Family First FAQs
We've brought together a range of organisations and resources which families dealing with similar challenges have found supportive and informative.
- East Renfrewshire Carers' Centre
Provides information, advice and support to carers and young carers. Their dedicated team provide a range of emotional and practical supports. - Inclusive Support
The Inclusive Support Team provide a range of social and leisure opportunities for children and young people who have complex support needs. - Self-Directed Support Forum
East Renfrewshire Self-Directed Support Forum can support families to find out more about and manage their Self-Directed Support package. - Include-me-2 Club
The Include-me-2-Club provide a wide variety of activities and event for children and young people with additional support needs. - Disability Information Scotland
Disability Information Scotland provide accurate and accessible information for people living with disability, through their online directory and telephone helpline - 0300 3239961. - Teapot Trust
The Teapot Trust aims to enhance the lives of children and their families who are experiencing the impact of any chronic or long term condition. They focus on art therapy and creative wellbeing.
- Scottish Autism
Scottish Autism shares knowledge and expertise with parents and carers through online information and support. Call their Helpline for advice on 01259 222 022.
Many parents have found their well-researched 'Right Click' programme very beneficial - National Autistic Society
The National Autistic Society provides advice, guidance and support for autistic people and their families and produces an informative newsletter. - East Renfrewshire Carers' Centre
East Renfrewshire Carers' Centre provides information, advice and support to carers and young carers. Their dedicated team provide a range of emotional and practical supports. - Cygnet Parenting Support Programme
The Cygnet Programme for parents/carers of autistic young people aged 5-18 years helps participants to develop their understanding of autism and explore practical solutions. - Hanen Speech and Language Centre
The Hanen Centre provide advice to support children's communication development. Their Autism Corner shares tips to support interactions with children on the autism spectrum. - Inclusive Support
The Inclusive Support Team provide a range of social and leisure opportunities for children and young people who have complex support needs.
- Healthier Minds
The Healthier Minds Resource has been created by East Renfrewshire's Educational Psychology team to help parents and carers support the mental wellbeing of their children. - Place 2 Be
Place 2 Be is a children's mental health charity that provides counselling, support and training. The Parenting Smart section of their website provides advice for parents on a range of topics. - The Lego Foundation
Play is a child's social and emotional toolbox. Read how play boosts wellbeing for life. - PoPP and Play
Families can learn more about the importance of play, understanding children, supporting mental health and wellbeing and managing behaviour in a positive way through participation in a range of supportive programmes. - Teapot Trust
The Teapot Trust aims to enhance the lives of children and their families who are experiencing the impact of any chronic or long term condition. They focus on art therapy and creative wellbeing and have made some of their art therapist videos available for families to use at home to support children's emotional wellbeing.
- Work East Ren
East Renfrewshire's Work EastRen employability service can help individuals identify a wide range of employment, education and training opportunities. - Adult Learning Team
East Renfrewshire's Adult Learning Services offer a wide range of learning opportunities for everyone whether they want to gain new skills or qualifications, get a new job, go to college or build their own confidence and self-esteem. - Skills Development Scotland
SDS support individuals across Scotland throughout their employability and career journey. - Parent Club Scotland
Parent Club Scotland provides information for parents and carers on a wide range of topics including getting back to work or changing jobs. - One Parent Families Scotland
OPFS work with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and reduce barriers including work, training and education. - Money Advice and Rights Team
Contact MART for support and advice with Better-Off Calculations and making the transition from benefits to paid employment.
