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A fund which supports young people to create, design and deliver projects in Renfrewshire is opening for applications.

Celebrating Renfrewshire is a fund designed by and for young people, giving those aged 12-25 a direct say on which projects are funded in their communities.

As part of the planning process for this year, young people across Renfrewshire were engaged in a consultation process to identify the issues that matter most to them to help shape priorities for future funding decisions.

Throughout this process, young people delivered a consistent message about what matters most to them. While a wide range of issues were identified, five priorities emerged as particularly important and will form the priorities for 2026/27.

The priorities for 2026/27 are:

• Physical and Mental health and wellbeing
• Safety in schools and communities
• Cost of living
• Improving Youth and Community spaces
• More things to do

Applicants can apply for up to £3,500 to deliver activities within a single Local Partnership Area.

Through consultation with local partners and young people, three areas were identified with limited youth provision. To help increase opportunities for young people in these communities, a higher level of funding is available for projects delivered in these areas.  Applicants proposing activities within The Villages, Gleniffer or Paisley East may apply for up to £5,000 per application.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday 8 September. Young people will then have the opportunity to vote for the projects they wish to see delivered in their area between 12 October and 9 November.

One of the successful funding applications from last year was Erskine Arts who received £3,231 from the fund to provide inclusive creative workshops for young people with Additional Support Needs (ASN), their siblings and their families, creating opportunities for shared participation rather than separate activities.  It aimed to address the cost of living pressures and social isolation felt by families of young people with ASN. They achieved this through creative workshops, specialist dance and movement sessions, sensory musical instruments and movement equipment sessions.

Jason Watson, Community Development Manager at Erskine Arts said “This project has benefited our community by providing a rare, barrier-free space where families could engage in creative expression together. This has given parents the tools and confidence to integrate creativity into their everyday lives, ensuring that the benefits of the workshops extend far beyond the sessions themselves.”

To apply for the Celebrating Renfrewshire fund, applicants must attend a support session ahead of receiving the application form. Information on support sessions and further assistance is available on the council website at https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/celebrating-renfrewshire-fund

Councillor Bruce MacFarlane, Renfrewshire Council’s Young Person’s Champion, said, “The Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund gives young people a real opportunity to influence what projects they want to see in their communities.”

“Young people are key to the success of Celebrating Renfrewshire, it is their ideas that are brought forward and voted on to make their communities a better place to live.”

“I would encourage anyone who has an idea, no matter how big or small, to reach out to the team who can help with the application process. I look forward to seeing the successes once more from Celebrating Renfrewshire.”