One week to go until Halloween takes over town
October 17, 2025
Swan Grace Pilates
October 19, 2025A neighbourhood clean-up service has doubled in size to improve the upkeep of local housing estates.
The Neighbourhood Environmental Trainees Team (NETT) supports the upkeep of Renfrewshire Council’s housing stock by responding quickly to issues like bulky uplifts, household waste collection, and overgrown gardens, making neighbourhoods cleaner, safer and more welcoming.
Increased investment means since this summer, the programme now has four squads – up from two previously – working across our four local housing teams. By operating seven days a week, the team can now provide consistent support across all housing areas and target problem “hot spots” before they build up.
Since the NETT was launched in 2015, tenants have continued to share positive feedback about how estates are managed. These improvements also support the Council’s aims of reducing antisocial behaviour and promoting wellbeing by creating cleaner, safer outdoor spaces.
Tam Hyndman, who joined NETT as a trainee and has since progressed to team leader, said: “We’re doing 20 to 30 bulky uplifts a day — couches, fridges, mattresses — it’s nonstop. We do about 100 jobs each week, trimming overgrown gardens and removing rubbish. The work we do makes a big difference for tenants.
“We once cleared the overgrown garden of an elderly woman who had been unable to get outside after suffering a stroke. When she was finally able to use her garden greenhouse again, she was over the moon. It makes us feel good knowing we can help people in that way.”
The programme also tackles unemployment by supporting people into work and helping them build lasting careers. Delivered in partnership with the council’s employability service Invest in Renfrewshire, it recruits local people facing barriers to employment.
Trainees are offered six-month paid placements at the Real Living Wage, gaining hands-on experience in environmental maintenance along with training and qualifications to support future employment.
Alan Fleming, who has managed the programme since its launch, said: “You see a big change in the trainees over the six months, they grow in confidence and leave with more work skills and direction. We always try to help them into a job at the end, and I tell the young ones once you get in with the council, that could set you up for life.”
The team’s recent expansion has created an additional 18 jobs and so far, more than 70% of participants have gone on to secure long-term work, either within the Council or with other local employers.
Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire’s Communities and Housing Policy Board, said: “The Neighbourhood Environmental Training Team is making a real difference across our housing estates by improving conditions for tenants and creating new opportunities for local people.
“By expanding the programme, we’re not only enhancing estate management, but also investing in people, offering paid training and a pathway into long-term employment. It’s a brilliant example of the council working with partners and communities to deliver visible change where it matters most and restore pride in local places.
“As a landlord to more than 12,000 homes, we’re committed to keeping our estates well-maintained. This programme goes even further, showing how frontline services can be used creatively to deliver wider public benefits and build stronger, more resilient neighbourhoods.”
