Working to continue to reduce child poverty in Girvan and South Carrick is vital, say local councillors. 

Last week we revealed the number of children living in poverty in the area had dropped, although it remain s one of the highest levels in South Ayrshire. 

End Child Poverty published figures showing that one in four children across South Ayrshire live in deprivation but figures decreased by 5.6 per cent in Girvan and South Carrick since 2016.

Cllr Alec Clark said in order to see a difference the figures mush continue to drop this year.

Cllr Clark said: “One of our top priorities is dealing with poverty. 

“We are in an area with high poverty levels and we continue to run breakfast clubs and carry on our programmes at the Glendoune Centre.

“We want to see poverty go back down. There are people suffering from deprivation and poverty. At least through education programmes we have a chance of reducing the gap. 

“We want youngsters living in deprivation to have the same chance as those who are not. We want decreasing poverty figures to continue.

“If we can get a consecutive pattern of poverty levels decreasing that shows progress. We want to get people into employment and out of poverty.”

Primary schools across South Ayrshire offer breakfast clubs to make sure children can concentrate in class.

Cllr Clark continued: “We need to make sure children and young people are well fed. There are breakfast clubs in primary schools across South Ayrshire.

“There have been very successful breakfast clubs at Sacred Heart and Girvan Primary School. We need to ensure children are fed and can perform well.

“It is a well known fact that hungry children cannot concentrate.

“But we also need to create employment and support local business putting people in work. 

William Grant & Sons Distillers Ltd provide employment opportunities and we have supported that. 

“We need to continue to support that to decrease poverty figures after all. 

“This is a priority for me.”