A SHOCKING new study shows that in pockets of Inverclyde's poorest areas not one young person went to university in the last year.

One of the most in-depth reports ever published on child poverty locally has exposed a huge gap in the number of young people who enrol for higher education from the most deprived part of the district compared to better-off neighbourhoods.

Within some of the 'most deprived' zones in Inverclyde no 17 to 21-year-olds at all went to study at uni.

This compares with up to 22 per cent of young people from other neighbourhoods just a few minutes away.

Greenock councillor and anti-poverty campaigner Colin Jackson says the findings in the Child Poverty Action report are 'shameful and 'heartbreaking'.

The report also highlights a depressing wider economic picture locally, with a lack of highly-paid jobs and an increasing reliance on the benefit system, compounded by Covid-19.

Councillor Jackson said: "The levels of inequality in Inverclyde are shameful.

"It is heart-breaking that economic inequality is on the rise and denying so many of our young people the chance of going to university.

"The primary cause of child poverty in Inverclyde is the lack of opportunities for the parents - the lack of decent jobs means they are either reliant on a benefit system that seeks to punish not support, or the only jobs available are low skill and low paid.

"They don’t go anywhere near to providing a family with the level of income that would lift them out of poverty.

"Parents on low pay also need to work longer hours, so this makes it is very difficult to balance the economic demands of raising a family and spending time with their children.

"Many young people here go to school hungry and simply can’t afford social activities.

"This can lead to a lack of confidence, low self-esteem and increased mental health problems.

"Applying for university is a difficult choice - even though tuition is free, the cost of making ends meet is just too much for poorer students.

"Ultimately if you’re poor the system is stacked against you."

The findings have been presented to Inverclyde Joint Integration Board.

They were compiled by The Child Poverty Action group.

The report showed no 17-21 year-olds enrolled in higher education from several parts of Greenock town centre & east central, Lower Bow, Larkfield, Fancy Farm and Mallard Bowl.

Cllr Jackson says nothing will change unless there is a fundamental change in economic policy from government to reverse child poverty

He said: "We need geographical regeneration that directs investment and jobs to the most deprived areas like Inverclyde.

"There is no resilience in the local economy and areas like this are always hit hardest and take longer to recover.

"It's always the poor who suffer the most."