That the Parliament congratulates the Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery, and all its volunteers from across Wishaw and Motherwell, and the wider Lanarkshire community, on being shortlisted for the National Lottery Awards Project of the Year 2023; understands that the project is one of 17 projects from across the UK, and only one of two in Scotland, to be selected; further understands that the volunteers dedicated their time to the Old Lanarkshire Asylum (Hartwood) Cemetery, bringing colour, dignity and visitors back to a once lost space; notes that, from 1895 to 1954, there were 1,255 people interred in 634, mainly anonymous, graves, within the small area; acknowledges the extensive research, the commitment to having information boards, which now display all the name of the 1,255 people, and the dedication to reuniting living family members with long-lost relatives; further acknowledges what it sees as the positive impact that this project has had on the wellbeing of all those involved, which, it considers, reflects the changing approach to mental health with an emphasis on a person-centred and empathetic perspective; thanks all involved for their efforts, and wishes them the best for the future.
Supported by:
Karen Adam, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackie Dunbar, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Gillian Mackay, Stuart McMillan, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Evelyn Tweed, Sue Webber