorities and guide how services and partners work together. This represents an important step in ensuring local voices shape local solutions, and that communities most affected by poverty are supported to lead change in the places they call home. Young Carers Renfrewshire Carers Centre provides dedicated support for young carers aged 8–18 who help look after a family member at home. The service offers young carers help to identify and highlight personal circumstances, personal outcomes and identified needs, as well as what support is available including information, advocacy, group support and opportunities for Page 235 of 254
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18 PUBLIC young carers to take time for themselves. Weekly and monthly groups, holiday activities and one-to-one support help young carers build confidence, reduce isolation and balance caring with school and friendships. Schools and community partners play a key role in identifying young carers early and ensuring their needs are understood. Partnership work continues to strengthen links between the Young Carers Service, education and community organisations. Awareness-raising in schools supports earlier identification, while practical help—such as support with applications, transitions and access to opportunities—reduces pressure on families. Young carers also benefit from wider wellbeing and social opportunities delivered with local partners including Aberlour, Barnardo’s, PACE, Active Communities and CREATE Paisley. Over the next year, the RCSP will focus on strengthening early identification across schools, early years and community settings, widening access to group support and respite opportunities, and improving consistency in how young carers’ needs are recognised in education. We will continue to build partnerships that broaden wellbeing and social opportunities and ensure young carers’ views inform future planning. Our aim is to ensure young carers in Renfrewshire are recognised early, supported appropriately and able to thrive alongside their caring responsibilities. GIRFEC Renfrewshire’s Children’s Services Planning Partners remain strongly committed to improving outcomes for all children and young people, with a particular focus on those most vulnerable. The Partnership promotes a shared GIRFEC vision, underpinned by effective multi-agency collaboration to support children’s wellbeing and development. A consistent staged intervention approach is well embedded across services. Almost all educational establishments, including privately funded Early Learning and Childcare providers, use Renfrewshire’s staged intervention documentation. This consistency supports effective practice across settings and strengthens decision-making through the Staged Intervention Support Panel (SISP) and the Education Support Resource Group (ESRG), ensuring coordinated, targeted support. Children’s Plans and Team Around the Child (TAC) processes consistently capture the views of children, young people and parents. Ongoing universal and targeted training has improved the quality of planning, with Child’s Plans becoming more solution-focused, grounded in robust assessment, and subject to regular evaluation. Quality assurance activity enables targeted support to be directed to establishments where it is most needed. Analysis of plan quality and ESRG request data demonstrates that effective early intervention enables the majority of children and young people to be successfully supported within their local establishments. Robust triage processes ensure that referrals to SISP and ESRG are reserved for the most vulnerable learners. All children referred through these panels receive enhanced, tailored support through the Flexible Learning Resource, ensuring interventions are proportionate, needs-led and impactful. Page 236 of 254
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19 PUBLIC National Education Priorities The National Improvement Framework (NIF) for Scottish education sets out the vision, key priorities and seven key educational outcomes for children and young people. This is then translated at a local level by education services. The NIF sets out seven strategic outcomes, the delivery of which will lead to improved educational outcomes for children and young people. The outcomes we expect to achieve are: • a globally respected, empowered, and responsive education system with clear accountability at every level that supports children, young people, and adult learners to thrive. The system enables the development of their knowledge, skills, values, and attributes that give them the best opportunity to succeed and contribute to Scotland’s society and economy • young people experiencing the benefit of schools and early years settings working in excellent partnerships with wider children’s services and other partners, families, and communities, in line with the GIRFEC approach • inclusive and relevant curriculum and assessment which gives young people the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to society, and shape a sustainable future, while celebrating and supporting progression for all • high levels of achievement across the curriculum for all learners, with action to close the poverty-related attainment gap • highly skilled teachers and school-leaders driving excellent learning, teaching and assessment for all, especially those with additional support needs • improving relationships and behaviour, and attendance, with increased engagement in learning and a culture of dignity and respect for all • an education system engaging in digital technology to enhance all aspects of learning and teaching, supported by a digitally skilled workforce and tackling digital inequality Positive Destinations A core focus of our improvement work on positive destinations has been the development of a coherent, whole-system approach across schools and communities. Through strong partnership working, we have created a network of support bringing together school colleagues, Skills Development Scotland, Invest in Renfrewshire, DYW West, West College Scotland and local employers. This collaborative approach has significantly expanded the range of meaningful pathways available to young people. Central to this work has been listening carefully to the voices of young people and families and using robust, data-driven approaches to shape targeted actions that address barriers to post-school participation and progression. The Principal Teacher of Positive Pathways role has been embedded to provide enhanced and tailored support, with a specific focus on care-experienced school leavers. This includes additional pastoral care, proactive career guidance and sustained support during key transition points. These arrangements ensure that care-experienced young people receive consistent advocacy and advice aligned to their individual destination aspirations. Page 237 of 254
