Self-Directed Support Forum East Renfrewshire

02/11/2026

📢 PA OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE!

We are currently recruiting a Personal Assistant (PA) to support a young man in East Renfrewshire.

All the details, including the role and requirements, can be found in the job advert below.

If you're interested or would like to find out more, please get in touch using the email address provided on the advert.

Please share to help us spread the word! 😊

02/11/2026

🎄✨ LET'S MAKE THIS CHRISTMAS A LITTLE MORE CREATIVE… JOIN US FOR SOME FESTIVE FUN! ✨✨🎄

Join the SDS Forum East Renfrewshire for a festive **Christmas Pom Pom Decorations Craft Activity!** 🎅❤️

Come along on **Tuesday 1st December** for a relaxed, friendly and sociable workshop where you can get creative and make your own beautiful, plastic-free Christmas decorations using locally sourced materials. 🌿🎄

📅 **Tuesday 1 December 2026**
⏰ **11am – 1pm**
📍 **Eastwood House, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, G46 6UG**

🎁 **FREE OF CHARGE!**

This activity is open to people who receive a Self-Directed Support (SDS) budget or those who care for someone who does.

☕ Refreshments and festive treats will also be provided!

Spaces are limited, so don't miss out! Get in touch to register your interest and secure your place.

📧 [email protected]

We look forward to seeing you there! ❤️

22/10/2026

Back by popular demand!

Whether you’re thinking about your own future, planning ahead for your child with additional support needs, or supporting someone you care about, understanding Power of Attorney (POA) and Guardianship is important.

These legal arrangements can help ensure that a person’s wishes, views, choices and rights are respected and represented when they need support with decision-making.

Our legal sessions are returning this November!

Session 1 – 19th November: Online, from 6:30–8:00 pm.
Session 2 – 26th November: Online, from 6:30–8:00 pm.
Session 3 – 3rd December: Free 20-minute solicitor consultation appointments, available between 6:00–8:00 pm at Barrhead Foundry (venue to be confirmed).
Session 4 – 10th December: Free 20-minute solicitor consultation appointments, available between 6:00–8:00 pm at East Renfrewshire Carers Centre, Eastwood Park.

Priority for solicitor consultation appointments will be given to those who have attended the previous online information sessions.

To book your place or find out more, please email [email protected] or call 0141 638 2525.

We look forward to welcoming you!

21/10/2026

New Personal Assistant required for Newton Mearns - see details below:

Newton Mearns
£14.00 per hour
3hpw – Permanent
Drivers licence & own car
SUPPORT A FUN & LIVELY 17-YEAR-OLD TO GET OUT AND
ENJOY THE THINGS HE LOVES
We're looking for a friendly and reliable Personal Assistant to support
a 17-year-old autistic boy who is lively, funny and generally lots of
fun!
The role will mainly involve a weekly outing, helping him get out into
the community and enjoy activities such as country park walks,
swimming, trips to The Yard and going for drives.
KEY ACTIVITIES
Country Park walks & community outings
Swimming and activities
Going for drives
Supporting independence & communication
Providing personal care
Occasional evening support at home
WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR Experience supporting people with additional support needs (ASN) Friendly, patient and reliable Comfortable providing personal care Driver with own car essential PVG checked Able to build a positive relationship and have fun!
HOURS
The role is 3 hours per week, with the weekly outing rotating between a
weekday and weekend day, mutually agreed.
There may also be occasional evening overtime, approximately once every
three months.
WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE SPECIAL?
A great opportunity to build a positive relationship with a fun young person
while supporting him to get out, enjoy activities and experience more of his
community.

To apply – please email your CV to [email protected] before 6th November 2026

21/10/2026

New PA Vacancy in Barrhead - see details below:

