A new charitable foundation aimed at helping children succeed in life has been launched by leading Scottish businessman, Calum Melville, whose fast-growing Edison Group has been acquiring companies in the construction sector throughout the UK over the last year.

The Melville Foundation, registered as a charity, SC052575, with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), is the brainchild of the Chief Executive of Edison Group, which is set to see turnover on a rolling twelve-month basis by December 2023 hit £50m.

Its aim is to give children the right tools to succeed in life including literacy, numeracy and the basic online skills which many adults take for granted, including the ability to read a spreadsheet.

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Mr Melville said: "We believe children only succeed in life when given the right tools at the outset and The Melville Foundation will partner with schools, local authorities, other charities and foundations to provide resources including bursaries, breakfast clubs, beds, mattresses and duvets, food vouchers, support during school holidays and free tablets and wi-fi.

"This is pretty simple. Children need a good sleeping environment to be alert for learning; children need a full tummy to have the energy to learn; children need electronics for learning to do much of their homework in today’s world, and children need access online for homework activities and to keep up in the modern world.

"It is appalling that after 16 years in power the SNP government, which is famed for waste such as the £500 million ferry fiasco, is not providing the children of Scotland the most basic support to succeed."

Edison Group, which recently opened its new offices in High Street, Irvine has been highly active in growing and acquiring complementary businesses in the construction and property sectors.