3. Winter Connections Evaluation 2024-25
Renfrewshire Council · 28 May 2025
Back to Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee — 28 May 2025 and its agenda
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1 ________________________________________________________________________ To: Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee On: 28th May 2025 _____________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive _____________________________________________________________________ Heading: Winter Connections Evaluation 2024/25 ________________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1. 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. £50,000 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. 1.2. The Winter Connections programme has now completed its third 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. 1.3. 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. 1.4. An evaluation for the 24/25 Programme has now been carried out, and the key messages of the evaluation include: • Over 2,500 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 a sense of belonging and provided a supportive environment and peer support, which was especially important for people who were feeling isolated.
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2 • 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, creating connections with others and with library staff. • Providing free food alongside activities ensured that the programme discretely supported families who are continuing to experience financial hardship. • The programme continues to be an important element of the Council’s approach to tackling the cost-of-living crisis. 1.5. 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. 1.6. At the Council’s budget meeting in February 2025, £75,000 of funding was allocated to support the delivery of a fourth year of Winter Connections for 2025/26. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that members of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee: • Note the content of the report 3. Background 3.1 The development of the Winter Connections Programme has been a key focus for officers with £75,000 of funding allocated from the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme to support the delivery of Winter Connections activities for the third Winter. The Winter Connections programme attracted 49 applications for funding from a mix of organisations that had received funding before and some organisations that were new to the Winter Connections programme, with 42 applications approved. 3.2 The programme offers an extensive and varied programme of activities across Renfrewshire, hosted by community groups, including OneRen libraries. These largely ran until March 2025.
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3 3.3 Hosts are asked to sign up to Winter Connections principles, and support was provided to all host organisations including a Winter Connections toolkit, printed materials, information sharing, access to other services such as advice, period products provided for locations. 3.4 There is a continued focus on the promotion of the programme and linked activities across the partnership, with a clear and recognisable Winter Connection identity developed. Information on Winter Connections is available on the Council website, which includes a searchable map function displaying all venues, activities and facilities. Activities were widely promoted through social media, and printed materials have been widely distributed across all towns and villages across Renfrewshire. 3.5 The funding was fully exhausted by December 2024, and the programme has drawn to a close. A number of projects have secured alternative funding to continue their projects moving forward during the year. Implications of the Report 1. Financial – There are no financial implications associated with this report, which provides an overview of the evaluation for Winter Connections. Any recommendations taken forward in future years will be met within the agreed Winter Connections budget. 2. HR & Organisational Development – none 3. Community/Council Planning – The Winter Connections programme supports a number of the key priorities within the Council and Community Plan. 4. Legal - none 5. Property/Assets - none 6. Information Technology - none 7. Equality and Human Rights – The Winter Connections programme is considered to have a positive impact on a wide range of equalities groups. The evaluation considers in detail the effectiveness of the programme in reaching a number of equalities groups. 8. Health and Safety - none 9. Procurement – none 10. Risk – none 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. COSLA Policy Position – none 13. Climate Risk – none
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4 14. Children’s Rights – The Winter Connections programme is considered to have a positive impact on Children’s Rights, with a number of activities targeted at families and providing a range of free and accessible opportunities for children to participate. Author: Annabelle Walter, Connected Communities Manager
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1 An evaluation of the Winter Connections Programme 2024/25 The Winter Connections programme has been an invaluable initiative, providing essential warm spaces, social connection, and well-being activities for older adults during the colder months. We have seen firsthand the difference it has made, particularly for individuals experiencing loneliness, financial hardship, or health challenges. Many participants expressed that these sessions were the highlight of their week, helping them stay active, reduce stress, and feel part of a community. Just Dive In
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 2 Contents 1. Executive Summary ........................................................................... 3 2. About Winter Connections ................................................................. 4 3. Programme Delivery .......................................................................... 8 4. Impact of the Programme ................................................................ 18 5. What did we learn? ........................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6. Conclusions and recommendations ............................................... 32 7. Appendix 1 ....................................................................................... 33