MAKE A DIFFERENCE — BECOME MY PERSONAL ASSISTANT
🌟 A Rewarding PA Opportunity in Barrhead
Location: Barrhead
Hours: 4 per week
Pay: £15.00 per hour
Contract: Temporary initially
Days/Times: Some flexibility with hours but to accompany me to & from club on a Wednesday
Start date: soon as possible
About the Person
Could you be the right person to support me? I’m looking for a friendly, reliable Personal Assistant to help me get to my clubs and activities — and home again safely.
I’m a young man with autism and a visual impairment. I’m independent and keen to build my confidence when I’m out, especially in groups and social situations. I can experience separation anxiety which can build up to the occasional meltdown, so calm encouragement and reassurance really matter. With the right support, I want to enjoy more activities, make new friends and feel increasingly confident. I love walking, nature, gaming and watching TV on my iPad.
You’ll help me get out and about, enjoy the hobbies I love, grow in independence and build meaningful friendships.
About the Role
Your support will help me feel safe, confident and connected. As my Personal Assistant, you will:
• Provide respectful support with personal care
• Support me to travel safely to and from clubs and activities
• Encourage me to build confidence, independence and friendships in my community
This role is about providing person-centred support and helping me to have choice, control and independence.
PVG: Required for this post
Driving: Preferred but not essential
Other requirements: Proof of Right to Work in the UK required
About You
You don’t need to be a superhero — just someone dependable, kind and ready to make a difference. I’m looking for someone who is:
• Friendly and approachable
• Experience of children/young people with autism
• Reliable and trustworthy
• Patient and understanding
• Respectful of my choices and preferences
• Able to work independently
• A good communicator
• Comfortable supporting me in the community
What You Can Expect
• Make a genuine difference every week
• Help me grow in confidence and independence
• Share enjoyable activities that matter to me
• Build a positive working relationship based on trust and respect
Essential Requirements
• Experience of working with children or adults with Autism and additional support needs.
• Be reliable and punctual
• Have good communication skills
• Respect confidentiality and personal boundaries
• Be able to work on your own initiative
• Be willing to undertake relevant checks/training]
The Practical Details
Job title Personal Assistant
Location Barrhead
Hours 4
Pay rate £15.00 per hour
Days Wednesday and TBC
Times TBC
Contract Temporary initially
Start date ASAP
Closing date 6th November 2026
How to Apply
Interested? If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, I’d love to hear from you.
To apply please send your CV to
• Email: [email protected] or Telephone: 0141 638 2525

13/10/2026

💙 **HELP US SECURE THE FUTURE OF SDS FORUM EAST RENFREWSHIRE!** 💙

📣 **We need your voice!**

SDS Forum East Renfrewshire is asking our local community to take a few minutes to complete our **Service Evaluation Survey**.

Our Scottish Government funding is due for renewal in March 2027, and we are gathering feedback to understand the difference our services have made to individuals, families and carers over the past three years.

Your feedback will help us demonstrate the impact of our work and support our application for continued funding, so we can keep providing independent advice, guidance and support to our community.

💬 **Have you used our services, attended one of our groups, or received advice from us?** We would love to hear from you!

💙 Every response counts, and your feedback is invaluable in helping us secure the future of our services.

📝 **Complete our survey here:**
[https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=L6y-Rmohm0Won2djvBEu8E-tAT5fTVREmHoGir-uoBBUMDBYTzFaWFZRSDROTFVJMzdXMDJLMFlUNS4u&origin=Invitation&channel=0]

📅 **Survey closes 31st October 2026.**

🙏 Thank you for supporting SDS Forum East Renfrewshire and helping us continue to make a difference!

12/10/2026

🎃👻 DON’T MISS OUT! BOOK NOW! 👻🎃

🕸️ Fancy creating your own personalised Halloween wreath? Join SDS Forum East Renfrewshire for a fun, relaxed craft session! 🧡🎃

📅 Check the poster for details.

⚠️ SPACES ARE LIMITED! If you haven’t registered yet, get in touch to secure your place before it’s too late! 👻🕷️

We can’t wait to get spooky and creative with you! 🎃🧡

09/10/2026

Another fantastic opportunity from the The Autistic Collective CIC - East Renfrewshire. Details in the cation below if you would like to sign up!

⭐ NEW EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT!

⭐ 'Supporting Autistic mental health and wellbeing' with Marion McLaughlin

⭐ 11th November 10.00am - 12.00pm

⭐ Open to parents, family carers and professionals in East Renfrewshire only
Hot-on-the-heels of the first in our brand new trilogy of sessions across the Autumn with Marion McLaughlin at Aurora Consulting, we’re delighted to announce details of the second.

‘Supporting Autistic mental health and wellbeing’ takes place on Zoom on Wednesday 11th November from 10.00am - 12.00pm. Our Autistic Collective team would love you to join us as Marion explores what Autistic mental health and wellbeing looks like.

We will cover a range of topics including common mental health concerns, school trauma, RSD, sleep, eating…..and crucially how to support access to the things that bring us joy. This session will be followed by a short Q&A session and discussion, and includes:

✨ What does a good quality of life look like?

✨ Barriers to wellbeing

✨ Supporting Autistic wellbeing

✨ Managing meltdowns

✨ Self care and boundaries

✨ Supporting Autistic joy and passionate interests

Here at The Autistic Collective, we pride ourselves on being informed and guided by what we hear in feedback from our participants across East Renfrewshire.

True to form, Marion’s upcoming sessions will be a mash-up of all of YOUR most frequently requested topics, complemented by loads of research and other invaluable insights, guidance and tips.

The topics you most tell us you want to hear more about are: all things school related, Demand Avoidance / PDA, Burnout and mental health concerns. As such, these topics will be woven throughout all three sessions in the series.

This session is suitable for parents and carers, and professionals supporting folks of ALL AGES (including adults) and at ALL STAGES of their journeys and learning.

