Youngsters with additional support needs are being sent on summer holidays thanks to a local charity

An Inverclyde children's charity has teamed with Craigmarloch School again to send pupils on a summer break with their families.

It is the second year in a row Children in Poverty Inverclyde has stepped in with the kind gesture.

Craigmarloch's depute head told the Tele that it has had a knock on effect for the school and helped them build a real community.

She said: "Honestly it is such a brilliant project.

"The families go away at the same time.

"It gives the children time to spend with their friends and the parents get to know each other.

"We noticed a big difference this year, it was a really successful year and more than 200 people came to our school barbecue.

"Our families come from all over Inverclyde and can live miles apart.

"These holidays have made a huge difference to the school - the children talk about it all the time.

"For some of them last year was their first holiday away."

Children in Poverty Inverclyde successfully applied for nearly £10,000 from Better Breaks to help the additional support needs school.

Primary four pupil Alanna McLean is one of those to benefit.

She said: "We went last year and we stayed in a caravan.

"I went with my mum, dad and my sister and it was really good."

Children in Poverty has also used thousands of pounds of donations to fund holidays for around 150 other children.

Up until now they have sent families to Hunters Quay near Dunoon but this year they are using two locations, with some families going to Wemyss Bay Caravan Park instead.

Charity founder Pat Burke said: "We are just delighted to help Craigmarloch.

"It is worth it to see the smile on the kids' faces."