What is Celebrating Renfrewshire?

Youth Participatory Budgeting has come to Renfrewshire again!

Celebrating Renfrewshire is a fund designed by and for young people. Young people aged 12-25 who live, go to school or work in Renfrewshire are now invited to decide what projects they would like to see funded in their local area. From Thursday 12th June until midnight on 2nd July 2025, you will be able to cast your vote!

All groups and organisations who submitted applications have been received and you can read about them in this campaign ahead of casting your vote. Check out how to cast your vote in the video below.

Renfrewshire Council has worked with members from the Celebrating Renfrewshire Steering Group to plan the application and voting process for 2025 .

Celebrating Renfrewshire is a £150,000 fund for young people, by young people. It is available for young people aged 12-25, and groups who work with young people this age, from across Renfrewshire who have an idea to make their community better for them. Schools are also eligible to apply via their parent councils, as long as the project benefits the wider community and not just the school.

The fund uses a Participatory Budgeting process (PB) which encourages young people and youth-led organisations to develop ideas for their community and apply for funding for that idea.

Young people across Renfrewshire will then be supported to vote for the project ideas which make Renfrewshire a better place for young people to live.

The Council has been working with a youth steering group made up of young people from across Renfrewshire to design the funding process and agree the priorities for this year, and these are:

The priorities set by young people are:

Reducing isolation and improving mental and physical wellbeing – projects which can allow young people to create friendships which will support their wellbeing and also projects that encourage young people to leave their homes and reduce loneliness and isolation by creating an environment that encourages good mental wellbeing.
Cost of living – projects which can help provide young people with food and clothing, a warm space for them to get together. Also things that help with financial problems through financial education and finally free projects to reduce stigma and remove barriers for inclusion.
Employability and life skills including help with writing CVs/cover letters, how to open bank accounts and dealing with everyday bills etc, projects providing help to apply for college and university, projects to help give young people access to driving and finally support for school leavers to gain access to the workplace.
Staying safe including projects educating young people on how to be safe in the community and online and also safe youth drop ins which are inclusive places to talk openly and share views/ideas
Substance use and addiction including projects educating young people about the harm caused by vaping and substance use, courses or training sessions on mindfulness or safety and harm reduction tactics and projects for young people to escape substance use at home and talk openly.