Aileymill Primary opens its doors to parents after school

Youth Connections in Burns Square is running an initiative in conjunction with Aileymill Primary to bring mum and dads together after school every Monday, giving them a chance to get to know one another alongside their children.

Depute head Angela Ferrier says the project is part of Aileymill's 'ways to wellbeing' initiative, where the school gets involved with the wider community.

It has been warmly embraced by P1 to P5 families.

Susie McKendrick, 52, whose nine-year-old daughter Yasmin attends the school, said: "I love it, it's something for us to do with the kids and I can get together with the other parents.

"I'm on my own in Greenock, my husband died two years ago and all my family are in Liverpool.

" I have five kids and Yasmin is the youngest. When we come here she can play with the other children and the adults can have a chat.

"There's a lovely atmosphere. We have a cup of coffee and the next minute we're all laughing and joking, getting to know people better."

Money advice and other practical help is also on hand for everyone who attends.

Kay Clark, of Youth Connections, told the Tele how the idea came from a 'Food for Thought' scheme where facilities are given community fridges using funding from the Robertson Trust and the Corra Foundation.

She said: "Every week the community fridges are filled and in addition to this we provide shopping and fuel vouchers and also run healthy eating workshops, to tackle the cost of living crisis.

"All four facilities will get a community garden as a legacy of the project, so it will continue when the project ends.

"Over the last three years 36 volunteers have been involved and they will continue to work with the schools."

Claire O'Brien, 39, is a volunteer with the community fridges project and also has two children at the school, Richard, seven, and eight-year-old sister Hope.

She said: "It's great to see all the families coming together.

"Parents would be picking the kids up from school anyway, so this gives them a chance to speak to other parents."

As well as helping to prevent parents being isolated there is a focus on children's learning and development.

Bruce Newlands of the Inverclyde Shed, is laying on window box sessions as part of the project in a bid to show the youngsters some useful new skills.

He said: "It's a great opportunity for bairns to learn how they can eat what they have grown."

The project runs every Monday between 3 and 5pm.