A project that supports pregnant women and new mothers with complex needs at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital has been extended after landing fresh funding.
Stronger Start, an advice and advocacy initiative within the special needs in pregnancy service, will now run until the end of next year after receiving a cash boost.
The programme, which has been provided by Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) since last January, offers people who may be dealing with issues like addiction practical help covering areas such as benefits, money and housing.
An update on the person-centred project has been included in a report to the council’s Fairer Renfrewshire sub-committee which will meet on Wednesday.
The paper said: “As previously reported to the sub-committee, Renfrewshire Council has been working with Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau, as well as representatives from Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire, as the service covers those areas, as part of the steering committee supporting a pilot for an advice and advocacy service within the special needs in pregnancy service at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
“The service was set up after Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau were successful in an application to the National Lottery Improving Lives Fund and was awarded £95,000 to run a pilot of the service for one year.
“This ‘Stronger Start’ service, which supports pregnant women/new mothers with complex needs such as addiction, commenced in January 2024, with funding due to run out at the end December 2024.
“To end September 2024, the service had received 75 referrals and made financial gains for clients of £61,395, exceeding the project expectations. After a further funding bid was made to the National Lottery, the project has received two more years’ funding taking it to the end of 2026.”
As the service is run by the CAB, it can provide access to its legal service where it is considered appropriate, supporting mothers with eviction or domestic violence.
For less complex cases in Renfrewshire, health service staff continue to refer clients to the council’s advice works team and the family advice service.
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