Young people are set to create, design and deliver projects in Renfrewshire thanks to a fund which aims to make the area a better place to live for young people.
Applications for the Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund – by young people, for young people – opened on 16 September and aim to give young adults and teenagers a voice in their community and a chance to shape how life in Renfrewshire will be for them.
Last year, there were 56 successful projects, including providing fully funded day trips for young people experiencing financial hardship, and a project providing young people with free bikes, bike repairs and serving.
Anyone aged 12-25 can apply in each of the seven Local Partnership areas for up to £3,000, ensuring they meet at least one of five priorities set out in the fund’s guidance.
These are: mental and physical wellbeing, cost of living, employability and life skills, culture, and community and road safety.
Applicants can also be a group that works with young people aged 12-25 and this includes school parent councils – if they can show that the project will benefit the whole community and has the endorsement of their pupil council.
Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson, said: “I’m delighted that this fund has reopened for another year as it gives young people a real opportunity to shape the community that they want to live in.
“They come up with the ideas and it is other young people who decide what to take forward to make Renfrewshire a better place to live as a young person.
“Since launching in 2019 over 150 projects designed and voted for by young people have been supported through Celebrating Renfrewshire and I would encourage anyone who has an idea, no matter how big or small, to take the plunge and submit an application.
“I can’t wait to see what this year’s round will bring.”
The deadline for this year’s applications is 2 October 2022.
Once applications close, young people will be able to vote for their favourite projects and these will be awarded funding as part of the participatory budgeting process.
For more information, and to submit an application, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/CelebratingRenfrewshire.