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20 PUBLIC As a result of ongoing support and interventions there has been an increase in the number of young people from Quintile 1 accessing further and higher education opportunities that are relevant to their interests and career goals. The Career Ready programme is now well established across Renfrewshire secondary schools, offering young people structured mentoring, work-based learning and paid summer internship opportunities. Importantly, care-experienced young people are actively engaged in the programme, ensuring equitable access to high-quality employer connections and real-world experience. Our Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Our Approach To understand the needs of children, young people and families in Renfrewshire, we carried out a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). This brought together information and evidence to help shape our priorities, outcomes and actions. By reviewing and analysing this information, we were able to better understand: • our population and the needs that are emerging • what life is like for children, young people and families living in Renfrewshire • what children, young people, families and communities think about services and support • what is working well and where we see good practice • what we need to improve and focus on next This understanding helps us plan services that meet people’s needs and make a real difference across Renfrewshire. Our Data Profile for Renfrewshire To support the development of this plan, we brought together a simple and easy-to-understand data profile for Renfrewshire. This helped us look at the wider picture of children’s lives and the pressures families are experiencing. The profile included key information on population, health and wellbeing, education, poverty, safety and demand for services. Looking at these indicators side by side helped us see the trends affecting children and young people, and where inequalities are most visible. We created this data profile to make sure our decisions are based on strong evidence. It allowed us to check that what we heard from children, young people, parents/carers and partners is reflected in the wider data, and to identify the areas where support and improvement are needed most. The data profile highlights a number of clear and consistent messages about the experiences of children, young people and families in Renfrewshire. While there are strong foundations and Page 238 of 254
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21 PUBLIC areas of progress, the data also shows that inequalities continue to shape outcomes and that demand for support is becoming more complex. Poverty remains one of the most significant underlying factors influencing outcomes. A substantial proportion of the population lives in areas of deprivation, with 24% of residents living in the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland. Although child poverty rates in Renfrewshire are slightly lower than the national average and have reduced in recent years, 12.7% of children are still living in poverty after housing costs. The data also highlights the growing challenge of in- work poverty. In 2022-25, it is estimated that 75% of children in relative poverty after housing costs were living in working households (where at least one member of the household is in either full or part-time paid work), and with a higher proportion of the local workforce earning below the real Living Wage compared to Scotland overall. This reflects wider cost-of-living pressures, with increasing financial strain on families, rising fuel poverty, and continued reliance on emergency food provision. These inequalities are closely linked to differences in outcomes for children and young people. There is a clear attainment gap between those living in the most and least deprived communities, which becomes more pronounced at higher qualification levels which is in line with national experience. Similarly, children and young people in more deprived areas report lower levels of wellbeing, reinforcing the relationship between socio-economic disadvantage and life chances. Overall positive destination rates for school leavers are high, this reflects a strong and sustained performance across Renfrewshire, with the vast majority of young people moving on to further learning, training or employment. This demonstrates the effectiveness of local pathways, partnership working and targeted support in helping young people make successful transitions beyond school. There has also been notable progress over time in improving outcomes for care experienced young people, with increasing proportions moving into positive destinations. Renfrewshire has experienced significant demographic change over the last ten years which will impact on the future provision of Children’s services. Although Renfrewshire continues to have a declining birthrate and a negative rate of natural population change, development and migration have contributed to a significant population increase over the period, from 175,280 in 2014 to 189,170 in 2024. While the population of younger people in Renfrewshire is projected to grow in line