A neighbourhood clean-up service has doubled in size to improve the upkeep of local housing estates.
Renfrewshire Council’s Neighbourhood Environmental Trainees Team (NETT) now operates four squads — up from two previously — thanks to increased investment in the programme.
Launched in 2015, the service focuses on improving council-owned housing areas by tackling bulky uplifts, overgrown gardens and household waste collection.
The programme also aims to reduce antisocial behaviour and promote wellbeing by creating cleaner, safer outdoor environments.
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Tam Hyndman, who joined the team as a trainee and is now a team leader, said: “We’re doing 20 to 30 bulky uplifts a day — couches, fridges, mattresses — it’s nonstop.
“We do about 100 jobs each week, trimming overgrown gardens and removing rubbish.
“The work we do makes a big difference for tenants.
“We once cleared the overgrown garden of an elderly woman who had been unable to get outside after suffering a stroke.
“When she was finally able to use her garden greenhouse again, she was over the moon.
“It makes us feel good knowing we can help people in that way.”
The project, delivered in partnership with the council’s Invest in Renfrewshire employability service, supports residents facing barriers to employment.
Trainees are offered six-month paid placements at the Real Living Wage, gaining experience and qualifications in environmental maintenance.
Alan Fleming, who has managed the programme since its launch, said: “You see a big change in the trainees over the six months — they grow in confidence and leave with more work skills and direction.
“We always try to help them into a job at the end, and I tell the young ones once you get in with the council, that could set you up for life.”
The programme’s recent expansion has created 18 new jobs, and more than 70% of trainees have secured long-term employment, either with the council or other local employers.
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Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire’s Communities and Housing Policy Board, said: “The Neighbourhood Environmental Training Team is making a real difference across our housing estates by improving conditions for tenants and creating new opportunities for local people.
“By expanding the programme, we’re not only enhancing estate management but also investing in people — offering paid training and a pathway into long-term employment.
“It’s a brilliant example of the council working with partners and communities to deliver visible change where it matters most and restore pride in local places.
“As a landlord to more than 12,000 homes, we’re committed to keeping our estates well-maintained.
“This programme goes even further, showing how frontline services can be used creatively to deliver wider public benefits and build stronger, more resilient neighbourhoods.”
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