Sweet gesture for vulnerable Inverclyde children
A SWEET gesture from a local business saw vulnerable young people at three Inverclyde residential houses enjoy a special lockdown treat.
Marco Medinelli and wife Tania, who run the Esplanade Café in Greenock, donated individual tubs of their famous home-made Italian ice cream and bags of sweets to youngsters at The View, Kylemore and Crosshill.
The café is currently closed due to the coronavirus lockdown restrictions but the husband and wife duo wanted to do something nice for young people at the residential houses.
Councillor Natasha Murphy, Inverclyde’s Young People’s Champion and Vice-Convener of Education & Communities, said: “The response throughout the area to the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown has been truly amazing.
“The council, along with businesses, voluntary groups and individual residents have rallied round to help and support some of the most vulnerable people in society and once again shown the compassionate side to Inverclyde in all its glory.
“This kind donation from the Esplanade Café is just one of many examples of the wonderful community spirit and generosity we’ve seen.
“The young people at these houses have had difficult experiences and, like the rest of us, are having to cope as best they can with the stay indoors rules so this will be a welcome boost for them.”
Staff from each of the residential facilities, including Crosshill’s David McFarlane and Maria Sinclair from The View, pictured, were on hand to collect the goodies.
Mr Medinelli said: “We wanted to do something to help.
“We’ve had such a lot of support over the years and we wanted to give something back.”
The View and Kylemore are purpose-built facilities which, along with Crosshill, can all accommodate up to seven young people.
They are run by the Inverclyde Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP).
All three received glowing reports during the most recent inspections by the Care Inspectorate.
Kylemore received an ‘excellent’ rating – the best available – with The View and Crosshill both close behind with ‘very good’ ratings – the second highest classification.