A fund which gives young people a say on projects in their communities is opening for applications across Renfrewshire.
Celebrating Renfrewshire supports young people aged 12 to 25 to create, design and deliver projects in their local areas.
Young people across Renfrewshire were consulted to identify the issues which matter most to them and help set the priorities for the 2026/27 fund.
Five priorities were identified: physical and mental health and wellbeing, safety in schools and communities, the cost of living, improving youth and community spaces, and providing more things to do.
Applicants can apply for up to £3,500 to deliver activities within a single Local Partnership Area.
A higher level of funding is available for projects in The Villages, Gleniffer and Paisley East after consultation with local partners and young people identified limited youth provision in these areas.
Projects in these three areas can apply for up to £5,000.
Applications close on Tuesday 8th September. Young people will then be able to vote for the projects they want to see delivered in their area between 12th October and 9th November.
Erskine Arts was among the successful applicants last year and received £3,231.
The funding was used to provide inclusive creative workshops for young people with Additional Support Needs (ASN), their siblings and families.
The project aimed to address cost of living pressures and social isolation 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.”
Applicants must attend a support session before receiving an application form.
Information about the sessions and further help with applications is available on the Renfrewshire Council website.
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.”