Chamber and committees

That the Parliament notes that football is one of the most loved and successful sports in the country and that Scotland boasts some of the most loyal supporters anywhere in Europe, but believes that, often, fans feel they are taken for granted or are an afterthought; considers that, across the country, including in the Central Scotland region, supporters groups and community trusts or charitable foundations attached to professional clubs are often enhancing their environment and giving back to those who find themselves in challenging situations, from foodbank collections to mental health initiatives; believes that football fans are often the beating heart of their communities, creating unity in spaces where division can be prevalent; considers that, with rising living costs, varying ticket prices and high transport costs, the current landscape is making it difficult for working-class fans and families to afford to follow their club, an outlet, it believes, that allows hundreds of thousands of people across the country an escapism and a sense of optimism in a time of struggle; recognises that a price cap has been in place in England for over a decade and means that travelling fans do not pay more than £30 for a ticket, yet understands that no such cap exists at present in Scotland; notes the calls for all 42 Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) clubs, as well as the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to put fans first; further notes the view that the voices of supporters should be heard by decision makers and amplified within the Scottish Parliament, and notes the belief that those running the national game should listen to the calls from the Scottish Supporters Collective and many fans across the country and cap away football ticket prices at £25.

That the Parliament notes its concern at what it sees as widening health and healthcare inequalities across Scotland, including in the Mid Scotland and Fife region; understands that, according to the Scottish Public Health Observatory, Scotland has wide socioeconomic inequalities in comparison with other Western European countries; believes that these are a major driver of the high and growing health inequalities, as measured by indicators such as life expectancy and mortality rates; considers that health inequalities in Scotland on some measures are continuing to widen; acknowledges that, with a reported life expectancy gap of up to 13 years for men and 10 years for women between the most and least deprived areas, what it sees as these unjust, systematic disparities are driven by socioeconomic factors, resulting in significantly lower healthy life expectancy and higher mortality rates for, among others, people in poverty, with drug-related deaths reportedly over 15 times higher in deprived areas; considers that, in the face of this challenge, local health centres and primary care infrastructure across Scotland are facing significant pressure, with numerous projects in need of urgent upgrading, expansion or replacement to meet the demands of growing communities and modern healthcare delivery, including the proposed £13 million new Lochgelly Health Centre and the planned £8 million Kincardine Health Centre, which are, it believes, facing severe delays and uncertainty despite reports of numerous calls on the Scottish Government to take action, and highlights factors such as health inequalities, population growth, an ageing population, new housing developments, service modernisation requirements and environmental standards, which are all, it believes, adding pressure to the requirement for updated healthcare infrastructure, which it considers will, in turn, improve patient outcomes and referrals, move care into communities and provide fit-for-purpose workspaces for vital multidisciplinary teams.

That the Parliament congratulates Mastrick Community Centre on its successful funding award from the National Lottery Community Fund; understands that the centre offers a vital hub for residents in Mastrick, acting as the heart of the community through its common areas, activity programmes and Boards & Beans Café; acknowledges that the £18,500 grant will be used by the centre to offer a new year-long early-years programme, including activity sessions for families across Mastrick, and welcomes the continued support of the National Lottery in Aberdeen.

That the Parliament congratulates the Mamacita Foundation on its successful funding award from the National Lottery Community Fund; understands that the Mamacita Foundation provides disadvantaged families with targeted support through employability sessions, food support and activity sessions; acknowledges that the £10,000 grant will be used by the charity to offer new twice-weekly sessions with a food bank and social activities to improve the wellbeing of participants, and welcomes the continued support of the National Lottery in Aberdeen.

That the Scottish Parliament congratulates Midlothian Community Action on receiving a £19,824 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund; understands that the group will use the funding to continue its informal conversation café, which supports up to 50 people who have English as a second language, and commends and thanks Midlothian Community Action for its work and dedication to Midlothian.

That the Scottish Parliament congratulates Wallyford Community Council on receiving a £1,500 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund; understands that the group will use the funding to provide Christmas lights and a torch parade for the community, and commends and thanks the community council for its work and dedication to the local community

That the Parliament congratulates AberNecessities on its successful funding award from the National Lottery Community Fund; understands that AberNecessities provides household necessities to disadvantaged families; commemorates the fact that, since its founding in 2019, AberNecessities has supported over 18,000 children in Aberdeen, delivering hundreds of thousands of items to families; acknowledges that the £20,000 grant will be used by the charity to support its operations team to deliver essentials to Aberdonians in need, and welcomes the continued support of the National Lottery in Aberdeen.

That the Scottish Parliament congratulates Pathhead & District Community Association SCIO on receiving a £20,000 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund; understands that this funding will be used to refurbish the community-owned Pathhead Village Hall, and commends and thanks Pathhead & District Community Association SCIO for its work and dedication to Pathhead.

That the Scottish Parliament congratulates The Base (Midlothian) SCIO on receiving a £19,000 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund; understands that the group will use the funding to support the youth club in Danderhall and up to 130 children, and commends and thanks The Base (Midlothian) SCIO for its work and dedication to the children of Midlothian.

That the Parliament congratulates The Big Green Market in Burntisland on being awarded £19,216 from the National Lottery Community Fund; recognises that the organisation’s work now extends far beyond its regular events, with substantial activity taking place behind the scenes to promote re-use, sustainability and community wellbeing; understands that this funding will support the market to expand access to pre-loved clothing and homeware across the community, strengthen partnerships with local organisations and further develop its Repair Café initiative to encourage a culture of care, repair and waste reduction; notes that the grant will also help provide new opportunities for its volunteer team, which is now numbering more than 70, to connect, collaborate and build community ties; commends the volunteers whose dedication has made the Big Green Market a valued and impactful community asset, and wishes the team every success as they continue to grow their work for the benefit of Burntisland and the wider area.