with this trend, the larger growth of older sections of the population mean it will decline in percentage terms as a component of our population. With migration the driver for this change, the impact will not be uniform across the council area. Some areas with significant development have experienced rapid population increases, while others have experienced relative decline posing challenges for schools, social services and other public service provision. Increased levels of international migration have also led to an increase in the diversity of the population in terms of ethnicity and language, with accompanying changes to educational and wider service needs. Health and wellbeing data further underline the scale of challenges facing some communities. Drug-related deaths remain significantly higher than the national average, with deprivation strongly linked to increased risk. Alcohol use among young people and adults also continues to be a concern. Alongside this, wider indicators point to increasing pressures on mental health and Page 239 of 254
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22 PUBLIC emotional wellbeing, reflected in rising levels of need identified through services and partner feedback. At the same time, there are positive trends and strengths to build on. Early years indicators show improving early child development measures, and strong uptake of childhood immunisations, with this Plan explicitly prioritising further improvements in this area. The number of looked after children has reduced over time, and a high proportion of children are supported within family or kinship care settings, reflecting a commitment to keeping children within their communities wherever possible. Positive destinations for school leavers remain consistently high, demonstrating strong post-school pathways for most young people. However, the data also shows that need is becoming more complex. Child protection concerns continue to be closely associated with parental substance use, mental health, domestic abuse and neglect. Police data highlights significant levels of vulnerability among children, including exposure to violence, missing episodes and mental health crises. Partner feedback reinforces this, identifying that some families experience multiple and overlapping challenges, and that existing services do not always fully align with the complexity of need. A key theme emerging from both the data and partner insight is the importance of access to timely and appropriate support. While there is a wide range of services in place, there remain gaps in provision and variation in access between communities. Third sector organisations play a vital role in responding flexibly to local needs, but there are concerns about the sustainability of this support and the need for a more coordinated approach across partners. Overall, the data presents a clear picture. Renfrewshire has strong foundations, committed services and positive outcomes in many areas. However, persistent inequalities, increasing complexity of need, and pressures on families require a continued focus on early intervention, targeted support and partnership working. These findings have directly shaped the outcomes and priorities within this plan, with a focus on reducing inequalities, improving wellbeing, strengthening relationships and ensuring that children, young people and families can access the right support at the right time. Our Services for Children and Young People As part of developing this plan, we looked closely at the support and services already available for children, young people and families across Renfrewshire. This mapping exercise helped us understand the strengths we can build on and where there may still be gaps. We found a wide range of support across early years, schools, health services, social work, youth work, community groups and the third sector. Many of these services are already working together to provide early help, promote wellbeing and keep children safe. By mapping what we currently do, we were able to see where services are making a difference and where families may still struggle to access the right support at the right time. This ensures our new plan builds on what is working well and focuses our efforts where they will make the biggest difference. Page 240 of 254
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23 PUBLIC As partners, we provide three different types of services - universal targeted, and specialist Universal services are the services available to every child and young person in Renfrewshire. This includes the health visitor who checks your growth and development when you are a baby, the nurses who give you vaccinations and support your health as you grow, and the early years centres and schools that provide your education. It also includes things like access to a National Entitlement Card, which can give you benefits such as free bus travel and voluntary proof of age. Targeted services are there for you if you or your family need a bit more support to deal with circumstances or challenges, even if only for a short time. This might include extra help in early years or school, or advice and support to manage something that is making life more difficult. These services could involve our Whole Family Wellbeing teams, the Mediation Team at the George Street Project supporting young people at risk of homelessness, family/school advice and youth work programmes, or the Adult and Family Learning Team, which helps families make positive changes together through learning. Specialist services are available for children, young people and families who need support with more complex issues and may require ongoing help. These services focus on keeping you safe, healthy and able to achieve in a way that suits your needs. This might include support from a social worker or care from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). How we Listened In addition, to the data gathering and service mapping we wanted to ensure that our new plan reflects what matters most to local families, we listened carefully to the voices and experiences of children, young people, parents and the staff who support them. We used four main sources of evidence to build a fuller picture of needs, strengths and priorities across Renfrewshire. Specialist Targeted Universal Page 241 of 254
