This week is Challenge Poverty Week, and this annual event aims to shine a light on the challenges and issues many families are facing.

There are simply too many people living on the breadline, or worse, and child poverty is of particular concern.

We are committed to tackling child poverty, and we will continue to make the case alongside our partners at COSLA for additional support from the Scottish and UK Governments to address the root causes.

While more can always be done, there is already a lot of good work happening throughout the area already led by or supported by the Council and Challenge Poverty Week presents an opportunity to highlight that positive work.

We remain the only Scottish council to provide universal free school meals to all primary pupils, and we recently extended the successful Warm Hand of Friendship initiative for another three years.

The council provides school clothing grants above the statutory minimum, there’s free swimming for under-16s during holiday periods, we’re leading the way by piloting a national affordable childcare programme, and we’re running various business support initiatives and last week hosted the latest Inverclyde Jobs Fair, all aimed at creating employment opportunities and boosting the local economy.

Poverty will not be eradicated overnight and there are many underlying issues, but we are doing what we can to provide the types of support needed to try and lift people out of poverty.

Baby Loss Awareness

Today marks the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week.

This is a week that has added poignancy for me personally and my thoughts and prayers are with others out there who have suffered the loss of a child.

The Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow sculpture will be lit pink and blue to mark this annual commemoration and to help raise awareness of baby loss and the support that’s available for anyone who has suffered the loss of a child.

There is also the Tree of Tranquillity within Gourock Park that I know has provided comfort to so many since it was installed in 2020 thanks to local mum Karyn Jenkins and charity SiMBA with support from the Council.

It is a unique, hand-crafted, copper tree with each leaf engraved with babies’ names and special messages.

More information about the tree is available from SiMBA.

City Deal 10-year anniversary

On Friday, I joined fellow Council leaders and representatives from the UK and Scottish governments to mark 10 years of the Glasgow City Region City Deal and to reflect on what has been achieved through the £1.13 billion of funding provided by both governments.

The Glasgow Region Deal is one of the largest and the most advanced in the UK and has delivered a range of high-profile projects, including the new Greenock cruise facilities.

The floating pontoon and the visitor centre was one of three major infrastructure projects the council secured the best part of £30m towards.

The others are Inchgreen Marine Park and the Inverkip road infrastructure project.

The Inchgreen development was completed earlier this year with improvements made to the wider site to attract further inward investment and jobs and the Inverkip project is progressing with the aim of making road improvements to pave the way for 650 homes and commercial space at the former Inverkip power station site.

These are three major developments aimed at making a variety of improvements right across the area and the wider Glasgow City Region.

I will continue to press both governments for additional support for Inverclyde to help develop our infrastructure, attract jobs, and provide better opportunities for residents.