Chamber and committees

That the Parliament recognises and commends the outstanding work of Let’s Get Sporty, a not-for-profit social enterprise based at Lochvale House in Dumfries and Galloway; notes that, since its founding in 2012, Let’s Get Sporty has delivered more than 25,000 hours of sport and physical activity across the region, providing opportunities for children, young people and adults of all ages and abilities; acknowledges its innovative programmes, including sports camps, classes, girls-only multisport sessions, birthday parties and community clubs, which encourage participation, confidence and healthier lifestyles; recognises the organisation’s commitment to tackling youth unemployment and low physical activity levels in Dumfries and Galloway by offering training, mentoring and employment opportunities to young people, helping them to develop social skills, employability skills and self-confidence; applauds the success of initiatives such as Let’s Get Employed, which includes Let’s Get Training, Let’s Get Mentoring, Let’s Get Heard, Let’s Get Living, Let’s Get Driving and Let’s Get Ready spin-offs, as well as Hire a Coach/Mentor, which all provide pathways into further education and sustainable employment; appreciates that all income generated is reinvested into the community to ensure inclusivity and affordability; acknowledges the funders, Hollywood Trust, South of Scotland Enterprise, Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, in their support, and commends Let’s Get Sporty for its vital contribution to community wellbeing, youth development and social enterprise in Dumfries and Galloway.

That the Parliament congratulates the project, Govan Heritage: Remarkable Past, Bright Future, on receiving a National Lottery Heritage Fund delivery award of £1,490,860, which will support heritage-led regeneration; notes that this significant investment will fund essential repairs to the historic Pump House as part of the wider redevelopment of the Govan Graving Docks, helping to create a new community-owned public space in partnership with Glasgow City Council; acknowledges that the funding will also enable the redevelopment of the Fairfield Rowan annexe of the Fairfield Shipyard, as well as urgent repairs to pre-1919 tenements; recognises that the project includes key environmental improvements to important public spaces, enhancing the day-to-day experience of residents and visitors; understands that this latest award builds on substantial past support by the Heritage Fund for Govan’s heritage, including investment in Govan Cross, the Aitken Memorial Fountain, Govan Old Church and the Govan Stones, and pays tribute to all those involved in preserving, enhancing and celebrating Govan’s remarkable past, while building a bright and sustainable future for the community.

That the Parliament notes the announcement that the UK National Living Wage, which is applicable to people aged 21 and over, will be set at £12.71 per hour from April 2026, with the National Minimum Wage set at £10.85 for 18- to 20-year-olds, and £8.00 for 16- and 17-year-olds; recognises that this means that people aged under 21 can be paid between 14.6% and 37% less for doing the same job as someone aged 21 or over; believes that this situation is tantamount to punishing young people simply for being young, and calls on the UK Government to abandon the age requirement for the National Living Wage so that everyone can get a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

That the Parliament congratulates Kai Reesu on winning the 2025 Scottish Album of the Year Award for KOMPROMAT vol. i; understands that in addition to the coveted title, the band took home the £20,000 first prize and bespoke trophy at the National Music Prize ceremony in Dundee; notes that the Glasgow band's debut album was praised across the industry as bold and genre-blending and that it featured elements of jazz, hip-hop, psychedelia and grime; further notes that the band is described as a melting pot of underground hip-hop and jazz, with the winning album subtly telling the story of how Jurnalist came to Scotland, linked up with Kai Reesu, and their ensuing musical journey; commends band members led by Paul Copeland on keys, Robert McArthur on bass, Matt Jim Sim on drums, saxophonists Harry Weir and Michael Butcher, and Govan-based LA rapper Jurnalist featuring vocals, and wishes them all the very best for future endeavours.