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 3 1. Executive Summary The Winter Connections programme has been running during the winter months since November 2022. The programme has been delivered in partnership with local organisations and 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 has positively contributed to Renfrewshire Council’s continued wider response to the cost-of-living crisis. As a result, in June 2024, £75,000 of funding was allocated from the Fairer Renfrewshire programme to support the delivery of a third year of Winter Connections for 2024/25. 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. Key findings: • Over 2,500 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 a sense of belonging and provided a supportive environment and peer support, which was especially important for people who were feeling isolated. • 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, creating connections with others and with library staff. • Providing free food alongside activities ensured that the programme discretely supported families who are continuing to experience financial hardship. • The programme continues to be an important element of the Council’s approach to tackling the cost-of-living crisis.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 4 2. About Winter Connections 2.1. Background Following a successful Winter Connections programme over the winter of 2023/24, Renfrewshire Council’s Leadership Board allocated £75,000 of funding in June 2024 from the Fairer Renfrewshire programme to run the programme again during 2024/25. 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 49 applications to the programme which were assessed by officers from Renfrewshire Council, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership and Engage Renfrewshire. This process ensured a transparent cross-sector approach that enabled partners to evaluate Winter Connections applications based on knowledge of other available 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 49 applications, 42 were successful, 6 were unsuccessful and one application was withdrawn. Unsuccessful applications were signposted to alternative sources of funding where appropriate. An allocation of £2,155 of this funding was made to One Ren to support the programme and to provide hot drinks, soup, and snacks in all Renfrewshire libraries.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 5 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. A dedicated Winter Connections webpage was set up on the Council’s website with an interactive map displaying 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. 36 organisations returned feedback which has been analysed in the sections below. 2.2. The Winter Connections Programme This year’s programme benefited from a wide range of activities, including line dancing, songwriting, and retro gaming. 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, for example, youth clubs, while others focussed on activities for older people or people from ethnically diverse communities. Organisations often designed their programmes with input from existing members and new participants to ensure that there were activities that appealed to everyone. Rays of Hope found that one of their most popular activities is choir singing. This year the group were invited to sing at some concerts, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their talents, which they really enjoyed.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 6 Activities delivered as part of Winter Connections Creative activities Health and Wellbeing Children and Young People Social activities Practical support Arts & Crafts Playing music and songwriting Nature crafting sessions (making Christmas wreaths and natural hand cream) Drama Sewing Making t-shirts, bags and fridge magnets Football Multi-sensory play Line dancing Swimming/flotation sessions Chair yoga/pilates Choir singing Online Safety workshop Youth club Basic cooking class Retro gaming Arts & crafts Homework/after school club Fun events for Halloween/Christmas Movie afternoon Coffee mornings Quizzes Bingo Trips to the theatre/historic buildings Lunch Club Board games Music Signposting to sources of advice Food provision Access to charge devices Language café Distribution of clothing, period products Provision of laptops and Ipads for people to use Cooking classes IT support Just Dive In delivered activities designed to support older adults, including Warm Water Flotation Sessions in a heated private pool which promoted relaxation, pain relief, and mental well-being. They also provided low-impact swimming sessions designed for mobility support and confidence-building, alongside crafting sessions which encouraged social engagement, creativity, and community-building. The Preshal Trust provided a twice weekly drop-in with a two course hot lunch, hot drinks and biscuits throughout the day. They also provided one-to-one support alongside activities such as cooking sessions, sewing, line dancing, arts and crafts, board games and quizzes.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 7 Renfrew Trinity Church held a colouring-in competition each week with a prize for the winners while Brick Lane Music Academy held an afternoon meet up for musically minded individuals in isolation, in recovery, in hardship or struggling with mental health issues. They provided food and access to music rehearsal studios where participants could practice their music and write songs. Paisley YMCA offered free weekly crafting and making clubs for adults. Participants had the opportunity to make teeshirts and tote bags, using vinyl cutting, heat pressing and fabric paints. They also created fridge magnets and made 3d sculptures by hand. Johnstone Castle Learning Centre provided sessions for children, young people and adults on different days providing a range of activities. We provided youth services which ran over two sessions, a primary and a secondary group 3 evenings per week. These sessions included basic cooking, arts and crafts, pool, games, IT, gaming X-box and PlayStation. We also provided two fun themed events at Halloween and Christmas and offered football sessions in partnership with our local football team and our two community police officers. We provided adult services every Friday with IT support, basic cooking, quizzes and other social activities. We provided a food pantry to help families. Johnstone Castle Learning Centre In some cases simply the opportunity to attend a warm and welcoming space with hot drinks, snacks and food and optional activities or a common interest encouraged friendly conversation, connections with others and an opportunity to be included and supported. Projects also offered practical support in the form of advice and signposting, distribution of clothing and food and inviting guest speakers from a range of organisations to provide information on different topics. A list of the funded host organisations delivering Winter Connections activities can be found in Appendix 1.