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Money to support families and young people through the sustained higher cost of living has been committed by Renfrewshire Council.
The Fairer Renfrewshire programme has been allocated an additional £1.3million at the Council’s recent budget setting meeting.
The money will fund initiatives that have been proven to help people keep more money in their pockets, such as:
- continuing the £50 winter school clothing payment to all families with eligible children
- continuing family advice initiative Schools Support Service and Welfare Rights Advocacy by funding Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau
- continuing the Winter Connections programme that brings communities together and reduces social isolation
- topping up the discretionary housing payments with an additional £200,000
- topping up the Scottish Welfare Fund with an additional £600,000.
The Council has been successful in bidding for more than £115,000 of funding from Scottish Government’s Child Poverty Accelerator Fund. This money will allow the Council and partners to pilot new approaches to connect families with the support they need quicker through better use of existing data they hold. This support includes income maximisation, employability help, cost of living advice and family wellbeing services.
Renfrewshire’s children and families will also benefit from an upgraded Skoobmobile. The replacement and fit out of a new vehicle will be funded through the £300,000 allocated in the Council budget. The new model will continue delivery of literacy and play opportunities in local communities.
Continued play park investment will also support children and families to enjoy outdoor spaces across Renfrewshire.
Support to help people get online was also boosted with a further £20,000 to support DigiZones across the area and the annual DigiKnowVember campaign.
Changes to adult non-residential social care have been frozen so that those who are eligible to pay will not have to face any increases this year.
Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, Depute Leader of Renfrewshire Council and Chair of the Fairer Renfrewshire sub-committee, said: “Doing everything we can to support local people with the ongoing pressures of the cost of living remains our top priority. That’s why we are investing in the Fairer Renfrewshire programme to fund initiatives we know are making a difference to people.
“Getting free impartial advice, having money to pay for winter clothing, and providing free activities to help keep people connected are all things that matter to Renfrewshire families and households. This investment will make a meaningful difference to people’s day-to-day lives and help communities to live well and thrive.”
Alana Forsyth, CEO of Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau, said: “Our advisers see first-hand every single day how challenging the continued higher cost of living has been for local people. The welcome continuation of these advice initiatives will have a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of families across Renfrewshire. We know that having access to free, impartial advice, makes a significant difference in helping families to improve their financial situation and avoid crisis.
“Renfrewshire CAB will continue to deliver in-person access to advice and support right in the heart of communities, ensuring local people have the best opportunity to live well. I’d encourage anyone who wants to talk to an adviser to make an appointment.”
People can make an appointment for advice with Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau or the Council’s Advice Works team.
