A new grant programme is being developed to help underrepresented groups influence council services in Renfrewshire.
The Renfrewshire Voices programme would provide funding to organisations led by or working with equality groups.
Details were discussed at the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee meeting held online on Wednesday 2nd September 2026.
The council said gaps in its information were making it harder to understand the needs and experiences of some groups.
Funding would allow organisations to gather and share people’s experiences and identify barriers affecting them.
The findings would then be connected to council services and decision-making.
Councillor Graeme Clark asked how the programme would reach communities which do not have established local organisations.
He said: “There are areas that have got a voice and have developed local plans, but there are areas that have not been able to develop a local plan because there are no community groups.
“A lot of them are poor areas or areas where the poverty figures are higher, and we need to make sure that their voices are being heard as well across the council.”
Officers said the initial focus would be on communities of interest, including cultural and ethnic minority groups.
They said separate work was taking place to hear from different geographical communities.
Full proposals for the grant programme will be brought before the council’s Leadership Board.