Please Note: There will be a separate registration process for each of the three sessions….you will need to register for each session as and when we announce them.
Our trilogy of sessions is made possible thanks to the support of the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, delivered locally by VAER The Community Hub East Ren and funded by The Scottish Government.
⭐ WHO IS THIS SESSION FOR?

Parents and family carers in East Renfrewshire. You do not need a formal diagnosis to take part. You may simply be exploring to see if any of this fits for your family. We recognise everyone is at a different place on their journey.

We also welcome with open arms professionals in East Renfrewshire who support Autistic people and their families. As we all learn together, side by side.

We work hard to create safe (as can be) spaces to ensure ALL participants feel as comfortable as possible. Speakers and hosts (that's us) included.

Our events and activities are always informed and guided by what we hear from East Renfrewshire folks and speakers during sessions and afterwards in our feedback forms.
⭐ WHAT CAN I EXPECT ON THE DAY?

This will be an informal Zoom session in a slide presentation format, packed with loads of info and research.

After brief introductions and a wee bit of Zoom housekeeping, Marion will work their way through their presentation slides. The slides section of the session will be recorded.

Once the slides have finished, we’ll stop the recording. There will be time for a short Q&A at the end.

Huge caveat - our speakers always endeavour to answer as many questions on the day, as they can. Sometimes, even with the best of intentions, it’s simply not possible. We know you’re all extremely busy people, and we’ll be going for a 12.00pm finish.

Whilst some difficult themes may arise, we always aim for informative and empowering, in a nurturing environment. We pride ourselves on being a friendly, inclusive bunch.
⭐ HOW DO I REGISTER TO BOOK MY PLACE FOR THE SESSION ON THE 11th NOVEMBER?

Note: This event is open to parents, carers and professionals in East Renfrewshire only.
Please register to book your fully-funded place using the link below.

Register at www.autistic-collective.org

Can’t join us live on the day itself? Don’t worry, please register anyway. All registrants will get access to the recording and extra resources afterwards.
Only the presentation slide section will be recorded.

In the recording, the speaker will be the only person visible on your screen, and comments made in the chat box on the day will have been removed.

All participants’ autonomy, privacy and safety is utmost here at The Autistic Collective!

Any queries, or for further info please email [email protected]
⭐ WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER AND HOST?

MARION McLAUGHLIN

Marion is the Managing Director of Aurora Autistic Consulting, an initiative aiming to ensure that people, businesses, institutions and cultures understand the needs of the Autistic community.

In addition to being a late identified Autistic, Marion is a qualified Primary teacher and former charity CEO. Marion has significant experience of working with Autistic people of all ages and abilities on a wide range of issues ranging from supporting Autistic toddlers to preparing to move into a care home and a great many things in between.

An experienced trainer, Marion has experience working with senior leaders in a wide variety of settings to ensure the greatest possible inclusivity for Autistic people.

Marion founded and chairs Autistic Pride Aberdeen, hosting multiple events per year. Marion also released what they believe to be the first ever picture book on Autistic Pride earlier this year, Morven's First Autistic Pride.

Marion is also a member of the LGBT+ community and a passionate advocate for improved health care for Autistic people.

https://www.facebook.com/auroraautisticconsulting
THE AUTISTIC COLLECTIVE CIC

The Autistic Collective is a Not-For-Profit Community Interest Company, made up of a small team of passionate parent/carer volunteers.

We support parents and family carers - and anyone who supports Autistic, ADHD and AuDHD people and their families in East Renfrewshire - through learning and empowerment.

We signpost to and collaborate with neuro-affirming Autistic/Neurodivergent-led organisations and speakers, authors and content creators to host learning events and activities to educate from the Autistic (and multiply Neurodivergent) lived-experience perspective.

Please check out and follow our page. Feel free to share with friends, family and professionals/colleagues. Your support means the world to us, as it allows us to reach more families in need.

https://www.facebook.com/AutisticCER
Poster design credit: Laura Gwafa The Marketing Department (TMD)

Big thanks, as always to Laura, James and Chris for all the wonderful support!

06/10/2026

Child Winter Heating Payment will be paid automatically from week commencing 5 October.

If your family is eligible, you will receive a letter from SSS and a payment of £265.50.

If you have not received a letter or a payment by 20 October, please get in touch with SSS. Social Security Scotland

Child Winter Heating Payment is only available in Scotland.

It gets paid automatically to children and young people who are under 19 years old and get one of the following qualifying benefits:

🔸 highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment
🔸 highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for children
🔸 enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment
🔸 enhanced daily living component of Personal Independence Payment

05/10/2026

☕ Are you free tomorrow afternoon?

Fancy a catch-up with the SDS Forum and some like-minded people? 💬😊

Tomorrow is our monthly drop-in session — come along for a cuppa, a chat and a chance to connect with others.

No need to book — just pop in if you’re free! 💙

We’d love to see you! 👋