FIFE Council’s innovative, holiday lunch-club, Café Inc., served up an amazing 6,651 meals during the Easter holidays and the initiative was a huge success in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area.

The drop-in style café provided free lunches to children, young people and families, along with some activities, in a number of places during school holidays. With no need to book or register for lunch, children and their families could pop in for food and fun any lunchtime over the two-week holiday.

Hot meals were available at St Kenneth's, Lumphinnans, Benarty and Lochgelly West Primary Schools between Monday to Friday.

In addition, the Maxwell Centre in Cowdenbeath, as well as the Kelty, Bowhill, Benarty and Lochgelly Community Centres offered various junior (8-12) and senior (12-18) activity sessions with lunch available to all.

Cllr Judy Hamilton, Convener of the Fife Council Community and Housing Services Committee said: “This administration has invested £400,000 to provide free lunches to children and families during school holidays.

"We trialled this in an initial, localised way, which was open to all families, with many taking up the opportunity to meet and eat together.

"I visited the scheme during the holidays and heard first-hand the difference that it really made to families. I am delighted that the pilot scheme has proven to be so popular and uptake has been so high."

Councillor Hamilton added: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff across services of the Council; and the many volunteers involved in these early stages.

"Their hard work and dedication really got this off the ground. Thank you also to the families who came along to share a bite to eat and join in the fun.

"We will now analyse the scheme, and the uptake; and I look forward to the feedback when the full report comes to Community & Housing Services Committee in June.”