NEW FIGURES: 79,929 BABY BOXES DELIVERED IN GREATER GLASGOW AND CLYDE

SNP SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM BIRTH

Natalie Don-Innes, SNP MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, has welcomed new figures which show that 79,929 baby boxes have been delivered to support expectant parents across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Over 319,800 baby boxes have been delivered to expectant parents across Scotland - providing them with around £420 worth of essential items for their newborn. 

The SNP remains committed to ensuring that all of Scotland’s young people have a secure and healthy start to life, a policy which aims to significantly improve positive health outcomes and support for newborns and families across Scotland. 

Commenting, SNP MSP Natalie Don-Innes said:

"79,929 baby boxes have now been delivered to support expectant parents across Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which covers Renfrewshire North and West - providing a substantial £420 worth of items to support newborns from birth.

"Recent analysis has shown that the SNP Government's approach to supporting infants, young people and their families is having significantly positive health outcomes - and the baby box is helping contribute to that with over 300,000 boxes delivered since the policy was introduced. It is also one of the actions from the SNP Government which is ensuring that 100,000 children are kept out of poverty this year.

"The SNP is determined that every child in Scotland should have the best possible start to life. The baby box helps to ensure that every child has the support they need to fulfil their potential and can also make a huge difference to parents faced with the high cost of products for newborns especially in the current cost of living crisis.

“I would encourage any expecting parents in Renfrewshire to register for their free Baby Box - your midwife should be able to assist with this.”

NEW FIGURES REVEAL VALUE OF SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN RENFREWSHIRE

Natalie Don-Innes MSP has welcomed new figures which show £5,314,391 has been paid out to families across Renfrewshire in Best Start Grants and Best Start Foods Payments, saying “the Scottish Government’s fair and respectful approach to social security is making a real difference to families in the constituency.”

According to figures from Social Security Scotland, a total of £164,448,957 was paid out across Scotland in Best Start Foods payments and Best Start Grants since they were introduced – which are two of the 15 benefits administered by Social Security Scotland.

In Renfrewshire, £5,314,391 has been paid out between 2018 and June 2024, following 10,870 successful applications.

Commenting SNP MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, Natalie Don-Innes, said:

"The SNP government is rightly proud of the different approach we have taken in Scotland to social security – one which, in stark contrast that of the DWP, is rooted in dignity, fairness and respect.

“As a result, families across Renfrewshire have received a total of £5,314,391 in support since 2018 – despite the very limited powers of Scotland’s parliament and over a decade of Tory and now Labour austerity.

“I am pleased to see 10,870 families receive the support they need, which will make a real difference to the lives of children across the constituency as we work towards the First Minister’s mission of eradicating child poverty.”

RENFREWSHIRE AND INVERCLYDE ALLOCATED ADDITIONAL HOUSING FUNDS SNP TAKING ACTION TO TACKLE HOUSING EMERGENCY

MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, Natalie Don-Innes, has welcomed the SNP Scottish Government announcement of £40 million for councils across Scotland, including Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, to boost the supply of affordable homes.

First Minister John Swinney outlined in the Programme for Government that £600 million would be committed to affordable housing in the current financial year and allocating this £40 million will allow for the purchase of properties in order to reduce temporary accommodation and bring vacant buildings back into use.

Across Scotland councils have been supported to purchase almost 1,500 properties in 2023-24 for use as affordable homes and the allocation of this £40 million will accelerate that work to ensure that families across the constituency have a safe and warm place to call home.

Commenting, MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, Natalie Don-Innes, said:

"Tackling the housing emergency are important issues in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde and one of the key ways we can solve it is by bringing empty and vacant buildings back into use.

"This £40m fund, introduced by the SNP Government as part of the £600m affordable housing budget, will ensure that we can build on the 1,500 properties that were brought into use for affordable housing in the past year. Renfrewshire Council will receive a £0.168m share and Inverclyde Council will receive £0.040m.

"Every family in this constituency deserves to have a safe and warm place that they can call home and with the SNP in government that is exactly what they will get."

NATALIE DON MSP WELCOMES £344,922 OF NATIONAL LOTTERY FUNDING TO RENFREWSHIRE COMMUNITY GROUPS

The National Lottery Community Fund, which supports communities to thrive, is distributing £344,922 between seven community groups across Renfrewshire North and West.

Erskine Hospital received a £192,833 grant which will go towards delivering services for veterans at the Erskine Reid Macewen Activities Centre in Bishopton.

Friends of Robertson House received £9,000. This grant will fund activities and classes in Robertson House - a sheltered housing complex in Erskine, serving older people with additional care needs.

£8,759 will be used by Renfrew Association of Growers and Gardeners to establish a weekly men's mental-health group held in Broadloan Community Gardens.

Renfrew Association of Growers and Gardeners received £114,970 which will be used by the group to develop their community-garden activities by retaining the services of a Seasonal Gardener and hiring a new Gardens Coordinator over the next two years. A portion of funding will go towards improving the facilities.

£9,960 has been awarded to Renfrew Care Home Activities Group to help tackle loneliness and isolation by creating a mixed programme of activity for their residents, their friends and family and the wider community including school children.

The Renfrew Over 50’s Swimming Club has received £3,800 to take their members to social dances and on bus trips.

The Welcoming Renfrewshire Families Group received a £5,600 grant which will help to bring local and new families together in a cultural showcase in Renfrew, enabling interactions between the new arrivals and local people, to improve the integration of new families.

Commenting, MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, Natalie Don, said:

“I am delighted that so many community groups in Renfrewshire have been successful in securing National Lottery funding.

“Each of the groups provide a wide range of invaluable support and services to communities within the constituency and I look forward to keeping up with the projects that these grants will fund.”

Natalie Don MSP highlights importance of International Workers Memorial Day

“International Worker’s Memorial Day is a key event in the promotion of safe working places for all workers,” said Natalie Don (SNP – Renfrewshire North & West).

International Workers Memorial Day takes place every year on the 28th April. The purpose of the day is two-fold, to remember those who have died, been injured, or made ill by their work and to ensure that this loss and suffering is used to reinvigorate all campaigns for healthier and safer work; for those still at work, their families, and their children who will become tomorrows’ workers.

There are two commemoration events in Renfrewshire this year –at 11:30am at the Workers Memorial Cairn at Robertson Park, Renfrew and at 12noon at the flagpoles outside Renfrewshire House in Paisley.

Natalie Don MSP added;

Natalie Don MSP at the Memorial Cairn for International Workers Memorial Day

“The theme for this year’s International Worker’s Memorial Day is ‘health and safety is a fundamental right’ underlining the importance of ensuring that every workplace is safe and healthy for all workers.

“We have seen through the Covid pandemic the dangers that medical staff and others were placed in when trying to care for those who contracted Covid, we should ensure that every workplace is a safe environment for all workers. And that also means not wasting valuable public finances on faulty PPE equipment – as we have seen with the UK Tory Government!

“Everyone deserves to know that they will be returning home from their work, and for that to happen we need stronger enforcement of health and safety policies within each workplace.

“Normally on this day I would be attending the event at the Worker’s Memorial Cairn in Robertson Park, Renfrew and fondly remembering former Councillor Bill Perrie who worked hard with Paisley and District Trade Council to get this cairn installed. However, as I will be in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 28th April I will take time out at 12noon to pay my respects to all those who have lost their lives at work.”