Struggling families in East Renfrewshire are set to receive a winter support payment, with more than £1.5million to be shared between 19 projects.

Plans to hand out leftover Scottish Government funding, provided to help with recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, will go before councillors for approval next week.

Council officials have put together a list of recommendations, which includes over £168,500 for a £100 winter support payment to low income families.

It would top-up free school meal payments and extend to those on clothing grants in December when “most needed to address cost-of-living pressures”.

Around 2,300 children could be supported by the plan.

East Renfrewshire’s health and social care partnership is expected to receive £687,000 to support frontline services dealing with “pressures related to Covid demand” through winter.

Recommendations also include £100,000 to respond to increased homelessness presentations and £114,000 to extend Citizens Advice jobs, including an older person’s advisor, throughout 2024/25. These staff can help with housing/mortgage arrears.

Council officials have reported the £1.5m fund will be “the final tranche of Covid reserves” and must be fully committed by March next year. Proposals won’t be extended further “unless through alternative funding sources”.

A report to East Renfrewshire cabinet members added it is “vital that support continues to reach our most vulnerable residents”.  “The funding has and will continue to alleviate pressures from frontline services and mitigate the cost-of-living challenges experienced by families,” the report stated.

Other recommendations include a £50,000 tenants support fund to help people at risk of arrears, and £30,000 to Barrhead Housing Association to “alleviate financial pressures” for tenants, which could include Christmas vouchers.

One proposal could see £45,000 used for additional occupational therapy support for children over winter, with 26 currently on a waiting list. And £49,000 could go towards an employability programme for people with mental health or addiction issues.

East Renfrewshire Carers Centre could get £25,000 to distribute discretionary payments to 91 carers, covering 218 family members, as there is “continued and increased needs to be met this winter”.

There is a plan to use £8,500 to provide 94 young care leavers with Christmas care, including hampers, meals and gifts, and for £10,000 to go to a Back to School Bank, to recycle uniforms and help families with costs.

A full list of recommendations can be viewed at annex two of this report: https://eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/media/9668/Item-04-COVID-Reserve-Review-and-Final-Proposals-Part-1-of-1/pdf/Item_04_-_COVID_Reserve_-_Review_and_Final_Proposals_-_Part_1_of_1.pdf?m=638334112421530000