Challenge Poverty Week 2021
Monday 4 - Sunday 10 October
![Challenge Poverty Week 2021 Challenge Poverty Week 2021](https://eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/image/6990/Challenge-Poverty-Week-2021/standard.png?m=1633346514023)
Published: 4 October 2021
It's Challenge Poverty Week and we want to do just that.
Whether you need information on school clothing grants and/or meals, budgeting advice, support with benefit applications or getting into work, ourselves and our partners are here to help.
Our Money Advice and Rights Team is your first point of contact for free, expert and confidential advice on money worries, benefits and budgeting. They can help with benefit applications and appeals to make sure you have your household income maximised. They can support you to get food and other essentials for your household and they can also speak to your creditors on your behalf, whilst helping you understand what the people you owe money to can and can't do.
Call 0141 577 8420 or email mart@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
There are lots of other specialist services in East Renfrewshire:
To find out more, visit the Work EastRen website (opens new window).
To find out more, visit our adult learning webpage.
- Primary school benefits (PDF) [218KB] (opens new window)
- Secondary school benefits (PDF) [112KB] (opens new window)
Back to School Bank East Renfrewshire provides brand new school uniforms to families affected by financial hardship. To find out more, visit the Back to school bank Facebook page.
To find out more, visit our Housing Options webpage.
To find out more, visit the Home Energy Scotland website (opens new window).
To find out more and use our guide to avoiding scams, visit our scam prevention webpage.
The Community Hub is connected in to neighbourhood groups and other voluntary organisations carrying out valuable work to support people throughout the pandemic. It's a 'one stop shop' for anyone looking to give or receive a little help.
The Community Hub can also offer a variety of support groups, to help with mental health and social isolation.
Contact the Community Hub Monday to Friday 10am-3pm on 0141 876 9555 or by emailing hello@va-er.org.uk
For more information, visit the Community Hub website (opens new window).
The team is working from home with advice available over the phone. You can phone them on 0141 881 2032 or visit their website (opens new window) where you will find direct mobile numbers for specialist advisers.
For more information, visit the Skills Development Scotland website (opens new window).
Fair Start can also support employers with recruitment needs. Get in touch with Fair Start by phoning 0300 303 3381 or visiting their website (opens new window).
The Trussell Trust supports a nationwide network of foodbanks and together provide emergency food and support for people in crisis. There are two foodbank centres in East Renfrewshire:
The East Renfrewshire Foodbank is based at 14 Lowndes Street, Barrhead. It is open on Tuesdays at 12pm-2pm and Fridays at 2pm-4pm.
The Thornliebank Resource Centre is based at Robslee Drive, Giffnock. It is open on Thursdays at 12.30pm-2.30pm.
For more information, visit the Trussell Trust website (opens new window).
For more information, visit the Jobcentre Plus website (opens new window).
- Carer's Allowance Supplement (opens new window)
- Best Start Grant - Pregnancy and Baby Payment (opens new window)
- Best Start Grant - Early Learning Payment (opens new window)
- Best Start Grant - School Age Payment (opens new window)
- Best Start Foods (opens new window)
- Funeral Support Payment (opens new window)
- Young Carer Grant (opens new window)
- Job Start Payment (opens new window)
If you're unsure about what you are entitled to, you can contact our Money Advice and Rights Team. They can help with anything you need to know about benefits and grant eligibility, health-related issues, redundancy, retirement and pensions, death and bereavement, housing, children, cold weather and winter fuel payments.
Call 0141 577 8420 or email mart@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
The Scottish Government's website provides information on other benefits and grants not listed above. To find out more, visit their website (opens new window).
When the pandemic is at an end, we know that poverty will not be over. Now is the time for us to get things right - to keep looking out for each other; to keep compassion and justice at the heart of our communities; to keep strengthening services that support us all when times are tough. As we rebuild, we want to make sure our services are designed to work better for each and every one of us.
If you have any comments or suggestions for challenging poverty in East Renfrewshire we'd like to hear about them. You can email us at listening@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
#ChallengePoverty #NowIsTheTime