GROUPS and venues across Inverclyde have been awarded almost £90,000 to provide residents with access to warm spaces during the cold winter months.
Fifty-nine one-off grants from Inverclyde Council’s Warm Hand of Friendship initiative have been awarded to organisations including churches, community centres, sports clubs and charities.
Scroll down for full list
Funding will be used to support a variety of activities between December 2025 and March 2026, including at Boglestone Community Centre in Port Glasgow which will be offering a warm space every Tuesday after the school day thanks to a £2,000 Warm Hand of Friendship grant. Families will be able to access soft play and enjoy a hot refreshment or soup for free.
It is one of three Inverclyde Leisure-run community facilities receiving support along with Ravenscraig Activity Centre and the Waterfront Leisure Complex.
Since launching the fund in 2022, the council has distributed close to £375,000. In September 2024 the initiative was extended for another three years until 2027 with £560,000 committed towards it by Inverclyde Council.
Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “As a council, we have a proud track record of supporting residents during the harsh winter months through various initiatives, including Warm Hand of Friendship which has been hugely successful.
“Working alongside many of the wonderful community organisations we have right across Inverclyde, we are able to offer residents access to a warm space, practical advice, and tackle social isolation.
“It also provides much-needed financial support to these community groups at a difficult time of year and encourages residents to make the most of the first-class facilities we have right on our doorsteps.
“Whether it’s popping along somewhere for a cuppa, enjoying soft play with the wee ones, or trying something new, Warm Hand of Friendship offers something for all ages and abilities.”
A grant of £1,500 has been made to Ravenscraig Activity Centre to provide access soft play and refreshments while £800 has been awarded to the Waterfront Leisure Complex to support a community curling initiative with food and drinks to encourage social interaction.
An Inverclyde Leisure spokesperson said: “We are pleased to have successfully secured funding from Inverclyde Council through Warm Hand of Friendship grants.
“This support will allow us to provide catering and a variety of activities across Inverclyde Leisure facilities, helping to create welcoming spaces for our community during the colder months.
“These sessions will include inflatable play sessions for children, soft play, and a range of refreshments and catering options throughout the community.”
Further details about all Warm Hand of Friendship activities will be published soon.
All successful Warm Hand of Friendship applicants have been notified and payments processed. The fund remains open for further applications which will be reviewed directly after the Christmas break.
More information about Inverclyde’s Warm Hand of Friendship, including how to apply for funding and where to access help and support, is available from the council website at www.inverclyde.gov.uk/warmspaces.
Full list of grants:
| WARM HANDS OF FRIENDSHIP 2025/26 | ||||
| Organisation name | Application details | Amount Requested | Amount Awarded | |
| 1 | Greenock & District Nautical Youth Trust | A range of accessible activities will be offered, tailored to different ages and abilities, with an emphasis on creating a warm and welcoming environment | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 2 | Children in Poverty Inverclyde | Winter clothing for school children | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 3 | Inverclyde Faith in Throughcare | Provision of food/clothing vouchers for service users and social activity/ Christmas dinner outing | £2,250.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 4 | Creative Regeneration | Offering regular daytime drop in sessions at The Old Library, Gourock throughout the winter period, offering free hot drinks, home-made soup and information about adult and young people’s activities for people to engage in | £900.00 | £620.00 |
| 5 | Craig Molloy Coaching CIC | Hall hire and food and drink for children following Saturday morning sessions, includes ASN children | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 6 | Ravenscraig Centre | Provision of warm space every week- soft play provision and hot refreshments | £1,975.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 7 | Wellington Park Bowling Club | Provision of warm space every Sunday with activities and food/hot drinks. | £2,000.00 | £1,400.00 |
| 8 | Grieve Road Community Centre | Offer of warm place and food via extending hours on existing Thursday sessions. Lets, food, transport and sundries | £2,970.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 9 | Greenock Southwest Community Council | Provision of warm space weekly with hot food/refreshments | £2,300.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 10 | Inverclyde Athletics | Hydration and Replenishment initiative for junior athletes who receive nutritional advice and food after sessions. Inclusion sessions for young people at Ravenscraig | £1,440.00 | £1,000.00 |
| 11 | Hope Community Church ( part of Elim church which is registered charity) | Provision of warm space with food and drinks provided | £3,234.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 12 | St Johns Church Gourock | Extended provision of Bowl & Blether to twice a month, hosting Ukrainian community group and several one off events – family ceilidh, quiz night, evening for those recently bereaved and family film night | £2,500.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 13 | Auchmountain Centre | Provision of food boxes for young mums, vouchers for families with toddlers, soup and sandwich day and hot refreshment for all users | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 14 | Craigend Resource Centre | Provision of warm space daily and hot drink/baking two days a week. Free meal would be offered to those identified as most in need | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 15 | Inverclyde Ukrainian Group | Provision of a warm, welcoming space for the community to gather, celebrate, and learn together. Introducing Ukrainian culinary masterclasses to share traditional recipes, along with Speaking Clubs in Ukrainian and English, creating lively spaces for conversation and cultural exchange | £3,000.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 16 | Inverclyde Community Care Forum (Your Voice) | Provision of warm space at weekly drop in at Old Gourock and Ashton Church and Your voice ‘Cozy Corner’ offering hot food, advice and exercise session | £2,970.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 17 | Gourock Park Bowling Club | Provision of warm space and entertainment and hot drinks | £2,250.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 18 | Inverclyde Shed | Offering a variety of sessions and hot drink in heated accommodation limiting loneliness and social isolation | £3,000.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 19 | Mount Kirk | Provision of warm space and food/hot drink every Friday and warm clothing/toiletries to those in need | £1,800.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 20 | Inverclyde Association for Mental Health (Broomhill Gardens and Community Hub) | Provision of weekly lunch group with opportunity to socialise and use the facilities | £2,360.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 21 | Beacon Arts Centre | Materials, refreshment and warm space for Inverclyde Women Create – participant led arts for women from diverse range of backgrounds/cultures | £1,000.00 | £800.00 |