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24 PUBLIC Renfrewshire Secondary School Wellbeing Survey This survey gave us a strong understanding of how young people feel about their wellbeing, relationships, school life and access to support. It helped us identify the issues that matter most to young people across our secondary schools. Focus Groups with Children, Young People and Parents We held a series of focus groups in different community settings. These conversations allowed us to explore experiences in more depth and hear directly from families about what is working well, what gets in the way, and what they would change to make things better. Partner Survey We also gathered the views of staff and organisations who work with children, young people and families. This helped us understand strengths and gaps across services, the pressures partners are seeing, and the emerging needs affecting families. Priority-Setting Workshop Finally, we brought partners together for a workshop to look at all the evidence — the wellbeing survey, the focus groups, the partner survey and local data. Together, partners discussed the findings, agreed the outcomes for the new plan, and identified the priority actions that will make the biggest difference for children, young people and families in Renfrewshire. How this influenced Our Plan The views gathered through the wellbeing survey, focus groups and partner survey: • confirmed the issues that matter most to families • highlighted gaps in support • helped us set clear priorities • shaped the actions we will take over the next three years This ensures our plan is grounded in real experiences and reflects the needs of children, young people and families across Renfrewshire. Key Findings Bringing together what we heard from families, partners and the wider data gave us a clear picture of the strengths in Renfrewshire, as well as the areas where children, young people and families need more support. Several consistent themes emerged: Wellbeing pressures are increasing Data and feedback show rising concerns around mental health, emotional wellbeing and stress for children and young people. Families and services are seeing greater need for early help and support. Inequalities continue to shape outcomes Poverty, cost of living pressures and access to opportunities remain significant challenges. These inequalities affect children’s health, learning and participation in community life. Page 242 of 254
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25 PUBLIC Safety and relationships matter Young people told us they want to feel safe in their communities and have trusted adults they can turn to. Partners highlighted the importance of strong, nurturing relationships across all services. Access to support can be uneven While many services are working well, families can still experience gaps or delays in getting the right help at the right time. Transport, cost and awareness of services can also be barriers. Young people want to be heard Across all engagement, children and young people said they want their views to be taken seriously and to have more influence over decisions that affect them. Strong foundations to build on Service mapping showed a wide range of support already in place across Renfrewshire, with committed staff and strong partnership working. These strengths give us a solid base for improvement. Our Plan for Improvement Our Agreed Outcomes Based on what children, young people, families and partners told us, we have agreed five outcomes that will guide our work over the year ahead. These outcomes reflect the issues that matter most to local children and the changes they want to see. Outcome 1 Our children, young people and families enjoy improved physical and mental health. Children and young people told us that mental health support needs to be easier to access, and partners are seeing increasing emotional and wellbeing needs. Evidence highlights the importance of pregnancy, the first year of life and early identification of neurodevelopmental need in shaping longer-term health and inequalities, reinforcing the need for strong prevention, early intervention and coordinated support across universal services before needs escalate. This outcome reflects our shared commitment to strengthening early support and ensuring children and young people can access the right help at the right time. We also recognise the central role of physical activity and play in supporting healthy development, emotional wellbeing and resilience. Children, young people and families highlighted the need for affordable, local and accessible opportunities, and for safe spaces where children can be active, socialise and play. Over the life of this plan, we will strengthen our focus on widening access to play opportunities and ensuring our environments support both physical and mental health. Page 243 of 254
