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24 March 2025
The Presiding Officer is visiting Cumbernauld and Carbrain in the Central Scotland region this month to meet local people to talk about their Scottish Parliament.
The visits continue a series of events in each of the eight Scottish parliamentary regions to mark the Scottish Parliament’s 25th anniversary, to hear people’s reflections on the Parliament and to understand more about what they want from their Parliament in the future. They will also reflect on 25 years of devolution and the impact of the Parliament on local communities.
Taking place on Monday 31 March, the visits have been set up in collaboration with local community group Cumbernauld and Carbrain Community Hub.
The first part of the visit will see the Presiding Officer and Central Scotland MSPs visit the Cumbernauld campus of New College Lanarkshire, followed by Cumbernauld and Carbrain Community Hub. Later, they will attend a community event at Cumbernauld Trinity Parish Church, hosted by Carbrain Hub, for a showcase of local projects and activities through a range of interactive stalls.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Presiding Officer Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP said:
“I’m looking forward to continuing to meet local people and hearing their views on the Parliament and their aspirations for its future. I’ve visited six regions across the country so far, from Shetland to Hawick.
“I’m pleased we’ve partnered with local groups on this visit to Cumbernauld and Carbrain, and I’m sure we’ll have great discussions about how the Parliament can best represent people in Central Scotland. I’m also excited to hear more about the various community projects that are taking place here.
“Scotland’s Parliament belongs to its people and it’s vital their voices are heard, to help shape the Parliament’s future.”
Frances Park, charity manager of Cumbernauld and Carbrain Community Hub, said:
“From our perspective, the Scottish Parliament’s 25th Anniversary Event is an exciting opportunity for local people to celebrate all the amazing work that is being done by Cumbernauld and Carbrain Hub and partners and to share our plans and vision for the future of our communities.
“It is also an opportunity for grassroots organisations to not only raise awareness of Scottish Parliament but also have our diverse voices represented at a national level, which has not always been the case for our challenged communities who feel that they are often the furthest away from where decision making happens. We welcome the chance to inform and develop meaningful conversations which have an impact on shaping both our ambitions and the work of the Scottish Parliament into the future.”
New College Lanarkshire’s Principal and Chief Executive, Professor Christopher Moore said:
“It will be a pleasure to welcome the Presiding Officer and her MSP colleagues to the college. We see every day the insight of our students and I’m sure our guests will learn a great deal from speaking to them.”
The Central Scotland visit is the seventh of eight planned events across Scotland for the Presiding Officer to meet communities to hear about the issues they care about and encourage more people to join in with the work of the Scottish Parliament, as it marks 25 years.
The Corra Foundation, through its People in Place programme has been working with the local community in Carbrain since 2018, to strengthen and amplify people’s voices and their power to make change. This long-term place-based work focuses on collaboration, co-production and community leadership that has supported groups in Carbrain to create the conditions and connections for bold change to happen. The Cumbernauld and Carbrain Community Hub is a great example of this. Formed from a small women's group in Carbrain Primary School, it has developed into a respected anchor organisation supporting the needs, aspirations and most importantly the voice of the local grassroots communities it serves, and this is being celebrated by the 25th anniversary visit of the Scottish Parliament to the area.
Stuart Buchanan
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