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 8 3. Programme Delivery 3.1. Promoting Activities Renfrewshire Council’s Communications and Marketing team promoted the Winter Connections programme through print and social media, including a poster distribution across Renfrewshire. Information about the programme was posted on Facebook, shared into more than 50 Facebook groups and included in the Council’s email newsletters across the winter period. Renfrewshire Council also issued a media release which was also available on the website and posted on X. Organisations used many different channels to promote their Winter Connections activities. Like last year, the most common way for residents to find out about activities was through social media (72% of respondents) and word of mouth (58% of respondents). How did people find out about your Winter Connections project? Method of information Number* % Social media 26 72 Word of mouth 21 58 Posters / flyers 15 42 Contact database/people attending other activities/Whatsapp groups 13 37 Other organisations e.g. church/sheltered housing/school 9 26 Referral from another organisation 5 14 Village or park notice boards 3 9 * out of a total of 36 responses. Note: All respondents provided more than one answer to this question I put a post on social media & word of mouth – both classes filled quickly so I couldn’t put up my posters as I was full!. Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 9 The New Tannahill Centre shared information about their Winter Connections project at a networking breakfast which included local partners, such as schools and nurseries. CREATE Paisley did targeted outreach in the local high schools and Johnstone Castle Learning Centre worked with the local primary school to take referrals. Shopmobility Renfrewshire and Inchinnan Development Trust let all of their members know about the upcoming activities via a newsletter and the Thursday Club advertised in the local shops. Other organisations promoted their activities through Engage Renfrewshire and Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust. Many organisations advertised their activities to existing members who spread the word and brought along friends and family. We used a variety of outreach methods to ensure that older adults in the community were aware of the Winter Warmth and Wellbeing initiative. Many attendees were referred by friends, family, or previous participants who had benefited from our other programs. We shared details about the project via Facebook, community group pages, and our website, which helped reach a wider audience. We distributed printed materials in local community centres, libraries, and shops, targeting areas where older adults regularly visit. Local organisations, including health and social care teams, charities, and older adult support groups, referred individuals who could benefit from the sessions.This multi-channel approach ensured that we reached those who needed it most, particularly individuals at risk of isolation, poor mental health, or mobility challenges. Just Dive In Winter Connections branded posters were provided, however, many organisations created their own posters and distributed these throughout their local communities to promote their activities. Posters went up around the community in local businesses and shops. This was helpful for reaching people who may not be online.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 10 3.2. What worked well? There were a number of factors that contributed to the success of the programme this year. The provision of free activities alongside a hot meal or drink continued to encourage people to go along to venues. Erskine Arts were delighted to be able to offer free, fresh and healthy soup every week which their participants looked forward to. Without the Winter Connections funding they would not have been able to make this offer. Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde found that the hot food offering was particularly welcomed in areas identified as having higher rates of child poverty. We know how important groups are for both new and existing families especially over the Winter months. Winter can often prove more isolating for families with short days, winter bugs, increased heating costs. Our new outreach Group in Gallowhill, developed in partnership with the Whole Family Wellbeing project, has been well attended and has raised awareness of Home-Start’s service, increasing the numbers of families we now support in this area. Home-Start Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Equally important, however, was the creation of a community of friendship and support that was available locally. Organisations reported that activities provided a great way to connect with other people and meet new people in a safe warm environment. Many of the activities that were provided offered support to improve physical activity and mental health and wellbeing.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 11 I think having it easily accessible in the McKillop hall was great – central to the village, the sense of connection that was established was phenomenal as they were all new to chair yoga, they were surprised themselves by the difference it has made to their balance, to their stiff joints, circulation & mental wellbeing. Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust The warm water flotation and swimming sessions were particularly well received, as they offered pain relief, relaxation, and confidence-building in a way that traditional exercise often does not. The activities were accessible for those with limited mobility, disabilities, and chronic pain, ensuring everyone felt included and supported. Just Dive In Dates-n-Mates making Halloween crafts It’s also evident from the feedback that people were interested in attending because they had the opportunity to try a new activity and to learn something. Participants enjoyed activities that also provided a skill, for example cooking and having access to equipment that was not available at home, for example IT equipment.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 12 For our youth services the basic cooking was a great success as it taught the participants transferable skills that they could use at home and many reported that they didn’t get a chance to cook at home. And the use of our IT equipment was a great as many of our young people have no access to internet or equipment at home. Johnstone Castle Learning Centre Young people baking at Johnstone Castle Learning Centre The progamme also helped to address social isolation by bringing together people with similar interests and providing opportunities to be creative. We offered a wide range of activities to bring young people together. These included creative activities such as art and craft, ceramics and jewellery making, creative writing, dance and singing, as well as provided snacks, drinks and a warm, welcoming space where young people can meet friends and get advice from supportive adults. CREATE Paisley The participants have really benefited from meeting like minded people/musicians with similar personal issues and looked forward to meeting up on weekly basis. Brick Lane Music Academy Organisations consistently reported about the communities of people that had been created, the sense of community and how important the activities were in developing friendships. For many older adults it gave them their only weekly social contact with friends in a relaxed and safe environment. Many attendees expressed how valuable it was to have a comfortable, heated environment where they could socialise and stay active, particularly during winter when isolation increases. The crafting sessions and tea/coffee chats encouraged friendships and social engagement, reducing loneliness and improving mental well-being. Just Dive In
