Renfrewshire Carers Centre

What Renfrewshire Carers Centre does

Renfrewshire Carers Centre is a registered charity (SC023986) and company limited by guarantee (No. 162382) headquartered at St. James House, 25 St. James' Street, Paisley, Scotland. Founded in January 1996 — with precursor groups dating to a November 1991 Community Care Conference — the Centre operates as a one-stop shop providing information, advice, emotional support, training, advocacy, short breaks, emergency planning, and a Carers Discount Card programme to unpaid adult and young carers living in Renfrewshire. It also runs a Young Carers Service for children and young people aged 18 and under, delivered in part through a Young Carers Education Worker placed in local schools.

The Centre's product surface is human-service-led rather than technology-led. Core offerings include Adult Carers Support Services (with assigned Support Workers and Adult Carer Support Plans), the Young Carers Service, Short Breaks (funded through the Scottish Government's Short Breaks Fund administered via Shared Care Scotland, plus hotel breaks via the Carefree partnership), Advocacy, Training/E-Learning, Carers Emergency Planning, and the Care at Home social enterprise — a Care Inspectorate-regulated service providing personalized in-home social care to clients of all ages. In June 2026 the Centre launched the Carers Hub, a 24/7 digital platform accessible via browser and mobile app that extends access to support, information, finances, training, and breaks beyond traditional office hours. The technology stack is a WordPress website, MailerLite newsletter, and standard social channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram); no AI, API, or SDK capabilities are disclosed.

The business model is a hybrid of grant-funded charity operations and a social-enterprise earned-income stream. Direct services to registered carers are provided free of charge; revenue comes from Scottish Government funding (Short Breaks Fund), Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Renfrewshire Council, public donations, and the wholly-owned Care at Home social enterprise. The organization is governed by a 7-member board of which the majority must be current or former Carers, and operates with approximately 30 staff plus volunteers. It holds GDPR/Data Protection compliance, ICO registration, and the Investing in Volunteers Award (2026), and operates exclusively within the Renfrewshire geography.

Name

Renfrewshire Carers Centre

Legal name

Renfrewshire Carers Centre

Website

https://renfrewshirecarers.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Renfrewshire Carers Centre is a Scottish registered charity providing free information, advice, support, advocacy, short breaks, and training services to unpaid adult and young carers living in Renfrewshire, supplemented by a Care at Home social enterprise and a 2026-launched Carers Hub digital platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Care Support Services for Unpaid Carers

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLADAKAJ

Caregiver Support & Respite Coordination (Assessment/Scheduling/Voucher Navigation)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Elder Care & Long-Term Care/Respite Care Services (Short-Term Elder Care)

SECONDARYHSABAGAD

Emergency / On-Demand Respite Care

Home & Personal Services/Elder Care & In-Home Care Services/Respite Care Services

SECONDARYHSAAAIAL

Respite Care for Families of Children with Disabilities

Home & Personal Services/Childcare, Babysitting & Nanny Services/Special Needs & Inclusive Childcare Services

Keywords

• Carer support services
• Young carer programs
• Short breaks funding
• Community social care
• Charity welfare support

Headquarters

HQ city

Paisley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Funding: Funded through Scottish Government's Short Breaks Fund, Princess Royal Trust for Carers, and Renfrewshire Council. The Time to Live Grant programme is funded through the Scottish Government's Short Breaks Fund.
2. Donations: Accepts donations from public through online donation system
3. Care at Home Social Enterprise: Social enterprise providing personalized social care support services to clients of all ages, generating revenue through care service provision

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Renfrewshire Carers Centre is a registered charity that provides free information, advice, advocacy, one-on-one support, training, emergency planning, short breaks (Time to Live Grants and Carefree hotel breaks), and a Carers Discount Card programme to unpaid adult and young carers in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It also operates a Care at Home social enterprise offering personalised paid home-care support regulated by the Care Inspectorate.

Product overview

Renfrewshire Carers Centre is a registered charity (SC023986) providing comprehensive support services to unpaid carers across Renfrewshire, Scotland. The centre operates as a single integrated service offering multiple interconnected programmes: Adult Carers Support Services (including Support Plans, Emotional Support, Support Groups, Training, Advocacy, and Emergency Planning), Young Carers Service for children aged 8-18, Short Breaks (Time to Live Grants and Carefree partnership), a Carers Discount Card programme, Care at Home social enterprise, and a newly launched Carers Hub digital platform. Supporting services include Citizens Advice Bureau sessions, Legal Surgery with MSM Solicitors, MSP Advice Surgery, and training/e-learning modules. The centre partners with organisations including Aberlour, Barnados, PACE, Active Communities, CREATE Paisley, Shared Care Scotland, and Carefree.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Care at Home: A social enterprise providing high quality, personalised support services to clients of all ages at home and within the community.