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26 PUBLIC Outcome 2 Our children and young people are nurtured, safe and loved. Young people spoke about safety concerns in public spaces, pressures at home and school, and the importance of trusted adults. Families and partners also emphasised the need for early help and strong, supportive relationships. Outcome 3 Our children and young people are empowered, and their voices are heard and influence what we do. Children and young people told us they don’t always feel listened to, especially in school or public spaces. They want adults to understand them, avoid stereotypes and act on their views. This outcome commits us to meaningful participation and genuine influence. Outcome 4 Children, young people and families feel included, connected and valued in their communities, with clear pathways, reduced barriers, and opportunities that raise aspiration and support positive futures. Children and young people told us they want to feel part of their communities, have safe places to go and fair access to opportunities. They also want to be supported to achieve their goals, explore their interests and build a positive future for themselves. This outcome recognises that inclusion is not only about belonging, but also about having access to the opportunities, experiences and support needed to progress into adulthood with confidence and purpose. Outcome 5 Our children, young people and families are supported to live free from the impacts of poverty, with improved financial security, reduced barriers to participation and better long-term life chances. Children, young people and families have told us that the cost of living affects every part of daily life — from accessing activities and transport to feeling included and able to plan for the future. Partners also see the ongoing impact of poverty on health, wellbeing, learning and opportunities. This outcome reflects our shared commitment to reducing the pressures families face, improving financial security and ensuring that no child misses out because of their circumstances. It recognises that tackling poverty is central to improving outcomes across all areas of children’s lives and aligns with national priorities to reduce child poverty in Scotland. Our work will focus on widening access to support, reducing practical and financial barriers, and strengthening the pathways that help families move towards greater stability and opportunity. Page 244 of 254
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27 PUBLIC Our Priority Actions for 2026 to 2027 Our priority actions set out how partners will work together over the next year to improve outcomes for children, young people and families in Renfrewshire. These actions will be refreshed during 2026/27 to align with our new Plan. These actions are grounded in local need, shaped by the voices of children and families, and aligned with the wider strategic direction set by the Community Plan, the Council Plan and the IJB Strategic Plan. Each outcome area is supported by a number of focused, high-impact actions that reflect the partnership’s commitment to early intervention, whole-family support, children’s rights and reducing inequalities. The actions are designed to be practical, achievable and responsive to what matters most to families. The main plan provides the strategic intent for each outcome. Annex A: Delivery Plan provides the detailed actions and measures of success for the year ahead. The delivery plan covers a one-year period, and any actions not completed within this timeframe will be carried forward into the next plan to ensure continuity and sustained progress. This approach keeps the main plan clear and accessible, while the delivery plan provides the operational detail needed to drive improvement. Together, these actions represent a shared commitment to improving wellbeing, strengthening relationships and ensuring that every child and young person in Renfrewshire can thrive. Outcome 1: Improved physical and mental health Partners are committed to improving the physical and mental health of children, young people and families by strengthening early intervention, reducing barriers and ensuring help is available at the right time. We will build a clearer picture of the whole system, use shared data to identify gaps and focus on the areas where we can make the greatest difference. Our work will support children to meet key developmental milestones, improve access to early help and ensure families receive coordinated support before needs escalate. Outcome 2: Nurtured, safe and loved We want every child and young person in Renfrewshire to feel nurtured, safe and loved. This means embedding consistent nurturing approaches across services, strengthening support for care experienced children and young people, and helping families build strong, connected support networks. Our work will focus on relationships, stability and early support, ensuring children experience care and protection in ways that are compassionate, trauma-informed and rights-based. Outcome 3: Empowered, heard and influencing Children and young people should feel listened to, respected and able to influence the decisions that affect their lives. We will strengthen our approach to participation and co-design, ensuring diverse voices shape services and that feedback leads to visible change. This includes developing consistent partnership-wide approaches, improving “You said, we did” practice and reaching groups whose voices are less often heard. Page 245 of 254
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28 PUBLIC Outcome 4: Included and valued in their communities We want children, young people and families to feel connected to their communities and able to access the support, spaces and opportunities they need. Our work will embed whole-family approaches, make better use of the learning estate and ensure resources are directed where they will have the greatest impact. By using local data and community insight, we will support more joined-up services and create environments where children and young people feel safe, welcome and valued. Our work will focus on strengthening community connections, widening access to opportunities and ensuring every child and young person can develop their skills, interests and aspirations for the future. Outcome 5: Reduced impact of poverty and improved life chances We want every child, young person and family in Renfrewshire to have what they need to feel secure, included and able to take part in everyday life. Poverty affects health, wellbeing, learning and opportunities, and partners see the pressures families face every day. Our work will focus on reducing these pressures, removing practical and financial barriers, and widening access to support and opportunities. By using local data and whole-family approaches, we will target help where it is needed most and support families towards greater