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 13 The Preshal Trust found that participants enjoyed the relaxed environment where there was no pressure to take part in activities. Shopmobility Renfrewshire were able to recruit some new volunteers through the programme and also increased their membership by having the opportunity to promote the diversity of their service. The New Tannahill Centre also engaged more volunteers to become part of their café system. Organisations also reported that, because they were already part of larger networks, the programme was essential in guiding people to specific areas of support that they were not able to provide. In addition many organisations invited guest speakers from other support services along to talk to their participants, providing information and advice on a range of topics. Each week, we served hot soup with bread and butter, and created a social space for women+ to connect. There were optional activities available including a scrapbook to collage recipes, colouring books and food related puzzles. We also had services attending including Voice Ability x2, RACA, Pachedu, Digital Champions (libraries) and Social Security Scotland. Women+ were able to access our free shop and pantry, contraception, period products and refreshments. We were pleased to see so many women+ engaging in the project over the winter period, benefitting from our transport fund (especially for disabled women+) and providing a great voluntary opportunity. Kairos Women+ When asked if there was anything that they would change about the programme, 16 of the 32 organisations that responded stated that they would not change anything. Suggestions made by the remaining organisations are discussed below. Half of the organisations that responded would like to include additional activities, to take young people on trips or expand their service offer to add an extra session. Demand for warm water flotation and gentle swimming was higher than anticipated, and some participants expressed interest in attending more frequently. With additional funding, we could offer extra sessions to accommodate more people. While crafting and social sessions were well received, offering additional relaxation activities (such as guided meditation or storytelling) could further enhance the experience. Just Dive In
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 14 Almost a fifth of organisations would like to see additional funding being made available. This would enable them to include additional activities, or to provide extra staffing to be able to reach more people given that there was no shortage of demand for most activities. Many organisations were also keen to continue the programme beyond the winter period and additional funding would enable them to extend their Winter Connections Programme. We are very grateful the Winter Connections support to our service and wish it was all year round. We have received this funding over the past few years and it remains a vital part of our funding which isn’t taken for granted. With increased competition for funding we have limited reserves that would not allow for us to offer families food without this. Home-Start Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Additional funding for transport was also suggested, with a few organisations reporting that attendance would have been higher if they were able to offer support with transport. Some older adults, particularly those with mobility challenges, found it difficult to travel to sessions in colder weather. A transport partnership or funding for travel assistance would help increase accessibility. Since winter challenges extend beyond March, continuing the programme for an extra month could help sustain the positive impact.. Just Dive In Rainbow Buddies would change the time of their club to ensure the safety of the young people attending. We would also change the timings of the club going forward as a number of our young people walk home themselves after receiving their dinner we had concerns with how dark it was during the winter months. Renfrewshire Rainbow Buddies
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 15 Houston Community Council film show Active Communities said they would change the name of their project. We met someone who wanted to come but thought it sounded too much like a soup kitchen they didn't want people thinking they needed free food. This demonstrates the importance of providing clear information in the promotion of the Winter Connections programme that the aim is to encourage people to connect and participate in activities in warm and welcoming spaces across communities in Renfrewshire. 3.3. 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 25. Activities for younger people and older people were especially popular. Houston Community Council’s film showings hosted 50 people at one of their weekly events, Foxbar Elderly Forum regularly had between 40 and 45 participants while The Thursday Club in Glenburn attracted between 85 and 87 participants each week.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 16 Lochwinnoch Youth Drop In attracted an average of 28 young people per session, while Pachedu averaged around 32 attendees per session. Twist and Hit Cheerleaders had 87 new sign ups for their youth club. On average, 8 to 12 people attended each session. Attendance varied depending on weather conditions and personal circumstances, but overall, sessions were consistently well attended with many participants returning each week. With increased capacity and additional transport support, we believe attendance could have been even higher, as demand exceeded availability for certain sessions. Just Dive In Young people’s cooking class at Johnstone Castle Learning Centre From October 2024-March 2025, 22 sessions with 285 attendances and 485 soup portions served. There have been 218 volunteer hours given to the project with a team of 7 volunteers rotating each week. Additionally, 13 new women+ have joined the group. Kairos Women+
