Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates Matthew Crawford, guidance teacher at Beath High School, in Cowdenbeath, on receiving the Best Teacher Award at the 2026 Forth Awards; recognises his exceptional commitment to his pupils and their families, his outstanding leadership, professionalism, energy and determination; acknowledges the respect and admiration that he has earned from colleagues, parents and pupils alike; notes his willingness to go above and beyond in supporting young people, including maintaining communication with parents whenever required, often outwith normal working hours, and thanks Matthew for his dedication to improving the lives, wellbeing and educational opportunities of the young people in his care.

That the Parliament congratulates Fife Gingerbread and Starcatchers on their CashBack for Young Parents programme being shortlisted in the Creative Regeneration category of the 2026 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration; recognises the programme's innovative work supporting parents under the age of 25 and their children during the crucial early years of development through a combination of creative learning, practical support and community connection; commends the positive impact that, it believes, the partnership is having on young families across Fife; notes the importance of creativity, early intervention and community-led regeneration in tackling social and economic inequalities, and wishes everyone involved every success at the SURF Awards ceremony in December 2026.

That the Parliament recognises the Pauline’s Law campaign, established by Suzzi Young in memory of her mother, Pauline, and inspired by those who came to her aid when she became critically unwell; commends the members of the public and staff whose knowledge, skills and willingness to act led them to perform CPR and use a defibrillator in an attempt to save her life; recognises what it sees as the vital role that bystanders can play in medical emergencies and the importance of emergency first aid education in building confidence and lifesaving skills; acknowledges the work already being delivered across Scotland by schools, educators, charities, first aid organisations, emergency services and volunteers; welcomes the campaign’s success in raising awareness and engaging stakeholders; notes reported concerns that access to emergency first aid education and recognised qualifications remains inconsistent between schools and communities; believes that no young person’s opportunity to develop potentially lifesaving skills should depend on where they live or attend school; considers that a recognised qualification could help provide a consistent foundation of practical knowledge, skills and confidence for young people across Scotland while building on existing good practice; recognises that emergency first aid covers a range of life-threatening situations, including cardiac arrest, choking, severe bleeding and unconscious casualties; supports the campaign’s aspiration that every young person should have the opportunity to gain a recognised emergency first aid qualification before leaving school, and believes that expanding access to such opportunities would help equip future generations across Scotland with practical skills, knowledge and confidence that benefit homes, workplaces and communities. 

That the Parliament congratulates BRAG Enterprises on being shortlisted as a finalist in the Community Impact Award category for small and medium-sized enterprises at the 2026 Scottish Impact Awards; notes that the awards, organised by GenAnalytics, The Herald and Newsquest Events Scotland & NI, celebrate organisations that lead with purpose, value and vision, and deliver lasting benefits to people and communities across Scotland; recognises BRAG Enterprises' outstanding contribution to communities through its wide range of employability services, learning opportunities and community support programmes; applauds its longstanding commitment to supporting individuals and families facing disadvantage; acknowledges the positive impact of its work in improving lives, creating opportunities and helping people move towards a brighter future; welcomes the organisation's commitment to restoring dignity, building confidence and empowering people to thrive; acknowledges the dedication of its staff, volunteers and partners in delivering this work, and wishes BRAG Enterprises every success at the awards ceremony in Glasgow on 1 October 2026.

That the Parliament congratulates St Ninian’s RC Primary School in Cardenden on marking its 100th anniversary; understands that the Roman Catholic school first opened its doors in 1926 and has established deep roots in the Bowhill and wider Cardenden community; recognises that St Ninian’s has marked its centenary year with a variety of achievements, including the school being awarded a SportScotland Gold School Sport Award, its netball team being crowned Fife Netball Champions, and receipt of CREST Star Awards for taking part in STEM challenges, and wishes all of the pupils and staff at St Ninian’s all the very best as they continue to celebrate this milestone year in the school’s history.

That the Parliament congratulates Beath High School in Cowdenbeath on its Drama Club winning the Scottish Community Drama Association (SCDA) One Act Play Festival Youth Final at Perth Theatre on 13 June 2026, to become the Scottish Youth Champions; notes that the club is only the second Fife team to win and the second high school in all of Scotland to ever achieve this accolade; recognises the hard work of the 38-member cast and crew; notes the impressive efforts of the school to support the pupils; recognises that 2026 is the SCDA centenary year, and notes that this marks 100 years of it supporting community theatre across Scotland, during which time it has championed more than 120 theatre clubs, promoted participation, creativity and skills development and provided valuable opportunities to build confidence and resilience by working together towards a common goal.

That the Parliament recognises the work of the Lobular Moon Shot Project in raising awareness of invasive lobular breast cancer; notes that this condition is the second most common type of breast cancer, accounting for around 15% of diagnoses, with an average of 22 women a day in the UK receiving a lobular diagnosis, yet it is often considered to have been historically under-researched and underfunded; understands that it presents and behaves differently from other forms of breast cancer, often not forming a distinct lump and therefore being more difficult to detect through routine screening; believes that there are currently no treatments specifically developed for the condition, despite its distinct biological characteristics; notes with concern that less than 1% of breast cancer research funding has historically been directed towards lobular research; recognises calls from the Lobular Moon Shot Project for dedicated investment in research into its basic biology, including proposals for £20 million of ring-fenced funding from the UK Government over five years; welcomes the involvement of researchers from Scottish institutions, alongside the Manchester Breast Centre and international partners; believes that improved understanding of lobular breast cancer could lead to earlier diagnosis, more targeted treatments and better long-term outcomes for women living with the condition in Cowdenbeath and across the country, while reducing pressures on the NHS, and notes calls urging the Scottish Government to support the aims of the Lobular Moon Shot Project and to press the UK Government to commit the funding required to ensure that women diagnosed with lobular breast cancer can benefit from equitable research, treatment and care.

That the Parliament congratulates Inverkeithing High School on achieving 100% positive destinations for school-leavers in the 2024-25 academic year; understands that Inverkeithing High School is the first and only school in Fife to achieve this significant benchmark, and is also number one nationally; notes that positive destinations refer to pupils who leave school in S4-6 and go on to either learning, employment or training; also congratulates Beath High School, which achieved 96.3% positive destinations, and Lochgelly High School, which achieved 98.3%, both having outperformed their virtual comparators, and pays credit to the staff and pupils of all three secondary schools in the Cowdenbeath constituency for their demonstrable efforts in achieving such significant positive destination results.