Financial Inclusion Network
FIN News: 22 October 202 25
Welcome to this week's Financial Inclusion Network news
The Financial Inclusion Network is an informal group of over 250 members taken from the Public and Third Sectors which covers all areas of South Lanarkshire. This network is to share information from a wide range of themes. We hope to provide a new update each week that can be accessed by all members at any time to see what is going on in the area under the headings below. If you would like an item included within our weekly news, please complete our short online form here: https://forms.office.com/e/Ht5w7iAuFi. For further information, please email communities@southlanarkshire.gov.uk
Money is not the only problem – Education
Limiting the Cost of the School Day is at the heart of every school. Schools are determined poverty will not become a barrier to success in school.
https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/directory/182/money_is_not_the_only_problem/category/520
Community Networking Event
Below are two YouTube videos from the recent Community Networking event we hosted during Challenge Poverty Week.
- Community Networking Event (CNE) Video 1 –
South Lanarkshire is now one of three Marmot Places in Scotland and more than ever individuals, groups and organisations are networking to share ideas and take action to fight poverty and improve opportunity for people who live and work in the area.
- CNE Period Positive Video 2 –
Hey Girls were one of the stallholders at the recent Community Networking Event held in Council headquarters as part of Challenge Poverty Week. Here they talk about the work to alleviate period poverty in South Lanarkshire.
Community Links - Winter Warmer Land
Winter Warmer Land - a free cosy community event designed to help you stay warm and save money this winter season. Free clothing, coats, draught excluders and hot soup! The first winter event is Friday 24 October at Burnbank Community Hub (Gilmour and Whitehill Church) from 10-1pm. The second is at the former Blantyre Library on Monday 10 November from 11-2pm.
For more information call 01698 827583 or visit the website - www.communitylinkssl.co.uk
Recycle your electrical cables for International E-Waste Day
For International E-Waste Day, the council is encouraging residents to recycle their spare and broken electrical cables
The Great Cable Challenge is a national campaign to encourage residents to recycle their old, unused and broken electrical cables
For more information please visit our story on the view:
Lived Experience Fund
The Lived Experience Fund supports local organisations to capture the voices of South Lanarkshire residents to help share better services and policies. Grants of up to £500 are available that supports residents facing poverty, inequality or deprivation.
For further information and to apply visit the Community Planning website :- https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/cp/info/44/challenging_poverty/63/lived_experience_fund
USwitch
You may be able to qualify for 25 hours of free electricity. To find out more - https://www.uswitch.com/mobile-app/power-hours/25-hours-free-electricity/
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 2025 brochure can be found at this link -
https://www.mhfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MHF_SMHAF25_Brochure_A5.pdf
The festival will be running from 20 October to 9 November 2025 and the Lanarkshire events can be found on pages 32-37 of the brochure.
Rebel Business School – free five day business start up course
Turning Dreams into Reality – Free Business Start-Up Course
The Rebel Business School is an award-winning organisation on a mission to revolutionise how entrepreneurship is taught, is offering a free five-day course designed to empower people to turn their ideas into income—no business plan or funding required.
Rutherglen Town Hall, 3-7 November 2025, 10am to 2pm daily – https://therebelschool.com/south-lanarkshire/
