More than 2,000 children from across Inverclyde enjoyed free summer fun this year thanks to the council.

The local authority commissioned Inverclyde Leisure to provide seven free playschemes across the area for four weeks of the school summer holiday.

It funded the initiative through £23,250 from its anti-poverty fund to ensure the playschemes were free as part of its ongoing support for residents and families struggling with the cost of living crisis.

Councillors on the local authority’s policy and resources committee on Tuesday, November 21 heard that more than 2,000 children with an average age of 8 attended the free playschemes with the service being accessed around 8,000 times. This was an increase of around 2,000 from previous years.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council and convener of the Policy and Resources Committee, said: “The free playscheme was clearly a success with an increase of more than 2,000 attendees compared to last summer.

“We are proud of the initiatives we have in place to support families and young people.

“As well as being the first council in Scotland to introduce free school meals for all primary school children from August this year, we also offer an enhanced school uniform grant.

“Of course council funds are not limitless but I’m proud that, with the support of my fellow councillors, once again we’ve been able to use our resources to help ease the burden on working families.”

Councillor Kirsty Law, Inverclyde’s Young People’s Champion, added: “The free playschemes were well received and provided important support to children and working families during the school summer break.

“I am proud that Inverclyde Council does so much to support children and young people and this is another example of that.”

The playschemes were provided at Kilmacolm, St Michael’s, St Patrick’s, Moorfoot, Inverkip and Wemyss Bay primary schools as well as Auchmountain Community Centre.