- East Renfrewshire Housing Service
Visit the East Renfrewshire Housing Service website where you can find a wide range of information and advice on finding a house and related housing issues. - Citizen's Advice Scotland
Find information and advice about all aspects of renting and buying a home, handling problems and housing rights. - One Parent Families Scotland
OPFS work with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and reduce barriers. You can find information and advice on renting or buying your home and housing options when you separate from your partner. - Shelter
Shelter provide support and advice to people experiencing bad housing or homelessness. - Scottish Government
Find specific guidance around housing issues to support disabled children, young people and their families. - Money Advice and Rights Team
Contact MART for support with managing housing costs, council tax, energy bills and benefits. Money advice and rights
- Adult Learning Team
East Renfrewshire's Adult Learning Service offer a wide range of opportunities to help learners develop new skills, improve their English, gain qualifications or build confidence and self-esteem. Participating in a course is a great way to meet new, like-minded people. - Culture and Leisure
East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure deliver sport, leisure, arts and culture services. Their libraries are a great place to find out more about what is going on in your community. Arts, sports, libraries. - Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire
VAER bring people together to shape their communities and value everyone's individual contributions. Volunteering is a rewarding experience which benefits all involved. - Talking Points
Visit Talking Points to find out more about groups and supports in your community. - East Renfrewshire Carers' Centre
East Renfrewshire Carers' Centre provides information, advice and support to carers and young carers. Their dedicated team provide a range of emotional and practical supports. - What's On East Renfrewshire
Find out about Bookbug, Walking Groups, Fitness classes and much more.
- Money Advice and Rights Team
Contact East Renfrewshire's Money Advice and Rights Team for free, confidential advice on a range of financial topics including debt, benefits, appeals, Universal Credit and budgeting. - Citizen's Advice Scotland
The Citizen's Advice Bureau provides free, independent, confidential impartial advice on issues including debt, benefits, budgeting and arrears. - One Parent Families Scotland
OPFS can offer help and advice on managing money for single parent families. They have a direct money and debt advice service and provide budgeting and money saving information. - Parent Club Scotland
The Money Talk Team at Parent Club Scotland can provide support on a range of financial issues from managing debt and bills to benefits and budgeting. - Cost of Living Directory
East Renfrewshire's Community Hub - Cost of Living Directory is an A to Z of supports available to help the community deal with the cost of living. - Turn 2 Us
Turn2us helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help. Fighting UK Poverty.
- Recovery Across Mental Health (RAMH)
RAMH supports people in their mental wellbeing with a range of services including adult counselling, one-to-one support, information, physical activity and employability support. - Adult Learning Service
East Renfrewshire's Adult Learning Service offer a wide range of learning opportunities including courses which focus on wellbeing, confidence building and personal development. - Action for Happiness
Visit the Action for Happiness website for ideas, inspiration and daily prompts to focus on making small changes to improve overall wellbeing. - Scottish Action on Mental Health (SAMH)
SAMH provide support, information and resources to support mental health. Their 'Five Ways to Mental Health' guide, outlines practical ideas to improve wellbeing. - Parent Club Scotland
Parent Club Scotland provides a wide range of helpful information for families including a supportive 'Wellbeing for Parents' section. - One Parent Families Scotland
OPFS's 'My Life and Me' resource is full of wellbeing information, advice and tips.
- Sleep Scotland
Sleep Scotland provide support, information and training to improve the wellbeing and quality of life for families of children experiencing sleep problems. - Parent Club Scotland
Parent Club Scotland provides a wide range of information for families on topics including dealing with sleep issues. - Tiny Happy People
Some practical ideas from Tiny Happy People for a calmer bedtime routine. - Booktrust - 'Bath, Book, Bed'
Booktrust's 'Bath, Book, Bed' resources help support families to develop a simple, calm bedtime routine. - The Imagination Tree - Relaxing Activities
Create a calming, relaxing bedtime routine with these ideas from The Imagination Tree. - Scottish Booktrust
Some bedtime stories recommended by the Scottish Booktrust to incorporate into your bedtime routine. Night-time books for babies and toddlers.
- Play and PoPP Programmes
Families can learn more about the importance of play, understanding children, supporting mental health and wellbeing and managing behaviour in a positive way through participation in a range of supportive programmes. - Parent Club Scotland
Parent Club Scotland provides a wide range of information for families including helpful articles on managing and supporting children's behaviour. - Tiny Happy People
Tiny Happy People provide lots of tips and advice on understanding children's emotional development, behaviour and wellbeing. - Parenting Smart
Parenting Smart brings together tips from child mental health experts to support children's wellbeing and behaviour. - Children 1st
Children 1st support parents and carers to explore what might be behind a child's behaviour and how to approach solutions positively. - Play Scotland
Play is a child's emotional toolbox. Play Scotland's 'Playful Families' pages provide practical ideas to support play, development and wellbeing in and around the home.
Last modified on 21 July 2023