| 22 | Boglestone Activity Centre | Provision of warm space every Tuesday after the school day – soft play provision and hot refreshments/soup | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 23 | Greenock Torpedo Factory Club | Provision of ‘Soup and Blether’ for the elderly every Friday | £3,000.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 24 | Home Start Inverclyde | Provision of hot food to the 7 groups currently operating ensuring they are warm and fed encouraging more social interaction | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 25 | Inverkip Community Initiative | Provision of 6 community lunches at the hub | £2,620.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 26 | Larkfield Community Centre | Provision of warm space with food and drinks provided | £3,000.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 27 | Gibshill Community Centre | Provision of warm space with soup/ sandwiches and groceries for the community fridge | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 28 | Compassionate Inverclyde | Provision of warm space and lunch at the weekly Friendship Hub, St Johns Church. A further 5 social events including Christmas and Burns day | £2,740.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 29 | Clyde Coast Radio | Travel for disabled presenters, refreshments and equipment for station | £3,000.00 | £500.00 |
| 30 | Port Glasgow New Parish Church | Continuation of the Friday Chatty Café and 2 new initiatives giving a warm space. Additional family meal events being held monthly | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 31 | Old West Esplanade | Opening of church halls offering good and space to socialise. Working in partnership with Vineyard Church to run events | £2,901.00 | £1,600.00 |
| 32 | Youth Connections | Provision of warm space with soup/ sandwiches and groceries for the community fridge | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 33 | Waterfront Leisure Complex | Support towards a community curling initiative with free food and drinks provided to encourage social interaction | £2,313.00 | £800.00 |
| 34 | The Wyllieum | Provision of warm space every Wednesday-Sunday with activities and hot drinks/snack available | £3,000.00 | £1,800.00 |
| 35 | Moving On Inverclyde | Provision of lunch twice weekly to those accessing services | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 36 | Families in the Know Inverclyde | Provision of warm welcoming space weekly with food and drinks provided | £1,710.00 | £1,000.00 |
| 37 | Greenock Glenpark Harriers | Support towards bus hire for young athletes to attend races and supplies for trackside cafeteria | £3,000.00 | £480.00 Conditional |
| 38 | Caddlehill Community Green Space | Support towards equipment for community ‘hub’ cabin, utility costs and 2 community social events. | £1,400.00 | £700.00 Conditional |
| 39 | Oak Tree Housing Association | Provision of Winter Warmer Café – warm space with hot food and opportunity to socialise | £1,600.00 | £1,600.00 |
| 40 | The Trust | Social spaces for people to attend to take part in activities, socialise and keep warm – catering provided | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 41 | St Patricks Church | Provision of warm space and food as well as warm clothing to those who attend the church foodbank | £1,700.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 42 | 1st Gourock Scouts | Provision of a drop in café every Tuesday for all ages during the winter months offering warm space and food/hot drinks | £3,000.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 43 | Ardgowan Hospice | Provision of warm Mylife hubs supporting communities during the winter months | £3,000.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 44 | Inverclyde Family Contact Centre | Provision of Tea, Toast and Tots sessions. Warm space providing nurturing support and children’s clothing swap | £2,400.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 45 | Fort Matilda Bowling Club | Provision of warm space for weekly social activity in the afternoon | £1,000.00 | £750.00 |
| 46 | Morton in the Community | Support to enhance and expand on existing wellbeing programmes – warm space with good and drink provided | £2,145.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 47 | The Ripe Bunch | Support to offer outings to several local projects enabling members to continue to meet and socialise during the winter months | £1,728.50 | £1,000.00 |
| 48 | Inverclyde Veterans Network | Support for various ‘pop-up’ sessions over the winter months where veterans and their families can socialise together | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 49 | Inverclyde Cricket Club | Support for two open days to encourage the community to learn the sport | £1,150.00 | £800.00 |
| 50 | Larkfield Housing Association | Provision of warm space at soup and blether sessions at Larkfield Community Hall | £2,750.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 51 | Ardgowan Thistle FC | Support for winter warmer bags for club members and those most in need within the local community | £3,000.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 52 | Inverclyde Community Care Forum (Your Voice – Recovery) | Provision of warm space at the Recovery Hub offering hot food, clothing and support | £2,950.00 | £1,000.00 |
| 53 | Branchton Community Centre | Provision of warm space and community meal 3 days per week during the winter months | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 54 | Grosvenor Bowling Club | Support to open club every Sunday afternoon during the winter months providing warm space with hot drink/ snacks | £2,142.00 | £1,000.00 |
| 55 | Westburn Parish Church | Continuation of service providing warm space every Wednesday with tea, coffee and soup | £2,350.00 | £1,500.00 |
| 56 | Parklea Association Branching Out | Provision of winter programme offering warm space, hot drinks/food, activities and support | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 57 | RIG Arts | Provision of warm space and creative textile workshops for older adults | £3,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| 58 | Greenock Sports Centre (Live Active) | Weekly social support – hot drink/snack and an opportunity to socialise with others in a warm space after class. Participants have been referred to Live Active exercise referral programme | £750.00 | £500.00 |
| 59 | Inverkip Church | Provision of warm space every Monday offering soup, rolls, hot drink | £1,090.00 | £1,090.00 |
| TOTALS | £145,388.50 | £89,760.00 | ||
