Irvine families will benefit from a new project helping tackle food poverty, wellbeing, learning and attainment.

£25,000 has been donated by the Asda Foundation to an innovative project, led by national charity Children in Scotland, to help support Food, Families, Futures.

This is a Scotland-wide programme that has been working with communities in North Ayrshire which have significant levels of child poverty.

This substantial funding boost will primarily be used in Irvine to help the programme continue to improve the health and wellbeing of children and improve the engagement and confidence of parents in their children’s learning.

The long-term aim is that the scheme becomes self-sustainable, and the Asda Foundation grant will help bring this one step closer.

When put into action in Irvine later this year, the Food, Families, Futures project will support the breakfast clubs and fun activities – such as arts, crafts and sports – for children, as well as the provision of nutritious meals.

For parents on low incomes, this means an extra meal every day to ensure their children get the nutrition they need. There are also plans to run summer holiday clubs incorporating activities and healthy eating.

Amanda McColl, community champion at Asda Irvine, said: “Families on lower incomes can find feeding their children, providing childcare and activities over the summer holidays a difficult and stressful task – so we are trying to make their lives a little be easier. We’re really please the Asda Foundation can donate £25,000 to Children In Scotland, this will go a long way in helping keep Food, Families, Futures going and give more support to families and children that need it most.”

Jackie Brock, Chief Executive of Children in Scotland, added: “We are very grateful for this support from Asda. It will allow Irvine pupils to be more active before and after the school day, and hopefully throughout the holidays, by making the best use of the activities available.

“Our national programme Food, Families, Futures is a powerful demonstration of how third sector and businesses can work together to support positive activities and healthy eating at school, with the support and engagement of the wider community.”

Visit charities.asda.com/asda-foundation.