A GROUP of North Ayrshire Council workers have received further recognition after receiving a national award for an innovative childcare scheme.

The Facilities Management group added to its award-winning status at The 2015 Herald Society Awards as it won ‘Team of the Year Award’ at the glittering awards ceremony for the difference has made to improving the lives of young people in Scotland.

It is not the first time they have been recognised for improving young people's lives as they were highlighted on BBC News earlier this year for delivering free school meals throughout the school holidays.

The initiative saw primary school children receive a hot meal outwith the school term. Crucially, it did not discriminate between children entitled to free school meals and those who pay for them - it made them available to all children who wanted to be with their friends and enjoy the holiday activities.

The successful initiative is a result of a strong partnership with a whole host of council services, including staff from Education, Connected Communities and the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

Cabinet Member for Place, Councillor Tony Gurney, is delighted that Facilities Management have scooped the award.

He said: “Facilities Management show time and again just how innovative and creative they can be. Their free school meals initiative is a beacon of award-winning best practice and a true reflection of the team’s commitment to social inclusion.

“Their values underpin every initiative they undertake and they consistently challenge themselves to improve on the excellent service they already deliver. I am personally delighted that they have been formally recognised through The Herald Society award.

"It will act as an integral reminder of the difference the team has made to improving the lives of North Ayrshire’s children.”

The awards ceremony took place on Wednesday, November 4 in Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza Hotel with the awards recognising the vital impact of the best work taking place in the public and voluntary sector.