Schoolchildren enjoyed a 'wee sleep out' to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by homeless people

The children from junior four to six at St Columba's School in Kilmacolm camped out overnight on the floor of the main hall to support Social Bite - a social enterprise which aims to end homelessness in Scotland.

The pupils also organised a ‘Wear what you want day’ and a bake sale which helped to raise over £2,500 for the charity.

Isaac Roebuck, a junior 5 pupil at St Columba’s, said it was an eye opening evening.

He said: "It was a great experience that we have all learnt a lot from."

The children are participating in a number of events to highlight the struggles that many people living in the area face on a daily basis, and to support Foodbanks and Social Bite.

Mrs Duncan, who is the head of the junior school at St Columba’s, said: "As we continue to develop our children's growing sense of compassion and social responsibility we strengthen our engagement with local and national charities.

"It is a pleasure to see the children and their families coming on board so readily with the ideas that we all have for developing such a depth of social awareness.

"The children have fully embraced the cause and found the Wee Sleep Out to be enlightening and also humbling.

"My hope is that our children will grow with a keen understanding of the world around them and a desire to participate in society for its benefit and good.”

A weekly foodbank collection is in place at St Columba’s between now and Christmas, with junior school pupils gathering items for Renfrewshire Foodbank while the senior school collect for the Inverclyde Foodbank.

Junior school children will also participate in a 'Reverse Advent Calendar' where they bring something in for the foodbank box under the school's Christmas tree.

The senior school is also participating in the annual Spirit of Christmas gift collection by donating presents in aid of a specialist mental health and well-being support organisation.