Products and services

• Adult Carers Support Services Comprehensive support services for unpaid adult carers in Renfrewshire, including Adult Carer Support Plans, information and advice, emotional support, support groups, training, advocacy, and Carers Emergency Planning. Each registered carer is assigned an Adult Carer Support Worker.
• Young Carers Service Support services for children and young people aged 18 or under who look after someone at home due to illness, disability, mental health problem, or addiction. Includes weekly/monthly support groups (ages 8-18), school holiday respite breaks, school-based support via the Young Carers Education Worker, and creative/social activities in partnership with Aberlour, Barnardos Scotland, PACE Theatre, Active Communities, and CREATE Paisley.
• Short Breaks Grants and breaks to give unpaid carers time away from their caring role. Includes the Time to Live Grant programme (funded through the Scottish Government's Short Breaks Fund via Shared Care Scotland) and the Carefree partnership offering free 1-2 night hotel breaks for unpaid carers (30+ hours/week), up to twice per year.
• Carers Discount Card A digital discount card providing registered carers aged 16 and over with access to discounted goods and services from local businesses across Renfrewshire, including restaurants, salons, wellness services, and retail.
• Care at Home Social enterprise providing high quality, personalised social care support services to clients of all ages at home and within the community. Service range from a few hours to 24 hours per day, covering meal support, medication assistance, respite, overnight support, escort to appointments, social activities, and day trips. Regulated by the Care Inspectorate.
• Advocacy Service One-to-one advocacy service supporting carers to understand their rights, explore choices, communicate with services, challenge unfair decisions, and navigate complex systems including social work, health, hospital discharge, and housing.
• Training and E-Learning Short training courses helping carers improve caring skills and knowledge. Courses cover specific conditions (Dementia, Autism, ADHD, Stroke), wellbeing (stress management, relaxation, mindfulness, meditation, yoga), and information (POA/Guardianship, Benefits, First Aid, Carers rights, Hospital discharge). Includes a Young Carer E-Learning module for school staff and healthcare professionals.
• Carers Emergency Planning Service to create an Emergency Plan detailing the immediate care needs of the person being cared for, including support needs, daily routine, risks, and family contacts. Carers receive a Carers Emergency Card to alert services that a care plan is in place.
• Carers Hub Digital Platform A 24/7 digital platform providing unpaid carers with online access to support, information, local services, finances, training, and breaks. Available via browser on mobile, tablet, and computer, and as a mobile app.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CarefreecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering free 1-2 night breaks for unpaid carers twice a year, donated from hotels across the UK. Breaks offered to full-time unpaid carers (30+ hours weekly) aged over 18, plus a companion. Renfrewshire Carers Centre covers the £38 admin fee for one break per year.
• AberlourcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing social activities for Young Carers alongside Renfrewshire Carers Centre
• Barnardos ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing social activities and support for Young Carers
• PACE TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing performing arts activities for Young Carers
• Active CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing community activities for Young Carers
• CREATE PaisleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing creative activities for Young Carers
• Renfrewshire Citizens Advice BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB adviser present at Carers Centre weekly on Tuesday from 10am-3pm providing benefits check, income maximisation, benefit applications, energy advice, housing advice and complaints support
• MSM SolicitorscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal Surgery held on fourth Thursday of every month providing information about Wills, Powers of Attorney, Advance Directives, Guardianship and Trusts. Partnership with Solicitors for Older People Scotland.
• RAMH (Recovery Across Mental Health)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Renfrewshire Carers Centre to develop Mental Health Information Booklet for carers looking after someone with a mental health condition
• Tom Arthur MSPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMSP Carers Advice Surgery held on last Friday of every month for carers to discuss issues with local representative
• Michelle Campbell MSPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAlternating monthly MSP Carers Advice Surgery held on last Friday of every month
• Renfrewshire Health & Social Care PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for completion of Adult Carer Support Plans when caring role is deemed critical/substantial level, and referral pathway for Self-Directed Support
• The Wise GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization promoting Relational Mentoring service at Caring Matters Financial Wellbeing Roadshow
• Carers TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational carers organization providing resources and support information for carers
• Carers ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational carers organization providing information and support resources

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Crossroads Care Scotland: Scotland-wide provider of respite care and carer support services, including regulated home-based respite. Operates a similar dual model of charitable funding plus service-delivery contracts, comparable to Renfrewshire Carers Centre's Care at Home arm.
• Glasgow Carers Centre: A direct local peer operating in the neighbouring Glasgow City area, delivering the same model of free information, advice, advocacy, training, and short breaks to unpaid adult and young carers. Highly comparable in services, governance, and Scottish-local-authority funding structure.
• Shared Care Scotland: National charity focused on short breaks and respite for unpaid carers. Administrates the Scottish Government's Short Breaks Fund that funds Renfrewshire Carers Centre's Time to Live Grant programme, making it both a partner and a closely aligned peer in the respite/short-breaks sub-segment.
• Dundee Carers Centre: Local carers centre in Dundee offering Adult Carer Support Plans, young carers services, training, and short breaks through Scottish Government and local-authority funding. Closely analogous in scale, mission, and operating geography.
• Edinburgh Carers Council: Edinburgh-based carers support charity providing independent advocacy, information, and carer representation through a similar carer-led governance model. Direct local peer with overlapping service lines and shared statutory-funding dynamics.

Emerging players

• Alzheimer Scotland: National charity focused on dementia support, providing information, advice, and dementia-specific carer support services across Scotland. Partial-overlap peer where many of Renfrewshire Carers Centre's clients care for someone with dementia.

Regional players

• VOCAL (Voice of Carers Across Lothian): Carer-led charity operating in the Lothian region offering similar information, advocacy, training, and short breaks services. Regional peer with comparable model and Scottish-local-authority funding profile, but in a non-overlapping geographic territory.

Broad incumbents

• Age Scotland: National charity supporting older people in Scotland, including older carers and those being cared for. Broader-incumbent peer with overlapping target population and information/advice services, but with a wider remit beyond unpaid-carer-specific support.
• Carers Trust Scotland: National network body for carers centres across Scotland. Provides policy voice, resources, and brand affiliation to member centres including Renfrewshire Carers Centre; not a direct local competitor but a broader-incumbent ecosystem player.
• Carers Scotland: Scottish arm of Carers UK providing information, policy advocacy, and awareness campaigns for unpaid carers across Scotland. A national peer that competes for awareness and policy influence but does not deliver local support plans directly.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RenfrewshireCarers
• Facebookfacebook.com/RCarers
• Instagraminstagram.com/rcarerscentre
• Xx.com/Rcarers

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Renfrewshire Carers Centre