AN INVERCLYDE community sports club is looking for a 'bounce' from local businesses as it tries to encourage more women to take up the sport.

Craig McNeil is a co-founder of a volunteer-based community kids' basketball club called BOUNCE Basketball Inverclyde.

Earlier this year the club got involved in the Active Inverclyde initiative which is based around active people, communities, partnership and environment.

Craig, who is also a member of Inverclyde Sports Council, said: "We ran a pilot project called BOUNCE Start!, which was an eight-week initiative for women who were not physically active at all, but wanted to make a start somewhere.

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"Many people struggle to find time for themselves as they balance work and family priorities, and when they do find the time, some don't feel comfortable in environments such as gyms, swimming pools.

"The sessions were delivered within an environment for like-minded women with common challenges, and a willingness to make that initial small change that would lead to them becoming more active and to feeling benefits in terms of improved physical and mental health.

"These sessions were a huge success, and led to this group asking that we continue to run the sessions."

Craig said the success was due to the content of the activities.

"These were drills and games that we use with the kids in our club environment," he continued. 

"These drills are easy to pick up - no basketball experience is required - but most importantly they are fun for those engaging.

"The original group consisted of women aged from 15 to 71, with everyone able to engage at a pace that suits them."

The initial pilot was funded by Inverclyde Sports Council and the Ravenscraig Sport Hub through the club's affiliations with both organisations.

The club started a second eight-week block of sessions last month, with the help of a local business who agreed to provide the sponsorship that covers the let costs.

But Craig is now looking to attract a wider pool of small local businesses who would consider a partnership with the club as a sponsor, allowing the project to continue helping those who take part and attracting more people in future.

He says the project would cost around £2,000 to run for a year, and is hoping that eight local businesses will step up to donate £250 each - as one firm, Pawsitively Purrfect Pet Services, run by Christina O'Donnell, already has.

The sessions run on a Monday night at Inverclyde Academy.

For more information or to offer your help as a sponsor email bouncebasketballinverclyde@gmail.com.