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 17 From the 36 responses received, it is estimated that over 2,500 different people benefited from the Winter Connections programme. Given that there were 42 projects participating in the programme this year, this number will be considerably higher. Activities were open to everyone but inevitably certain activities attracted particular demographics. For example, coffee mornings and bingo were more likely to attract a mix of older people, youth clubs were obviously targeted towards children and young people, while fitness classes and creative activities appealed more to women. Of the 36 projects who provided feedback for this question, just over two thirds stated that it was mainly women who attended activities, while over half of all projects appealed to older people. Wreath making was mostly women with one man joining the fun. The ages ranged from 25 to 85. Mostly from Inchinnan, Erskine, Bishopton and Renfrew. Inchinnan Development Trust Who attended your Winter Connections project? Number of projects* % Women 24 67 Older People 19 54 Men 17 47 Children 12 33 Young people / teenagers 9 26 People from ethnically diverse communities 8 22 Families 7 21 People from other geographical areas in Renfrewshire 7 20 People with a disability 4 11 *out of a total of 36 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 Shopmobility Renfrewshire’s project was aimed at anyone with a mobility disability and their carers as well as the general public. Just over a fifth of projects, (22%) drew in people from ethnically diverse communities compared with 30% last year. Just over a quarter of projects (26%) attracted young people / teenagers.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 18 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. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive with organisations highlighting several impacts from the programme. Overall, the combination of physical activity, relaxation, creativity, and social connection made this programme a valuable and meaningful experience for participants. Just Dive In A majority of those who completed feedback forms agreed that the programme activities had supported participants by connecting them to each other, with 97% of organisations reporting this benefit. According to 97% of organisations the programme also contributed to reducing social isolation and encouraging new people to engage with the organisation, while 94% stated that the programme had benefited people by creating a sense of belonging to the local community. The provision of fun activities was considered beneficial for participants by 89% of organisations. Other perceived benefits were reducing financial costs and providing access to information/advice (80% of respondents each), helping people to learn about a new service in their area (75%) and providing the opportunity to learn something new (75%). Benefit to people attending activities Number of projects* % Connecting people to each other 35 97 Reducing social isolation 35 97 Encouraging new people to engage with the project/organisation 35 97 Creating a sense of belonging to the local community/neighbourhood? 34 94 Providing fun activities 32 89 Reducing financial costs 29 80 Providing access to information/advice 29 80 Helping people to learn about a new service in their local area 27 75 Providing the opportunity to learn something new 27 75 Providing entertainment for children 14 39 * out of a total of 36 responses
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 19 Reducing Social Isolation The programme had a significant impact on reducing social isolation by connecting people to each other through warm, welcoming spaces, shared interests, interesting activities and hot food. People were brought together who would not otherwise have met and, for Pachedu’s participants the environment was helpful in connecting new Scots with each other. It has created a safe and welcoming space for young people and new Scots to interact and socialise, helping to prevent isolation. The provision of warm food and valuable information has been immensely helpful to many of the young people, ensuring they feel supported and connected. Pachedu Just Dive In found that for many participants the group was their only regular social activity and the crafting sessions created a friendly, welcoming space where people could chat and build friendships. One participant commented "This group has been a lifesaver. I was feeling really isolated this winter, but now I have something to look forward to every week. The warm water helps my arthritis, and I’ve made new friends too." Feedback from Friends of Howwood Park’s Tuesday Club shows the extent to which participants have relied on the club to get them out of the house and interacting with other people during the winter months. Participants were sad to see the project coming to an end, especially as it coincided with a lot of social activities in the village coming to an end at the same time. A decision was taken to continue running the Tuesday Club on a monthly basis to keep it 'ticking over' until the Winter Connections funding reopens. The numbers of people attending Inchinnan Development Trust’s nature crafting sessions increase every year and people look forward to the activities. Similarly in Houston, the Community Council’s film showings at the Carrick Centre had increasing numbers attending each time and they have decided to self-fund beyond the winter period to maintain momentum.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 20 We have learned from the project that social isolation is an increasing issue in our community. With people commuting from Houston for work and entertainment those who are getting older and not so able to travel are finding they don’t know people in the local community and are becoming more isolated. Houston Community Council People arriving for Houston Community Council film show Johnstone Dementia Friendly Community Group reported that the funding had enabled them to continue to provide “quality activity, friendship and uplifting moments”, while Rays of Hope used a 12 seater table to encourage everyone to talk to each other and saw “lovely new friendships rise from the dust.” Participants at Howwood Community Council’s social get-together described it as the highlight of their week. The Winter Connections programme aims every year to provide an activity in as many areas of Renfrewshire as possible and it seems that this is an important aspect of the success of the programme. The fact that activities are local and people do not have to travel far to access the programme is key to participation, particularly given that activities take place during winter when people are more reluctant to go out. Friends of Howwood Park commented that if their project was not local then most people would not attend. Improving physical and mental health The programme included many activities that contributed to the improvement of participants physical and mental health and wellbeing, for example fitness classes, creative sessions and activities designed to reduce anxiety and physical pain.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 21 Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust delivered a series of Winter Wellbeing workshops which included gentle physical movement, nutrition advice and mental wellness coaching tips. All participants reported improved physical and mental wellbeing, improved sleep, balance and co-ordination after attending the workshops and many continued to practice at home using recordings of the meditations that they had used. For me, I've struggled for years with effects of psoriatic arthritis which has greatly effected my confidence and mobility. Today, in class, I suddenly found myself doing deep knee lunges!!! Oh my days...been years since I've been able to do that! I'm now 'lunge-fantastic', which means I can start, slowly, building up lost muscle mass. Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust yoga class participant Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust Chair Yoga Class Shopmobility Renfrewshire found that their crafting sessions served as a boost to those who attended and increased their confidence and ability to get out and about despite having mobility disabilities. Langbank Swingpark Regeneration commented that the Get Active sessions delivered for children had resulted in calmer and more focussed behaviour in school the day after the sessions. Just Dive reported that their participants had found their sessions to be hugely beneficial for both physical and mental well-being.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 22 The warm water flotation and swimming sessions provided stress relief, reduced anxiety, and boosted mood, especially for those experiencing seasonal depression or chronic pain. Participants reported feeling calmer and more positive after sessions. Low-impact aquatic activities helped those with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and mobility challenges, improving flexibility, reducing pain, and increasing confidence in movement. Just Dive In Crafting at Just Dive In CREATE Paisley and Brick Lane Music Academy provided a creative space for people to enjoy new company and friendships through a shared interest, such as music or art. These creative activities also helped to improve mental health and wellbeing through learning a new skill, building confidence and making social connections. Renfrewshire Effort to Empower Minorities also found that their Weekly Community Café Sessions and workshops increased confidence and offered the opportunity to learn new skills through bringing people from different generations, backgrounds, and experiences together in the local community.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 23 Feedback from parents and guardians of children attending the Renfrewshire Rainbow Buddies youth club suggests that the funding has had a positive impact by “providing a safe warm area within the community to allow young people to socialise, be safe and learn/ take part in a range of activities and skill based work, for example sewing.” Raising awareness of what organisations deliver and signposting An important impact of the programme was in raising awareness of services and how they can support people. The projects not only delivered activities and provided free, hot food but also served as information hubs, signposting people to other services that were needed and creating an environment for informal peer support between individuals who attended. Renfrew YMCA reported that a big impact of the programme had been the provision of a safe environment where people could approach organisations that could assist them with any challenges they had. The spaces also offered an insight into challenges faced by participants which led to Friends of Howwood Park inviting along guest speakers to discuss different topics with their participants. We had a speaker from Virgin Money do a talk on financial scams and how to avoid them. We discussed and are looking into using MyBus for some of the older attendees, who are at the stage of being unable to leave the house without assistance. Friends of Howwood Park
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 24 Crafting session at Shopmobility Renfrewshire Ralston Out of School Care found that the project provided a link to their service for people who had not used it before, while participants at Shopmobility Renfrewshire’s crafting sessions gained more understanding of their services and how they could be supported. Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde were able to use their referral partnerships with community organisations to benefit the families they worked with. Home-Start has strong referral partnerships with community organisations and connect our families with financial assistance and benefit advice while also guiding them towards training, volunteering, and job opportunities to support improved outcomes and their capacity to develop their own solutions. Home-Start Renfrewshire & Inverclyde
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 25 CREATE Paisley commented that the Winter Connections programme was a great way for them to signpost the young people they work with to other positive places and activities for them across the winter period. Reducing costs for individuals and families Feedback from Winter Connections projects highlights the continued importance of the programme in helping to address the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis. The programme helped to reduce the financial burden on families and individuals and contributed to tackling food insecurity. The New Tannahill Centre reported that people were shocked that activities and hot food were free of charge. The need for a breakfast club had recently been identified among their service users and the programme enabled them to try this out and they will now be continuing this throughout the year. Older people attending Paisley YMCA’s ‘Cosy Crafts at the Y’ project stated that they felt there was no where they could go to enjoy some crafts and a cup of tea without spending money as most places were beyond their budgets. The Thursday Club reported that their membership numbers usually decline when the weather is bad but people turned up because they knew they were getting a hot lunch. Shopmobility Renfrewshire also believed that the access to hot food and drinks helped to maintain attendance. Every Tuesday for the last six weeks they know they will get something to eat and drink - we offered packs of food which was uneaten to take away and there was never a scrap left. Shopmobility Renfrewshire The programme provided free hot nutritious meals and, some organisations, including Kairos Women+, KLAS Care and Active Communities also provided access to free or affordable food items through their free shops and food pantry.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 26 Friends of Howwood Park managed to secure funding from Greater Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Local Action Group (GRI LAG) to give each person attending the Tuesday Club a bag of food shopping to take home at the end of each meet, for the last 8 weeks of the club. Each bag contained around £10 worth of cupboard foods such as tea bags, pasta, beans, soup, biscuits, breakfast cereal, pasta sauces etc. This is to help them with the cost of living. Not surprisingly, the attendees have loved this! So the 2 funds have crossed over here, which is great. We probably would not have recieved the funding to do this had the Tuesday Club not been running. Friends of Howwood Park Feedback from Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde participants highlights the importance of this provision and the discrete manner in which it was provided. Winter Connections has become a key part of providing additional support to help families experiencing financial hardship alongside a raft of other organisations and programmes. Families have advised that being able to attend a warm environment and receiving a hot meal took pressure off their own financial costs. The winter months are particularly difficult, and parents are having to choose to eat or heat their homes. Parents have confided in our staff that by coming to group for a few hours per week they are not having to heat their home and having both themselves and their child fed, without worry, makes a huge impact to their week. Home-Start Renfrewshire & Inverclyde "I always forget to eat or avoid eating due to costs. This means I get something and my daughter gets the roll she loves that I couldn't always get her. I love this it feels like a treat because more often than not most families can't afford it.” Home-Start Renfrewshire & Inverclyde group participant
