Renfrewshire Council approves extra £585,000 to tackle poverty and inequality

An extra £585,000 has been set aside to bolster Renfrewshire Council efforts to tackle poverty and inequality against the backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis.

Elected members agreed the sum should be added to the £450,000 already allocated to the Fairer Renfrewshire war chest for 2025/26 during the budget process.

The move was approved at the leadership board on Wednesday as councillors discussed initiatives that support those who are struggling in a difficult financial climate.

Depute council leader Jacqueline Cameron, who is also chair of the Fairer Renfrewshire sub-committee, said at the meeting: “I’m really delighted to see that we can continue these projects.

“We know from previous feedback what a difference it can make in people’s lives and [there’s been] some really positive outcomes from relatively small pots of funding.”

The SNP politician, who represents Johnstone South and Elderslie, paid tribute to the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel – a group of people with lived experience of poverty that informs local policymaking – at the summit.

She added: “I just wanted to highlight again the work of the lived experience panel.

“They really do go from strength to strength and you can see their footprint and their influence in various departments across the council and HSCP.

“They’ve even been visiting national forums to talk about lived experience and how people with lived experience can shape services in a really meaningful way.

“I’m always really proud of the work that they do and think it’s important to highlight that.”

The additional funding will support measures ranging from the continued provision of a free breakfast service in targeted primary schools and cost of the school day fund to sustaining OneRen’s mobile library service and the council’s energy management unit.

It will also go towards the wider programme and staffing costs required to coordinate it and progress its priorities in the current financial year.

According to a report to the board, among the aims are continuing to explore “place-based approaches” to helping low-income households and mapping provision of money advice across Renfrewshire.

Senior officials also want to explore opportunities and new developments relating to breakfast clubs across Renfrewshire and nationally to “identify best practice and learning”.

The paper said: “Officers have been developing a Fairer Renfrewshire programme for 2025/26, reviewing existing programmes of activity across 2024/25, and informed by discussions at the Fairer Renfrewshire sub-committee and relevant partnership groups.

“The proposed programme also reflects the specific commitments agreed as part of the approval of the council’s budget.”