Klas Care C.I.C.

KLAS Care C.i.C have worked to give support to the children attending our services and their families, many of which are living and working in poverty. KLAS Care C.i.C (The organisation) provides full or part time employment to 27 local residents, a DWP 26 week work placement and volunteering opportunities to 3 volunteers • The organisation has provided Out of School care in our centres in Johnstone and Linwood. Breakfast Club, and summer playscheme were also provided from our Linwood Centre. This childcare provision was accessed by 248 children, accommodating families on shift patterns, students, families on zero-hour contracts and occasional users. We offered sibling discounts to families. This pay as you go service supported people returning to work, college or university removing the barrier of accessing affordable childcare. Our fees increased by 5% for the first time since 2020, minimizing the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on families. • The organisation provided a summer playscheme programme supporting families needing continued support throughout the year. Many families have access to a free lunch during the school term, the organisation continued this support by providing a packed lunch for children attending during the school holidays as part of the playscheme programme at no extra charge. The organisation accessed financial support to provide free childcare spaces both during the term time and school holidays for families struggling with financial or personal difficulties or for children with additional needs requiring respite and/or additional social support. The organisation provided summer playscheme programmes funded through Access to childcare Fund in Inverclyde and ASN respite sessions funded through Whole Family Well Being fund in Renfrewshire. Families identified through the Scottish government criteria to allow targeted family support. Supporting an additional 188 children with free childcare at the point of access. The Whole family wellbeing fund has also allowed the organisation to develop their Nurture programme. Working directly within schools providing nurturing support to identified children. Providing a safe space with qualified childcare practitioners where the children can relax and work with the practitioner to help support any difficulties the children are experiencing. • The organisation is registered with several childcare voucher schemes including tax-free childcare voucher scheme. Voucher schemes have been of benefit to 29 families • The organisation has continued to offer low-cost community hall hire which has benefitted the wider community by offering the community additional services locally helping to reduce social isolation. The community space is now accessed by 8 community groups and local groups. • The organisation has facilitated the Empowering Parents Empowering Communities programme. The programme is a sustainable peer led parenting programme that empowers parents to take part and then be trained to pass on the intrinsic learning. • By engaging in family support groups as described we are empowering families with the knowledge and learning to build confidence and resilience both within the parents and the children which improves their future opportunities • The organisation has continued to work in partnership with Barnardo’s offering volunteering opportunities to young school leavers to allow the volunteering programme to continue. • The organisation provides a pantry to the local community supporting local families in food poverty.