PLAYSCHEMES are up and running at venues across Inverclyde to support families during the school holidays.
Inverclyde Council is fully funding sessions at seven centres to ensure they are free to enjoy for school-age children, helping parents keep costs down during the summer break.
Playschemes are being managed by Inverclyde Leisure and got underway on Monday, including at St Patrick’s Primary in Greenock, which is a mainstream playscheme but also has staff specifically trained to look after children with additional support needs (ASN).
The other venues are: Kilmacolm Primary, St Michael’s Primary, Lady Alice Primary, Moorfoot Primary, Wemyss Bay Primary, and Auchmountain Resource Centre.
There are two sessions each day — morning and afternoon — throughout July to cover the summer holidays. The playscheme at Auchmountain Resource Centre runs for three weeks from 6 July on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
Councillor Natasha McGuire, depute leader of Inverclyde Council and vice-convener of communities, said: “Playschemes have been part of the school summer holidays for generations and lots of people across the area have fond memories of attending them as kids.
“That’s why we, as a council, are funding playschemes once again so that the current generation of young people can enjoy them, make new friends, and create their own memories while giving hard-working families a helping hand.
“We know how difficult and expensive it can be to keep children entertained during the summer break and the playschemes are part of a packed programme of events and activities running throughout July to support families and keep young minds active and engaged outside of the classroom.
“I’m also pleased that our summer of fun programme continues to be fully inclusive with sessions specifically provided for children with additional needs and their families.”
More than 9,100 children attended playschemes across seven venues in 2025, an increase of 11 per cent on attendance during summer 2024.
Inverclyde Council allocated around £85,000 towards playschemes, including £45,000 from its anti-poverty fund, to keep them free to attend through until summer 2028.
Playschemes are part of a wider package of summer activities being organised by the local authority and partners which are funded so that they are free to attend or subsidised to make them affordable for families.
Some events are being run as part of the Summer of Sport initiative, funded by the Scottish Government and facilitated by sportscotland with Inverclyde receiving £165,000 to support local activities.
Other activities in the summer programme include free swimming and ASN family swims at the Waterfront Leisure Complex and Port Glasgow Pool, and an inflatable fun zone at Greenock Sports Centre with ASN sessions on Fridays between 9 and 10am.
There is also an ASN fun zone every Tuesday during July from 2.30 to 4.30pm at Lady Octavia Sports Centre.
The council’s Active Schools Team is running a variety of sports-based activities and the youth work service is organising everything from pizza-making and art classes to BMX coaching and pool and darts competitions, all at various outdoor and indoor locations.
More information about Inverclyde Council’s summer programme is available on the council website at www.inverclyde.gov.uk/summer and details about activities being delivered by Inverclyde Leisure are available at inverclydeleisure.com/summer-of-fun.