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 27 “For a few hours I’m there I’m not having to worry about heating my home or what we will eat. It seems small but makes a big difference to me.” Home-Start Renfrewshire & Inverclyde group participant It is clear that the overall impact of the Winter Connections programme was positive and that many people benefited from participating. There were a range of impacts on physical and mental health, social isolation, reducing costs and increasing awareness of services. These benefits are nicely summed up in a comment from The Preshal Trust. Winter Connections gave them a place to come to which was welcoming, warm and free and where they could meet others in a similar situation and not feel judged. It reduced isolation for many, enabled them to make new friends and connections, and assisted with the cost of living as all food and drink was free. It also gave them the chance to take part in some fun activities and overall the whole experience improved their overall health and wellbeing. The Preshal Trust Painting pictures at Jubilee House Having seen the many positive benefits of the programme for their members and communities, many organisations wish to continue delivering the programme beyond the winter months. Just Dive In are looking for other funding to help them to continue their sessions during Spring and Summer. Houston Community Council found their film show events to be so successful that they intend continuing them through the year and will self fund and seek local sponsorship to continue through the additional months.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 28 Ralston Out of School Care Winter Connections Project Ralston Out of School Care received funding to run a drama club which culminated in a show for family and friends of the children particpating. The club ran from the end of January until the show in mid March 2025. The club was advertised through sending emails to parents of children in the school and through social media posts. They were hoping to attract 30 children but ended up with 48 children and had to turn away another 11. The club ran on Monday and Fridays from 3pm to 4.30pm. The funding enabled them to commission Upbeat Theatre Company, a social enterprise they had worked with previously to work with the children. Upbeat Theatre Company organised the scripts, costumes, scenery, pictures and makeup and were brilliant at keeping the children focused and offered additional support such as changing lines, providing extra scripts and additional opportunities to rehearse. A very professional show was performed on the stage in the school hall on a Friday afternoon to 115 people to very positive feedback from the audience. The club and show were extremely successful both in term of numbers attending and the outcomes of increasing skills and confidence of the children. Ralston OSC would like to try to obtain funding to do another show and involve parents and staff alongside Upbeat Theatre Company. The positive feedback from parents demonstrates that participating in the drama club and final show was beneficial for their children, even the youngest ones. Many parents would like their children to have the opportunity to participate in another show in the future and some even offered their services to help. My son’s confidence definitely grew throughout his time at the club - he got stage fright during his nativity last year and ran off stage, so he was extra nervous for this show. He absolutely smashed it though, and I know that's down to all the encouragement from yourselves so thank you very much. The performance was fantastic and it was great to see all the age groups included. All the children were wonderful. It is great for their confidence to have these opportunities. My son
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 29 met new friends and really loved having a costume and being part of a show with ‘big boys and girls’. Thank you very much for giving him this amazing experience. This club was amazing - so good to boost confidence and have a new experience that a 5 year old wouldn’t usually get!! It was so well done and my son had a great timing learning the lines and songs!! My daughter loved being a part of the show. There was a variety for her to be part of singing, acting and dancing. I feel it's a fantastic way to explore child's interest. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed being part of the show. It was an amazing show, choreographed so well. Would love to be part of more such shows. The best part about being children exploring different avenues, singing, acting, dancing. Love it. Feedback from Renfrewshire Libraries Feedback from libraries suggests that the hot drinks and snacks they provided were popular with children and adults alike. Providing hot drinks for visitors encouraged them to stay longer in the library and socialise with others. At Johnstone Library staff were happy to see the free hot drinks return to the libraries and could see the positive impact it had on visitors. It’s something so simple and we all take for granted to go home from work to a warm house and can have tea/coffee whenever we want. One young man who was recovering from addictions said that he felt safe in the library. They reported that a group of four boys came in everyday after school for a hot chocolate and played chess. At Linwood Library several people came in specifically for a hot drink. Staff commented that the service was very well-used and definitely missed when supplies ran out. They had people asking for some time after it finished if it would be starting again. One man in particular would come at the same time in the morning, make a coffee and read the paper. It basically became part of his routine. He then started coming in with a friend who would also have a drink and they would spend time talking together or reading the papers, when before they never spent much time in the library, if at all.