Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates The Dreadnought pub in Leith on its 10th anniversary; recognises that it is currently the CAMRA Edinburgh Pub of the Year; notes that it has won this award four other times, as well as other accolades; celebrates that it is a vibrant, inclusive hub for many; believes that its presence has built a strong sense of community among patrons and visitors; commends its commitment to providing a safe and welcoming space for all and its extensive fundraising efforts for local LGBTQIA+ charities and other causes, alongside its steadfast support for independent local breweries and suppliers; notes its leading role in the campaign, Save the Pride Bridge; acknowledges the resilience of all of its staff over the decade to steer the pub through the challenges facing the hospitality sector; thanks its various teams over the years for their hard work, imagination and steadfast dedication to the area and customers, and, with gratitude, wishes The Dreadnought continued success.

That the Parliament congratulates Hawick Music Club on celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2026; notes that the club was established in 1951 with the aim of promoting and encouraging the appreciation and practice of music and the arts in Hawick and the surrounding districts; recognises its longstanding contribution to the cultural life of Hawick and Teviotdale, providing opportunities for local musicians and bringing professional performers to audiences in the area; acknowledges the club's rich history of holding concerts at venues, including Drumlanrig School Hall and the Tower Mill Theatre; welcomes its special 75th anniversary concert season, which includes performances at Hawick Rugby Football Club, Hawick South Church and Forman Memorial Hall in Roberton; further welcomes that admission to concerts during the anniversary season is free, thanks to support from the National Lottery Community Fund, helping to make live music more accessible to people across the community; commends the dedication of the volunteers, musicians, members and supporters who have sustained the club over seven decades; recognises the important role that community music organisations play in enriching community life and bringing people together in rural areas, and wishes Hawick Music Club every success for the future.

That the Parliament celebrates the recent 18th anniversary of Scotland's first and only No Take Zone (NTZ) in Lamlash Bay, which covers 2.67 square kilometres on the east coast of the Isle of Arran; notes that the NTZ means that no fishing activity is permitted in the area; understands that the NTZ was established following 13 years of campaigning by the Community of Arran Seabed Trust after local divers and other community members witnessed the collapse of the fin fish population in Lamlash Bay and the wider Clyde region, along with damage to seabed habitats from dredging and trawling following the removal of the three-mile limit that previously prohibited these fisheries from operating close inshore; recognises that the NTZ is located within the South Arran Marine Protected Area (MPA), which provides further levels of protection from certain fishing activities through zoned fisheries management measures introduced in 2016; recognises the increase in marine life within the NTZ and wider MPA, including commercially important species such as king scallops; acknowledges what it sees as the wider social and economic benefits of such protection, and believes that, if Scotland is to become a world leader in nature restoration and to realise the wider societal benefits of this, such zoned management approaches and community-led initiatives are vital to the recovery and future wellbeing of Scotland’s inshore waters and all who depend on them.

That the Parliament congratulates Renfrew FC’s Walking Football group on celebrating its fifth birthday at New Western Park on 7 October 2026; recognises the significant growth of the group, from a small gathering to more than 60 registered members, with between 30 and 40 players regularly attending weekly sessions; commends it for providing opportunities for people in the community to stay active, to improve their health and wellbeing and to enjoy the social benefits of taking part in sport; notes the important role the group plays in responding to social isolation and building friendships, and wishes Renfrew FC Walking Football continued success as it enters its sixth year.

That the Parliament notes with deep sadness the sudden passing of Maureen Herdman, who was from Orkney, on 9 October 2026; recognises the profound impact that Maureen had on the lives of so many young people over the course of her three decades of service as a youth and family learning worker with the Community Learning and Development team at Orkney Islands Council; pays tribute to the enthusiasm, generosity and compassion that Maureen brought to every initiative and project that she worked on; considers that countless individuals have built the skills and confidence needed to become their best selves because of the invaluable support that she provided; understands that Maureen's service in Orkney earned her a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2018 Youthlink National Youth Work Awards; believes that Maureen leaves behind a remarkable legacy that will be carried forward by her community and loved ones for generations to come, and extends its sincere condolences to Maureen's family and friends, and all those in Orkney and beyond who were fortunate enough to know her.

