A SERVICE offering advice on topics such as debt and bills in Renfrewshire high schools is due to launch this month.

Workers will be embedded in the educational environment on a rota basis as part of the new initiative, which will run as a pilot at first.

The resource will be provided by Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau across all secondary schools, including additional support needs settings.

An update was provided on the service at Wednesday’s Fairer Renfrewshire sub-committee – a task force formed last year to focus support for those affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

Laura McIntyre, the council’s head of policy and commissioning, described it as a “really positive development” at the meeting.

She said: “Members will be aware that there was previously a commitment of funding through the council’s budget to establish a schools advice service or to pilot a schools advice service and we’ve been working on that with Citizens Advice Bureau. That is going to go live from June, in the coming days.

“You may think it’s slightly odd that that’s going to happen just before the school break but our colleagues, partners, at Citizens Advice are keen to start to work with schools, as are schools themselves, to start to foster those relationships.

“And I suppose to make sure there’s no immediate things that we can help with prior to that summer holiday break, so that’s a really positive development to get that up and running.”

Work is also underway to launch a dedicated family advice service within the council’s Advice Works team.

It will collaborate with families to maximise household income through advice while trying to increase take-up of other supports including free school meals, clothing grants and employability support.

Ms McIntyre added: “There will be a real focus through that service on primary and early years and on proactively working with families and schools, early learning establishments, to maximise income and help people to maximise their income within their household and manage expenditure.

“But also I think trying to be as proactive as possible in terms of encouraging take-up of key supports, whether it’s free school meals, clothing grants or other benefits and supports that people may be entitled to.

“[It’s] a really core part of our focus going forward in terms of trying to be more proactive with that advice and support to families.”