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 30 At Lochwinnoch Library the hot drinks were popular with those using the library as a study- space or simply as somewhere to read the paper and books available and pass a little time in a welcoming space, no questions asked. Over winter, there were a group of older ladies who came to the library every week after their Tai Chi lessons. They would spend the rest of the morning until lunchtime having drinks and cup-a-soups and chatting, clearly enjoying the social interaction and refreshments. The funding also helped to provide more social interaction for families after schools. Parents and guardians would come after school with their children and whilst the children picked books / played etc., the adults would spend the time talking over cups of tea and coffee. Sometimes such interactions would be a planned event (“Let’s meet at the library just after 3 o’clock”) or other times a happy coincidence and a chance to catchup. Erskine Library staff felt that the hot drinks were a huge benefit to the service and also found that for many of their visitors, the hot drinks became part of their routine to pop into the library to read the paper, have a hot drink and a chat with other users. 4.2. Areas for improvement Of the 34 projects that responded to a question about where the Winter Connections programme could be improved, 47% felt that the programme did not need any improvements. The remaining projects suggested the following: Promotion of the programme • Advertise through schools and other organisations • Direct engagement with community health teams, carers' networks, and sheltered housing groups could ensure more people in need are aware of the programme • Having a centralised approach to promotion and outreach support, for example, a Renfrewshire-wide awareness campaign including council newsletters, GP referrals, and community group engagement to reach those most in need.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 31 Additional Funding An increase in the funding for the programme would enable organisations to extend the life of the programme, reach more people, provide additional sessions per week, provide similar activities all year round, cover additional staffing costs and provide funding for trips for young people to learn about their environment and to participate in outdoor activities. In many cases demand for sessions was high, but funding constraints limited how many people could be supported. Additional funding to extend the programme beyond March would allow organisations to continue delivering support into early spring, when isolation and cold weather challenges persist. A key takeaway from this programme is the ongoing demand for such services beyond winter. Isolation and accessibility challenges do not end in March, and we believe there is a strong case for extending or adapting Winter Connections into a year-round initiative, with targeted seasonal support. Just Dive In Funding for travel assistance or partnerships with community transport services could also increase the accessibility of activities. Many older adults and individuals with mobility challenges struggled to attend due to lack of transport options. 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. Direct links to other services There was a suggestion from one project that links to free or affordable healthy food would be useful and another suggested that perhaps the Council could negotiate a deal with a major supermarket for free healthy food. This suggestion has been passed to Officers working on Fair Food Renfrewshire. Another suggestion was to broaden out the range of activities to improve mental health and wellbeing, for example having guided meditation or the opportunity for participants to engage with mental health specialists regularly to improve outcomes. Howwood Community Council thought that it was useful having guest speakers along to talk about different topics and they would like to have more of these in the future.
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 32 Networking and collaboration Some organisations were keen to network with other funded projects to share good practice and suggested the following: • Facilitating regular check-ins or networking sessions between funded organisations to encourage collaboration and shared learning • Sharing what other groups are doing well to give others ideas on what they could add to their activities 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 connecting them to each other and improving physical and mental health and wellbeing. There is also evidence that the programme provides an inclusive and supportive environment for people to engage with services, helping to reduce social isolation, reduce financial costs and provide access to information and advice. The activities on offer were enjoyed by all ages and allowed access to new experiences, increasing confidence and enabling participants to learn new skills. The programme continues to be an important element in the Council’s approach to addressing the cost-of-living crisis. Whilst the programme has been a great success, the areas for improvement around promotion, networking, links to other services and additional funding should be noted. I feel the Winter Connections has had a huge impact on our community it has helped tackle issues such as loneliness & isolation. Our services have also helped to prevent the escalation of poor mental health , anti-social behaviour and youth disorder, alcohol and drug misuse within young people. Our food pantry has helped alleviate food deprivation caused by the cause of living crisis and this has helped the families using our service in a financial manner. Johnstone Castle Learning Centre
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Winter Connections Evaluation Report 2025 33 6. Appendix 1 Organisations which hosted Winter Connections activity Active Communities Scotland Ltd Loud n Proud Brick Lane Music Academy CIC Pachedu CREATE Paisley Paisley North Church of Scotland Dates-n-Mates Paisley YMCA Erskine Arts Ralston Primary Out of School Care Friends of Howwood Park Rays of Hope Foxbar Elderly Forum Renfrewshire Effort to Empower Minorities (REEM) Home-Start Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Renfrewshire Rainbow Buddies Houston Community Council Renfrew Trinity Church Howwood Community Council Renfrew YMCA SCIO Inchinnan Development Trust ROAR – Connections for Life Ltd Johnstone Castle Learning Centre School of African Cultures Johnstone Dementia Friendly Community Group Scottish Afro Caribbean Arts Association (SACAA) Jubilee House Shopmobility Renfrewshire Just Dive In CIC STAR Project Kairos Women+ The Bungalow KLAS Care CIC The Tannahill Centre Langbank Swingpark Regeneration The Thursday Club Linwood Community Council The Preshal Trust Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust Twist and Hit Cheerleaders Lochwinnoch Dodge Ball Club and Drop In
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34 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.