That the Parliament congratulates Bailliefields Community Hub on recently being awarded The King's Award for Voluntary Service 2025; recognises that Bailliefields Community Hub SCIO was created in 2021 following successful work done by Westquarter and Redding Cricket Club CIC, with the aim of creating a place for all, focusing on inclusivity, wellbeing and building connections for everyone, regardless of age, background or ability; notes that The King's Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK in recognition of the outstanding work that they do; congratulates Bailliefields Community Hub and its volunteers on the award; thanks them for all the hard work that they do in the community, and wishes them well for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates four community groups in the Falkirk East constituency on recently being awarded National Lottery Community Fund grants; celebrates that £4,300 was awarded to Dundas Community Centre SCIO to establish its Community Asset Transfer and to manage Dundas Community Centre in Grangemouth over a two-year period, £9,964 was awarded to the Allstars to continue running its weekly music sessions for adults who live with mental health challenges in Falkirk over one year, £10,000 was awarded to Grangemouth Community Care to continue its transportation service for older people to Talbot House in Grangemouth over a one-year period, and finally that £6,878 was awarded to KLSB Community Group to provide a free one-day festive event in Stenhousemuir, which is open to all; notes that the National Lottery Community Fund's awards provide funding to support communities and grassroot organisations to thrive; congratulates all four groups that were awarded grants for their projects, and looks forward to seeing the projects come to fruition in due course.

That the Parliament congratulates Fiona Leathers and Hannah Reid on their recent awards at the Petplan Veterinary Awards 2025; recognises that this is the 26th year the awards have been held by Petplan, the ethos of which is to highlight the great work that goes on within veterinary practices on a daily basis to keep pets happy and healthy; notes that out of over 41,000 nominations received this year, Falkirk East constituent, Fiona Leathers, of Westport Veterinary Clinic, was confirmed as the Practice Manager of the Year 2025; further notes that Falkirk East, constituent, Hannah Reid, also of Westport Veterinary Clinic, was confirmed as the Practice Support Staff of the Year; recognises that both Fiona and Hannah were selected for their respective awards for their consistent qualities, which underpin veterinary excellence, such as compassion, innovation, team work and a dedication to ensuring animal welfare; congratulates Fiona and Hannah on their awards, and wishes them both the best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Billington’s of Lenzie on being named Scottish Family Business of the Year (micro) at The Herald Scottish Family Business Awards 2025, in association with Business Gateway; understands that the prestigious award was presented to the local, family-run artisan deli, café and bakery at a special ceremony in Glasgow on 26 November 2025; recognises that the annual awards specifically celebrate the achievements and dynamism of family-run businesses in Scotland; notes that Billington’s triumphed in the micro category for a family business headquartered in Scotland with 10 employees or fewer, operating in any sector of the economy, which has enjoyed outstanding success; commends Billington’s, which has been serving the local community since 2012, for its continuing standards of excellence, and is grateful for independent businesses in Strathkelvin and Bearsden, and beyond, for the significant positive impact that they have on their communities, contributing both economically and socially.

That the Parliament celebrates the success of the Buckie Christmas Kracker, which brought thousands of people into the heart of Buckie for a full day of festivities, live music, craft stalls, a parade, a dog show and the town’s Christmas lights switch-on; recognises the hard work, creativity and dedication of the organisers, volunteers, community groups and local businesses who made the event such a vibrant and joyful occasion; acknowledges the positive impact that the event has had on community spirit, wellbeing and local trade, providing a welcome boost to the town centre, and thanks everyone involved for delivering a celebration that showcased the very best of Buckie’s warmth, energy and togetherness.

That the Parliament notes that the inaugural Ramallah Congress on the Decolonisation of Palestine took place in Birzeit University, the West Bank, Palestine, on 11-12 November 2025 and was organised by Al-Shabaka and the Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute; understands that settler violence in the occupied Palestinian territories has reached unprecedented levels in recent weeks and that, according to the UN, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023; believes that Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine is sustained by businesses and institutions that supply its weapons and resources; notes what it sees as the importance of international visitors to Palestine to bear witness to the lived reality of apartheid rule; applauds the resilience of students and academics at Birzeit University and across the occupied territories who continue to work and study amidst escalating repression, and calls on the Scottish Government to urgently implement the package of boycotts, divestment and sanctions targeted at the State of Israel agreed by the Scottish Parliament on 3 September 2025.