Funding boost brings wider access to holiday sport
Families across Inverclyde are being offered a fuller slate of holiday activities at no or reduced cost this summer after Inverclyde Council secured £165,000 from the Scottish Government, delivered through sportscotland. The backing underpins the area’s Summer of Sport 2026 programme, designed to keep children and young people active and engaged throughout the school break.
Sessions are being staged in venues across the district, combining mainstream sport with inclusive options to widen participation. The offer ranges from headline attractions like a giant inflatable arena to targeted opportunities for under‑25s and activities supporting additional support needs (ASN).
Headline attractions and where to find them
The centrepiece is Inverclyde Leisure’s Inflatazone — a cavernous inflatable space featuring obstacle courses, active play zones and sport‑themed challenges — now installed at Greenock Sports Centre. It operates Monday to Friday, 9:30am–4:30pm, and is scheduled to run until 15 August. Youngsters can rotate through football, basketball, tennis and volleyball‑themed areas, as well as try climbing sections, slides, and bouncy and assault course elements.
Also running daily is X‑Height Climbing at Ravenscraig Activity Centre, open seven days a week from 9am–6pm, providing an alternative indoor challenge regardless of the weather.
| Activity | Venue | Days | Times | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inflatazone | Greenock Sports Centre | Mon–Fri | 9:30am–4:30pm | Runs until 15 Aug |
| X‑Height Climbing | Ravenscraig Activity Centre | 7 days | 9am–6pm | Open throughout holidays |
Free and reduced‑cost options for under‑25s
The funding includes provision for free golf sessions for under‑25s and dedicated strength training opportunities for women under 25. These add to the broader timetable being coordinated by the council’s Active Schools team, which is delivering activities across school sites for the duration of the summer break.
Water‑based options are also being boosted. Free swimming sessions and ASN family swims are being staged at the Waterfront Leisure Complex and Port Glasgow Pool, expanding access for families looking for low‑cost ways to stay active during the holidays.
Inclusive sessions and targeted support
Inverclyde’s programme places emphasis on inclusion, with Lady Octavia Sports Centre hosting an ASN fun zone every Tuesday in July. Alongside this, the council’s youth work service is running sessions that blend activity and creativity — including pizza making and art classes — to offer variety beyond traditional sport and help ensure there is something suitable for different interests and abilities.
Why it matters locally
This seasonal offer arrives at a time when household budgets are under strain and parents are seeking accessible ways to keep children occupied and active. By subsidising sessions across multiple venues and including free and reduced‑cost places, the programme lowers barriers to participation. The inclusion of ASN‑friendly timetables and women’s strength training for under‑25s responds directly to local need for structured, supportive environments.
With activities spread across Greenock, Port Glasgow and other parts of the district, the intention is to shorten travel times and make participation easier, whether families prefer indoor climbing, pool‑based sessions, or the all‑action Inflatazone.
At‑a‑glance: what’s on and when
- Inflatazone, Greenock Sports Centre — Mon–Fri, 9:30am–4:30pm, until 15 Aug.
- X‑Height Climbing, Ravenscraig Activity Centre — daily, 9am–6pm.
- Free swimming and ASN family swims — Waterfront Leisure Complex; Port Glasgow Pool.
- ASN fun zone — Lady Octavia Sports Centre, every Tuesday in July.
- Active Schools — activities at school sites across Inverclyde throughout the holidays.
- Under‑25s — free golf sessions; strength training sessions for women under 25.
Programme details are being delivered locally by Inverclyde Council, Inverclyde Leisure and partner organisations. Timings and availability may vary by venue, so participants are advised to check the latest local listings before travelling.