stability and improved life chances. How we will oversee delivery of the plan Governance This plan is produced and monitored by the Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership Board. The Board brings together senior decision-makers from across the public and third sectors who all have a role in improving the lives of children and young people in Renfrewshire. It is chaired by the Head of Children and Justice Social Work for Renfrewshire Council and meets three times a year. The Board reports into the Community Planning Partnership Executive Group, the Council Leadership Board and the Integration Joint Board, ensuring strong links across the wider partnership landscape. The RCSP Board is supported by an Oversight and Monitoring Group, which provides a space for partners to review performance, discuss progress, and work through challenges and barriers. All partner agencies are represented on the group, with a named officer responsible for attending and taking forward actions. The Oversight and Monitoring Group reports performance to each RCSP Board and provides the information needed for effective decision-making. It is also responsible for preparing the annual report and supporting the development of new plans when required. Page 246 of 254
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29 PUBLIC An illustration of the Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership governance is noted in figure 2 below. Resource Renfrewshire Council, Children’s Services revenue budget for 2026/27 is approximately £286m, equating to almost half of the Council’s General Services budget. As part of their capital budget, over £51m will be invested in 2026/27 in Schools and Early Years establishments, with £271m to be invested over the period 2026/27 to 2035/36. The HSCP’s agreed budget for Adult Social Care in 2026/27 is £119 million. Our Shared Commitment This plan brings together the outcomes we will work to achieve, and our shared priorities for the year ahead. Setting out the practical steps we will take to improve outcomes for children, young people and families in Renfrewshire. It reflects what our communities have told us, the evidence we hold across the partnership, and the collective ambition we share to make a meaningful difference. Delivering this plan will take continued collaboration, openness and a commitment to learning. We know progress happens when partners work together with a clear purpose and when the voices of children, young people and families shape what we do. Through regular monitoring and honest reflection, we will keep the plan active and responsive, adapting as needed to ensure we stay focused on what matters most. By taking forward these actions together, we are building on strong foundations and moving steadily towards our long-term ambitions. Our shared commitment is to make Renfrewshire a place where every child and young person is happy, healthy, safe and able to thrive. 7 Page 247 of 254
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30 PUBLIC How do we measure our impact The performance indicators included in this plan help us understand the impact of the collective work taking place across the Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership. They provide a balanced picture of progress across early years development, attainment, wellbeing, destinations and poverty-related outcomes, and highlight where further focus is needed. Using these indicators allows us to track change over time, identify gaps, and ensure our priorities remain rooted in evidence. They also help us demonstrate the value of the work being delivered across the partnership and support a shared understanding of what is improving and where we need to go next. Performance Indicators Indicator Baseline 21/22 Performance 22/23 Performance 23/24 Exclusive Breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks – percentage of babies who have always been exclusively breastfed (reported at 6-8 weeks) 23.7% 22.8% 23.2% Teenage pregnancy (under 20) – rates per 1,000 women (Includes all pregnancies in women aged under 20. The rate is calculated using the female population aged 15-19 (estimates 2021). 21.4 25.4 26.9 Smoking In Pregnancy - Percentage of current smokers in pregnancy 9.8% 10.3% 9.3% PHS Early Years Development – 27–30-month review – Percentage of children with at least one developmental concern recorded (the trend line for this measure has been inverted to reflect the language of the health outcomes) 22.2% 21% 19.4% PHS – Primary 1 BMI (Epidemiological Thresholds used for population modelling) – Percentage of children at a healthy weight 78.7% 79% 77.2% Active Schools Health Survey – Percentage of pupils completing over 3hrs of exercise per week 60% 63% 68% Primary Achievement of a Curriculum for Excellence Level – Percentage of P1, P4, P7 Care Experienced pupils combined meeting the expected level in Literacy 40% 32% 44% Primary Achievement of a Curriculum for Excellence Level – Percentage of P1, P4, P7 Care Experienced pupils combined meeting the expected level in Numeracy 54% 55% 61% Renfrewshire Wellbeing Census – Average Wellbeing Score (14-70) 45.2 48.3 48.8 Children and young people will be achieving physically, actively and have the best physical health All agencies will work together to provide support to children and families at the earliest possible stage, as part of our commitment to The Promise Children, young people, and their families can access all support in one place Page 248 of 254
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31 PUBLIC Renfrewshire Wellbeing Census – Percentage of pupils with low wellbeing 37% 25% 24% Initial Leavers Destinations – Percentage of all looked after children entering a positive initial destination 83% 91% 94.1 Leavers Attainment – Percentage of all looked after children leaving with 1+ award at SCQF level 6 29% 24% 26% Attendance – Percentage of pupils with less than 50% attendance in Renfrewshire 1.93 2.14 2.3 Positive Destinations – Percentage of school leavers in Renfrewshire in a positive destination 91.8% 93.6% 97.1% Looked After Children – Total looked after population in Renfrewshire 592 640 610 Child Poverty – Number of children living in relative low income before housing costs 4124 4013 3343 Free School Meals – Percentage of children in Renfrewshire eligible for free school meal 20.54% 25.83% 18.42% Clothing Grant – Percentage of children in Renfrewshire eligible for clothing grant 24.6% 20.26% 20.84% Page 249 of 254
