A LIFELINE food redistribution project to reduce waste and help struggling individuals and families has been launched in Greenock's west end.

The Creative Inverclyde West End Hub has set up a foodshare scheme to stop food from being needlessly binned - and provide welcome supplies for people who need a helping hand.

Greenock woman Gaynor Lochhead is leading the initiative, with help from dedicated volunteers from all over Inverclyde.

The foodshare team have joined forces with Belville Community Garden and supermarkets across Inverclyde to create a redistribution network, which will be based at the Scout Hall in Finnart Street.

Surplus food from across the district will be delivered to Gaynor and the team and it will be made available for free for people to collect.

Gaynor said: "There is a perception that poverty doesn’t exist in the west end of Greenock and that we don’t have our struggles.

"This area is no different from anywhere else - but due to stigma people who are struggling are often too embarrassed and ashamed to come out and admit their struggles."

Gaynor says that at the start of lockdown last year, she realised that the west end wasn't equipped to help as many people as it could.

She believes the area needs a community hub and says it would be particularly important for people living on their own.

Gaynor added: "Other areas sprung to life with volunteers hitting the ground running but I was painfully aware that our area just wasn’t ready or equipped for that.

"The west end is a huge sprawling area with no central community hub.

"While there are pockets of community, there are a lot of isolated families and individuals."

Gaynor hopes that the foodshare project will be the start of a growing community movement.

She said: "It's going to be a massive benefit to the west end on so many levels and is just the stepping stone to something a lot bigger.

"I’ve had a huge positive response and people are really excited about it."

Gaynor has thanked Tommy Boag from the 70th Scouts for allowing use of the grounds, and Laura and Sue at Belville Community Garden for their support.

The first West End Foodshare ran in the Scout Hall this week and more will now follow each Wednesday from noon-2pm.

Visitors are reminded to bring a bag, wear a mask and observe social distancing guidelines.