Chamber and committees

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of Galloway Therapy Ponies, a community wellbeing service based in Galloway that will provide therapeutic pony visits across Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire; notes that the service has been founded by Emily Wilson, a trained practitioner with experience in equine-assisted wellbeing, community development and mental health support, to provide opportunities for gentle interaction, sensory engagement and emotional connection; recognises the value of therapeutic animal interaction for people of all ages, including those with additional support needs, dementia, anxiety and limited mobility; recognises that the service will work with care homes, nurseries, schools, additional support needs (ASN) settings, community groups and wellbeing projects, with sessions tailored to meet the needs of those in each setting; commends Emily for developing an innovative, community-based approach to supporting wellbeing and social connection across Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire, and wishes everyone at Galloway Therapy Ponies every success as it takes bookings for autumn and winter 2026.

That the Parliament congratulates the volunteers, community groups, local artists and partner organisations on the successful delivery of the Grangemouth Town Centre Project; recognises the positive impact of communities working together with a shared vision; understands that the project was delivered in partnership with Grangemouth (including Skinflats) Community Council and CVS Falkirk & District, with support from Friends of Inchyra Park, Zetland Men's Shed and Robertson Construction Central East; acknowledges the value of meaningful community engagement demonstrated through the initiative, and wishes everyone involved every success in continuing to develop projects that celebrate Grangemouth's heritage, creativity and community spirit.

That the Parliament recognises the outstanding work of The STAR Centre – Rape Crisis Ayrshire and Arran in providing specialist, trauma-informed support to women and girls who have experienced sexual violence, abuse or exploitation; commends the centre for providing a safe, welcoming and confidential service for women and girls aged 13 and over, regardless of when the abuse or violence occurred; notes that the STAR Centre supports survivors across North, South and East Ayrshire, including Arran and Cumbrae; commends its dedicated advocacy workers for supporting survivors throughout the criminal justice process, including when speaking to police, attending meetings with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and preparing for court, providing information and practical support at every stage; recognises the importance of ensuring that survivors are treated with dignity, compassion and understanding; acknowledges the profound and lasting impact that sexual violence can have on survivors and the vital role played by specialist organisations such as the STAR Centre in helping women and girls rebuild confidence and move forward following trauma; thanks the centre's advocacy workers, prevention officers, support workers and volunteers for their dedication and compassion, and wishes the organisation continued success in its vital work supporting survivors across Ayrshire, Arran and Cumbrae.

That the Parliament recognises the devastating impact of domestic abuse on victims and their children; acknowledges that financial dependence and economic abuse can prevent victims from leaving abusive relationships; commends the vital work of charities and frontline organisations across Scotland that help victims and survivors rebuild safe and independent lives; calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that public funding for victims and survivors is targeted towards effective frontline support, with consistent access across Scotland, clear standards for service delivery, transparent reporting on outcomes and value for taxpayers’ money, and further calls on the Scottish Government to identify and address gaps in provision so that victims and survivors can access the practical support they need to achieve safety and financial independence.

That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the deep cultural, historical and environmental significance of the Queen’s Park Glasshouse to the Glasgow Southside constituency and the wider city; notes what it considers to be the significant public support for protecting this cultural heritage asset, evidenced by a Glasgow City Council petition signed by more than 13,000 people; understands that the glasshouse supports a range of crucial community priorities and that maintaining public access is important for heritage preservation, community cohesion, urban greenspace, accessible public toilets and dedicated opportunities for children’s play; believes that the safeguarding and sustainable revitalisation of the glasshouse aligns directly with key Scottish Government strategic ambitions, including those under the National Performance Framework 4, the Climate Change Plan and the Health and Social Care Strategy; notes the view that additional investment is required to bring the glasshouse back to its full potential, and further notes calls for the Scottish Government to meet with representatives of the Save Queen's Park Glasshouse campaign and Glasgow City Council to discuss all opportunities for the future of the glasshouse.

That the Parliament congratulates Professor Catherine Heymans on her appointment as Patron of Aberdeen Science Centre (ASC); understands that this is the latest in a series of accolades awarded to Professor Heymans, including her appointment as Astronomer Royal for Scotland in 2021, when she became the first woman to hold the position; notes that, as Patron of ASC, Professor Heyman will help to promote its work to educate people of all ages on the importance of science, technology, engineering and maths; further notes ASC's continued success in attracting visitors following its substantial redevelopment, and wishes both Professor Heymans and ASC every success in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Fife Voluntary Action on being awarded Carer Positive Engaged accreditation by Carers UK, in recognition of its commitment to supporting employees who balance work with unpaid caring responsibilities; notes that the Carer Positive Award recognises employers across Scotland that create supportive working environments where carers are valued and enabled to remain in employment; recognises that the Carer Positive panel praised the organisation's strong commitment to supporting working carers, highlighting its flexible approach, practical support and awareness of the caring responsibilities of its staff, and celebrates the organisation's success in fostering a positive workplace environment that supports employment and makes a meaningful difference to the lives of its employees.

That the Parliament congratulates The Perfect Scoop from East Wemyss on winning the Food Awards Scotland 2026 "Dessert Outlet of the Year" award; recognises the hard work and dedication that goes into running a business that produces only freshly made ice cream on site and offers a selection that is second to none in Scotland; notes that the awards, which are in their 12th year, are organised by Oceanic Awards, which delivers 150 regional and industry-specific award ceremonies annually across the UK, Ireland, Canada and the USA; further notes that The Perfect Scoop has won awards in the past at the Royal Highland Show and continues to provide the community with a delicious range of gelato, waffles, doughnuts and loaded sundaes, and hopes that the village of East Wemyss, and Fife as a whole, show their pride in the ice cream shop and the work that has gone into winning this prestigious award.

That the Parliament congratulates Chief Inspector Bruce Crawford of Police Scotland’s National Firearms and Explosives Licencing team and the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI), for their combined effort in establishing the Scottish Firearms Mental Health Awareness and Support Partnership; commends the partnership for what it sees as its crucial contribution towards suicide prevention by offering a safe place for certificate holders to report concerns over their mental health and wellbeing, and welcomes its vital work in raising awareness, reducing stigma and fostering greater understanding of mental health in relation to firearms licensing.

That the Parliament congratulates Fort William Women’s FC on being awarded £1,000 through ScottishPower’s annual grassroots funding competition for women’s and girls’ football in the Highlands and Islands; understands that the funding will help the club meet travel costs during the season; recognises the particular challenges that significant travel distances and associated costs can present to grassroots sports clubs across the Highlands and Islands; notes that ScottishPower has awarded a total of £5,000 to five women’s and girls’ football clubs across the region through the latest round of funding; further notes that the initiative, now in its third year, forms part of ScottishPower’s support for the Highlands and Islands League as its first title sponsor through a partnership with Scottish Women’s Football, and that 15 grants have now been awarded through the programme since 2023; believes that investment in grassroots women’s and girls’ sport plays an important role in creating opportunities for more women and girls to participate in football and supporting the continued development of the game in communities across the Highlands; commends everyone involved with Fort William Women’s FC for their contribution to women’s football in the area, and wishes the club and its players every success for the season ahead.