A Dumbarton youth charity is over the moon after receiving a major cash boost from Children in Need.

Haldane Youth Services in Jamestown will use the three-year grant of £26,583 to deliver a weekly science club to children and young people from the area who are facing multiple disadvantages.

The club will enable the young people to learn about six different areas in science - biology, space, weather, recycling, chemistry and computer science.

Taking part will help them develop new skills, build confidence and self-esteem and raise their aspirations for the future.

The cash has come in the final round of Curiosity, a joint funding programme by BBC Children in Need and Wellcome, a research charity based in London.

Carolyn Mackie, project co-ordinator at the youth group, said they were delighted to receive the funding.

She added: "This will help us to deliver an exciting range of science based activities to our young people.

"We will approaching science in a fun way to complement their school curriculum such as learning about the ecosystem, looking at what is above and beyond our planet and learning how to code and programme robots.

"Once again we would to thank BBC Children In Need very much for all their continuing support."

Simon Antrobus, chief executive of BBC Children in Need, said: “We are delighted to be awarding funding to projects like Haldane Youth Services through our Curiosity programme.

"Our first round of funding showed us that science can be fun and engaging for disadvantaged children and young people, but most importantly, can make a positive difference to their lives.

"We hope that through this latest round of funding children and young people will have more opportunities to encounter, learn and enjoy science in their everyday lives.”

Dr Anita Krishnamurthi, head of education and learning at Wellcome, said that in a science-dependent world it was essential that young people saw science as a vital tool they could use in their lives.

She added: "Wellcome is delighted to partner with BBC Children in Need on Curiosity as it aims to reach a diverse group of young people at this critical intersection of youth work and science learning.

"In addition to supporting disadvantaged young people, this initiative will help us to better understand the role science can play in youth programmes.”