TULLIBODY Healthy Living (THL) has received £1000 from the STV Children's Appeal – boosting support for a campaign which promotes nutritious snacks to primary school youngsters.

It allows the community group to build upon the work it started in 2016 which saw it distribute £1 fruit bags to more than 1100 local children.

Tracy Gibson, community development worker for THL, said: "Last year's campaign was hard work, but really worth it.

"We wanted to get the message to pupils and their parents that it doesn’t cost much to make sure your child gets a fruit snack every day when they are in school.

"Let’s face it, parents or grandparents often give children £1 to go to the shops.

"We wanted to make sure that children kept their £1 to bring to school every Monday morning for their fruit bag.

"Thanks to the STV Children’s Appeal this campaign is now gaining momentum in Tullibody."

THL also hosted a community spring event on Saturday, March 25 to promote the campaign to school children and parents and improve the delivery of fruit bags in schools every Monday morning.

Since launching in 2011, the STV Children's Appeal has raised over £13.7 million, with 722 big and small grants distributed to projects across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland, providing much needed support to over 62,000 children.

The money raised is distributed to provide practical help like food and warm clothes; create opportunities for training and employability; and enable social and emotional support for those who need it most.

Rob Woodward, STV CEO and trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: "The STV Children’s Appeal was established to help improve the quality of life of vulnerable children and young people across Scotland.

"We are extremely grateful to everyone that has fundraised and donated to this year’s STV Children’s Appeal.

"All proceeds remain in Scotland which means we can support vital projects such as Tullibody Healthy Living in our efforts to improve the lives of children across the community.

"A special thanks to everyone for their ongoing support and acts of generosity for such an important cause."

Sir Tom Hunter, trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: "It’s projects like Tullibody Healthy Living that can make the world of a difference to those young people most in need.

"From the bottom of my heart I thank everyone who raised money for the STV Children’s Appeal and can again confirm to every last one of you that every pound you gave is being invested in projects like Tullibody Healthy Living to the benefit of Scotland’s young people.

"You raise a pound we give a pound, simple."