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32 OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE Annex A Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership – Delivery Plan 2026–2027 This delivery plan sets out the actions the Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership will take forward over the next year to support the outcomes in the main plan. The actions reflect the priorities we have identified together. While the plan covers a one-year period, any actions that are not completed within this timeframe will be carried forward into the next plan to ensure continuity and sustained progress. This approach keeps our work responsive and allows partners to build on what is working well as we continue to improve outcomes across Renfrewshire. Outcome Priority Action What We Will Do Success Looks Like Outcome 1: Improved physical and mental health Map the whole system Complete a partnership-wide mapping of services, supports and data, including community and physical-health services. Clear picture of the system, gaps identified, priorities agreed. Improve Early Years developmental outcomes Develop and implement a shared Early Years improvement plan focused on key developmental areas. More children meeting developmental milestones. Strengthen early intervention and whole-family support Expand early help pathways, including mental health support, so families access help earlier. Reduced waiting times and more families supported earlier. Strengthen access to play and physical activity Work with partners and communities to widen access to safe, local and affordable play opportunities, recognising the role of play in supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing. More children able to access play opportunities that support emotional wellbeing, social connection and healthy development. Page 250 of 254
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33 OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE Outcome Priority Action What We Will Do Success Looks Like Outcome 2: Nurtured, safe and loved Embed nurture principles Introduce a shared nurture framework and training across services. Staff confidence increases; children feel more supported. Improve outcomes for care-experienced children and young people Strengthen delivery of The Promise with clear actions on relationships, stability and transitions. Improved wellbeing, stability and participation. Support families/carers in the early years to build networks Expand opportunities for parents/carers to connect and access support locally. Families report stronger support networks and reduced isolation. Outcome 3: Empowered, heard and influencing Seek out diverse voices and co-design services Establish a consistent approach to co-design across the partnership. More services demonstrating co-design and evidencing impact. Strengthen “You said, we did” Introduce a partnership-wide feedback model showing how CYP views shape decisions. CYP see clear evidence of change based on their input. Capture seldom-heard voices Develop targeted engagement approaches for groups less likely to be heard. More diverse voices represented in planning. Outcome 4: Included and valued in their communities Whole-family approaches at the centre Embed whole-family approaches across services to ensure coordinated, strengths-based support that raises aspiration and awareness of opportunities. Families experience more joined-up support, with clearer pathways and improved understanding of what is available to them. Page 251 of 254
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34 OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE Outcome Priority Action What We Will Do Success Looks Like Develop and use the learning estate Identify, develop and promote accessible spaces for children and young people (CYP) within the learning estate, ensuring these spaces support aspiration, participation and community connection. More CYP using safe, welcoming spaces that support learning, social connection and personal development. Allocate resources based on community needs Use local data and insight to direct resources where impact will be greatest, with a focus on reducing practical barriers to participation. Funding decisions clearly linked to local need, with improved access for those facing the greatest barriers. Outcome 5: Reduced impact of poverty and improved life chances Strengthen whole-system understanding of poverty Build a shared picture of the drivers and impacts of poverty across Renfrewshire, using local data, community insight and partner intelligence. Clearer understanding of where poverty is most affecting children, young people and families, enabling more targeted action. Reduce practical and financial barriers Work with partners to identify and reduce the costs that prevent children and young people from taking part in everyday opportunities, including transport, food, clothing and activities. More children and young people able to access opportunities without cost being a barrier. Improve access to support Strengthen pathways into financial, wellbeing and whole-family support so families can access help earlier and more easily. Families receive coordinated support before pressures escalate, improving stability and wellbeing. Support long-term life chances Work with education, employability and community partners to widen access to opportunities that build skills, confidence and future pathways. Improved life chances through increased access to learning, training and community opportunities. Page 252 of 254
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