Renfrewshire Council

What is Celebrating Renfrewshire?

Celebrating Renfrewshire is a fund designed by and for young people, where young people aged 12-25 will have a direct say on which projects are funded in their local area.

Celebrating Renfrewshire uses a participatory budgeting (PB) model. PB is a democratic process in which community members decide how to spend part of a public budget and is recognised internationally as a way for people to have a direct say in how local money is spent.

Find out more about Celebrating Renfrewshire.

What is the Steering Group?

The Steering Group support the development and delivery of the Celebrating Renfrewshire fund. The group represent the voices of young people across Renfrewshire and provide an essential role in shaping the guidance for the fund each year.

Working alongside Renfrewshire Council's Community Planning and Community Learning and Development teams, the Steering Group:

• Review past funds and suggest changes or improvement
• Set the guidance for the next round of funding
• Review incoming applications
• Plan an annual announcement event

Who should apply?

The Steering Group is open to any young people aged 12-25 who live in Renfrewshire. We are particularly keen to hear from young people who live in the Villages, Paisley East or Gleniffer Local Partnership areas.

Where and when will they meet?

The Steering Group will meet in person, once a week from March until June. Meetings normally take place after school for around an hour and a half. Attendance is not compulsory if members have exams or other school commitments. The meeting venue for 2025 is still to be confirmed but is usually somewhere in Paisley town centre.

What type of tasks are there?

The Steering Group will be asked to share their thoughts and views on the guidance for the upcoming round of Celebrating Renfrewshire and will take an active role in assessing any applications ahead of the public voting process. Members are also involved in planning an announcement event for the fund and may be asked to speak on stage on the night.

This year we would also like members to be involved in creating social media content that can be used to promote the fund and engage other young people in the area.

What are the benefits of joining?

This is a unique opportunity for young people to develop a wide range of skills and experiences while contributing to their local community.

Benefits include:

• Excellent addition to CV and UCAS application
• Meeting other young people and working with Council officers
• Develop an understanding of local democracy
• Contribute to volunteering hours under the Saltire scheme or Duke of Edinburgh Award

How do I sign up?

You can email the Celebrating Renfrewshire team for more information and to sign up to take part.