Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates the ongoing work of the DH9 Foundation, which was established to highlight the awareness of young sudden cardiac death; recognises that the aim of the foundation is to raise awareness of young sudden cardiac death and provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and defibrillators to schools and community organisations; commends the foundation in completing over 60 training sessions and training over 1,000 young people and adults in 2025; understands that through its community fundraisers, it has installed 47 defibrillators throughout Dumfries and Galloway; applauds the Wee Emma Campaign, led by Emma Currie from Cargenbridge, Criffel Climb led by Ian Corsan from Locharbriggs and Synergy Gym, and Nicole Hunter from Kirkcudbright for all their fundraising efforts to enable the distribution of these vital pieces of equipment; congratulates the DH9 Foundation, which was founded by Rodger and Lesley Hill in memory of Rodger’s son, David Hill, who died following a cardiac arrest at the age of 30, and wishes them all the best in the future for their campaign.

That the Parliament congratulates the Dumfries and Galloway Blood Bikes (DGBB) on its 10th anniversary in delivering a decade of voluntary service to the region; understands that the DGBB was founded in 2014 by Anne Hook and Bill Bertham, to deliver a support service to the NHS and local patients by delivering urgent medical supplies free of charge; notes that the group became the first UK Blood Bike Group in 2015 to deliver its service 24/7, 365 days a year; applauds the service on completing over 13,500 runs and tallying up over two million miles across the region; understands that the team has 150 loyal volunteers with a fleet of 17 motorbikes and nine cars, which are named in honour of local heroes and supporters; notes that the work of the DGBB was recognised in 2018 when it was awarded The Queens Award for Voluntary Service, the highest UK honour for voluntary groups, and wishes Dumfries and Galloway Blood Bikes all the very best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates the Company School of Dance, which is based in Crosshill, Fife, on representing Scotland at the very successful UDO European Street Dance Championships in Belgium; notes that 89 pupils of the school, aged five to 19, competed in categories including solos, duals, quads, 1v1 battles, and 2v2 battles; recognises that the school secured no less than 39 prizes, including seven first place European champion titles, and wishes the dancers continued success as they prepare for the world championships at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, in August 2025.

That the Parliament recognises the return of a piece of local history, a large McCowan’s Toffee banner, which travelled from Canada back to Larbert High School; understands that Bruce McCowan and his wife, Beatriz, journeyed across the Atlantic to gift the large banner to the pupils and the school in recognition, and to celebrate the area's industrial and rich cultural heritage; notes that the banner was unveiled at a special ceremony at Larbert High School’s library on 5 June 2025, attended by community members, former McCowan’s factory workers, school partners and Stenhousemuir Football Club, as well as family and friends of the McCowans; recognises what it sees as the significance of this gift made to Larbert High School given the school’s proximity to the original site of McCowan’s Toffee Factory, which was once a critical employer in the area and a symbol of Scottish confectionary; further recognises the return of this banner, which is a woven representation of the area’s history across generations, and thanks the McCowan family for their generosity.

That the Parliament congratulates The Craigmhor Lodge and Courtyard on being voted the best Bed and Breakfast in Scotland; notes that The Craigmhor in Pitlochry won The Travellers’ Choice Best of Best Awards after Tripadvisor guests praised its elegance and its award-winning breakfasts; further notes that the three-bedroom Victorian lodge achieved the prize after reaching the top 1% of the eight million global properties listed on Tripadvisor’s online booking platform, and also was ranked 12th best B&B in the UK, and wishes staff at the The Craigmhor all the best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Ellie Newlands and Patsy Sinclair on their retirement from running the kitchen at the Orkney RFC clubhouse after many years of dedicated service; commends the pair for their commitment in working all hours of the day to make sure that generations of Orkney RFC and opposition players have been well fed; understands that Ellie’s and Patsy’s cooking was renowned and much loved by players of all ages, for whom it was an excellent and much-needed post-match reward, particularly Ellie’s famous coleslaw; considers that Ellie and Patsy were the true heart of the club, not only by feeding the Orkney RFC family over the years but with their warmth, sense of humour and generous natures; believes that Ellie and Patsy have been an incredible asset to the club and its players; thanks them for all their hard work over the years, and wishes them all the best in their well-earned retirement.

That the Parliament congratulates Holy Cross High School in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, on winning the Scottish Schools Football Association Boys' Under-15 Scottish Shield by beating Craigmount High School, City of Edinburgh, at Bayview Park in Methil, in the final on 20 June 2025; understands that this achievement continues Holy Cross High School's long and historical relationship with the Shield, dating back to 1965; acknowledges the hard work undertaken by all the players, coaches and teachers at the school in achieving their latest success, and wishes Holy Cross High School every success in defending its position as the most successful school in the history of the competition, having won it on five separate occasions.

That the Parliament congratulates Tapa, which is a Spanish restaurant based at the Shore in Leith, on being awarded the Readers’ Choice award for best local restaurant at The Scotsman Scran Awards 2025; recognises Tapa’s longstanding commitment to providing authentic Spanish cuisine, with a menu of traditional and contemporary tapas dishes made with locally sourced Scottish produce and Spanish ingredients; understands that Tapa has been a cornerstone of the Leith food scene for over a decade; further understands that it is known for its warm hospitality, as well as its dedication to sustainability and community engagement; commends the team at Tapa for its passion and consistency in delivering what it considers to be an exceptional dining experience, and wishes it continued success for the future.

That the Parliament welcomes the official launch of the Scottish Primary School First Aid Programme by St Andrew’s First Aid, Scotland’s dedicated first aid charity; acknowledges that the programme provides free and easily accessible online teaching resources to enable all primary school teachers in Scotland to deliver first aid education from P1 to P7; recognises that this national rollout follows a successful multi-year pilot with Stirling Council, during which 56 teachers across 31 schools were trained; understands that the initiative aims to create a new generation of confident and capable first responders; further welcomes the development of the St Andrew’s Framework for Education (SAFE), which will recognise schools’ commitment to first aid and community care through Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum awards, and commends St Andrew’s First Aid on its work to improve emergency preparedness and resilience across Scotland’s communities.

That the Parliament congratulates Wright's Home Hardware, a family-run business within Helensburgh, on being awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award in the Hardware Store of the Year category at the Scottish Independent Retail Awards 2025; understands that Wright's Home Hardware, established as an ironmongers in 1947 in Prestwick, has grown to include 12 high street stores across Scotland; acknowledges what it sees as the company's exceptional dedication, creativity, and outstanding customer service, which, it believes, have significantly contributed to the growth and vibrancy of Scotland’s retail sector; recognises the efforts of esteemed guests, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs who came together to celebrate this achievement, and wishes Wright's Home Hardware continued success in its business.