PROJECTS supporting children and young people, households struggling with the cost of eating and heating, and people who are isolated have been given a financial boost by Inverclyde Council.
The local authority’s policy and resources committee agreed to grant £351,000 to five projects as part of its anti-poverty fund. They include:
— £80,000 to allow Grieve Road Pantry to continue to operate till March 2028 while seeking alternative funding
— £45,000 to continue and expand free summer playschemes until the end of summer 2028
— £66,000 to refurbish Auchmountain laundrette which provides subsidised washing and drying facilities to more than 1,500 members
— £140,000 to continue the Warm Hand of Friendship initiative to June 2028
— £20,000 as ongoing support for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme which ensures all interested young people aged 14 to 24 in Inverclyde can take part at no cost.
Councillor Robert Moran, convener of the committee said: “It is always heartening for us as councillors to hear about the difference these Inverclyde Council-supported projects are making in the community.
“We have to keep a tight grip on the purse strings as a council so that we are able to continue supporting vital projects like these.
“It’s great that, for example, 415 young people took part in the Duke of Edinburgh last year and more than 7,000 people were supported at projects funded by the Warm Hand of Friendship.
“These kinds of projects make a real difference to people’s lives and we’re delighted to be able to continue to fund them.”
The committee also heard updates on other anti-poverty initiatives including:
— Supporting homeless people to buy basics such as carpets and washing machines
— Funding to the i58 Foodbank to make and distribute 6,000 food bags as well as smaller grants to the Belville Community Garden Trust, the Salvation Army, Inverclyde Homeless Forum at St Mary’s, and Church Angels which provide food support over the winter
— Amendments to the Working Age Winter Fuel Support Scheme to ensure people get the support they need
— Continuing to enhance the Scottish Government’s free school meals in primary schools by also offering it to P6 and P7 pupils and increasing the primary school clothing grant from £120 to £150 to bring it in line with secondary schools.