That the Parliament recognises the important role that citizen scientists play in monitoring biodiversity and measuring progress towards Scotland’s biodiversity goals and environmental commitments; considers that this is evident in ongoing volunteer efforts to monitor rare species populations, which have enabled individuals to build skills in identification and surveying to support local species monitoring projects; notes that an example of one such project can be found in Orkney and Shetland, where BeeWalk volunteers have carried out regular surveys of local bumblebee species, including the nationally rare Great Yellow and Moss carder bumblebees, to improve understanding of their population health and, in turn, strengthen Scotland's biodiversity evidence base; acknowledges what it believes to be the essential role that NGOs such as the Bumblebee Conservation Trust play in delivering projects like BeeWalk, and in creating and maintaining the networks, expertise, training and coordination that underpin Scotland's wider biodiversity monitoring infrastructure; considers that this infrastructure is crucial to measuring species recovery, tracking progress towards Scotland's environmental targets and providing the evidence needed to assess whether nature restoration efforts are succeeding; recognises the importance of sustaining this capacity for the future, including through continued support for the organisations, volunteers and programmes that underpin it; acknowledges that international biodiversity forums are also essential to advancing this work as they facilitate knowledge sharing and enable states to agree biodiversity frameworks and targets; notes that the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), the UN's biodiversity summit, will take place in Yerevan, Armenia from 19 to 30 October 2026; thanks all citizen scientists and NGOs in Scotland and around the world that are taking forward this crucial work, and recognises their continued efforts to protect ecosystems and the species that call them home.

That the Parliament congratulates Eyemouth Primary School on becoming the first school on mainland Scotland to receive Play Scotland’s Play Pedagogy Award; considers this to be a significant achievement for the pupils, staff, families and wider Eyemouth community; recognises that Eyemouth Primary was involved in the original pilot of the Award and has demonstrated a sustained commitment to embedding play-based learning across P1 to P7; commends the school for placing play, creativity, inclusion and children’s rights at the heart of learning and for making use of its unique position within Eyemouth, including opportunities for learning connected to the harbour, river, local community and surrounding green spaces; recognises the contribution of pupils, including the school’s Play Ambassadors, alongside staff, families and the wider school community in shaping its play pedagogy journey; understands that the Play Pedagogy Award recognises a whole-school commitment to children’s right to play and the important contribution that play makes to learning, wellbeing and development; believes that becoming the first school on mainland Scotland to achieve the Award is a fitting recognition of Eyemouth Primary School’s work and commitment, and wishes the entire school community continued success.

That the Parliament commends John Kerr and Jim English on their 100-mile cycle across Scotland to raise money for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation; celebrates the pair's success in raising £15,000 at the Auchan’s, Dundonald, for the foundation, which carries out outstanding work funding research into MND as well as raising awareness and supporting individuals and families impacted by it; acknowledges their 100-mile cycle through East Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and the Borders to Melrose, and recognises the effort put in by both men to aid charity.

That the Parliament congratulates Inverbervie resident Kimberley MacDonald on being named BaxterStorey’s Manager of the Year; recognises her success as catering manager at Aberdeen FC's Pittodrie Stadium, where she has helped transform matchday hospitality and champion local suppliers; commends her leadership of a large local workforce and her contribution to the matchday experience for supporters; notes her contribution to the local community through her leadership of the Bervie Gala, and wishes Kimberley continued success in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Edna Reilly on almost 50 years of caring for older people; notes that Edna began her career in 1977, at the age of 17, at Kingarth House, a 60-bed nursing home; understands that this was a time when care staff received no formal training and worked without moving and handling training or mechanical aids; recognises that Edna has adapted to every change in practice since, and completed an HNC in Social Care when aged 40; acknowledges her 22 years of service at Abbotsford House in Bearsden, where she has mentored many new colleagues, passing on the skills and values that underpin good care, alongside her knowledge of earlier practice; understands that she has been part of the home’s transition from residential care to providing both residential and nursing care, which means that residents whose needs change can continue to be cared for without having to leave their home; considers that Edna’s career reflects the dedication of social care workers across Scotland and shows the value of good training and mentoring in building long careers in the sector; thanks Edna for her service to older people in East Dunbartonshire and beyond, and wishes her, and everyone at Abbotsford House, the very best.