A COMMUNITY campaign to provide impoverished Scottish kids with stationery on their return to school has been hailed a phenomenal success.

Clackmannanshire Labour Party arranged for stationery sets to be distributed to over 150 pupils in the county. The packs included pencil cases, highlighters, rulers, rubbers, sharpeners, pens, pencils and notebooks.

Party secretary Grant Aitken told the Morning Star: “The campaign was a success, but it was shocking to see so many families in need of a helping hand.

“This is endemic of a society in which the rich are getting richer whilst the poor are getting poorer.”

The initiative was supported by Momentum and its Scottish sister organisation the Campaign for Socialism, along with the Communication Workers Union, Unite and Unison.

Mr Aitken added: “There is work to be done and many lessons to be learned from this initiative.

“Rest assured the local party will strive to work towards a Clackmannanshire where workers are paid fairly and families can not only afford to live, but to live comfortably, without the fear of their children or loved ones not getting what they need in life.”

A survey carried out by the Education Institute of Scotland union last year found that 72 per cent of teachers had noted an increase in pupils coming to school without basic stationery and equipment.

Some schools and councils provide equipment or grants to pay for stationery, but there are huge regional variations in provision.