Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates Bridge of Allan on being named the prettiest village or small town to visit in Scotland by travel experts at Travelness; understands that the historic Stirlingshire town was ranked first among 24 destinations across Scotland, with particular recognition given to its peaceful atmosphere, historic character and scenic surroundings; notes Bridge of Allan’s heritage as a Victorian spa town and its location on the Allan Water, beneath the Wallace Monument and close to Stirling; further notes the area’s many attractions, including the historic Darn Walk, which follows the Allan Water through woodland and countryside between Bridge of Allan and Dunblane, and Lecropt Kirk, with its distinctive Gothic Revival architecture; considers that the recognition reflects the unique character of Bridge of Allan and the contribution made by local residents, businesses and community organisations to making it an attractive and welcoming place to live and visit; believes that recognition such as this helps to showcase the important contribution that Scotland’s smaller towns and communities make to the country’s tourism offer and local economies, and encourages people from across Scotland and further afield to visit Bridge of Allan and experience all that the town and surrounding area have to offer.

That the Parliament welcomes the work of CHUMS Clacks in supporting children, young people and families across the Hillfoots area of Clackmannanshire; congratulates the group on securing funding through the What Matters to You? programme to help develop its work supporting parents, carers and families of children with additional support needs; understands that the group is developing community-led support that will create opportunities for families to connect, share experiences and access advice and support within their local community; recognises the dedication, compassion and commitment of the volunteers behind the initiative and their determination to improve outcomes for local families; notes that CHUMS Clacks will hold its first drop-in session for parents and carers at Alva Library on 28 August 2026; believes that community organisations such as CHUMS Clacks play a vital role in tackling isolation, building resilience and ensuring that families feel supported and included; commends everyone involved for bringing the initiative forward, and wishes the group every success as it develops and expands its work in the years ahead.

That the Parliament congratulates the University of Stirling on being named Daily Mail University Guide's Scottish University of the Year 2027 and UK Sports University of the Year 2027; understands that the university is recognised for its award-winning student experience, ranking first in the UK and top 10 globally for campus environment in the International Student Barometer, and for achieving 90% overall satisfaction in the 2026 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey; further understands that more than 94% of Stirling graduates are in employment or further study 15 months after graduating; acknowledges that the university is Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, leading the UK in sports performance, participation, education and research, and is home to national high performance programmes in swimming, tennis, triathlon and golf; notes that it is a key partner in the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, receiving more than £46 million of UK Government and Scottish Government investment in research infrastructure, and is a founding partner in the innovative Forth Valley University College NHS Partnership, pioneering regional responses to healthcare needs; further notes the continued growth of its international partnerships, including in China, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates; acknowledges that the University of Stirling ranks among the world’s top 200 institutions for contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals; welcomes its leadership on gender equality, with 44% of professors and 60% of senior managers being women; further welcomes the fact that it holds an institutional Athena Silver Award in recognition of its inclusive working culture, and commends the university community for its ongoing contribution to Scotland’s academic, sporting, civic and international reputation.

That the Parliament congratulates the University of Stirling on sending a record 22 athletes to compete at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, surpassing the 20 athletes who competed at the Birmingham games in 2022; understands that the athletes represent a total of six countries, including Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Trinidad and Tobago, and Malaysia, and four sports comprising swimming, judo, wheelchair basketball, and artistic gymnastics; further understands that the University’s swimmers include Olympic champions, Duncan Scott OBE, Tom Dean MBE, Freya Anderson MBE and Jack McMillan; recognises that the University of Stirling is both Team Scotland's Official University Partner and Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence; welcomes that the University hosted the King's Baton Relay on campus on 6 July, and wishes all University athletes the best of luck for the competition.

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of Trading Standards Scotland’s Shark Free Summer campaign, led by the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit (SIMLU), to raise awareness of the dangers of illegal money lending during the school summer holidays; understands that increased household costs during the holiday period can leave families vulnerable to financial exploitation; notes with concern that research commissioned by SIMLU suggests around 300,000 people across Scotland may be at risk of turning to illegal money lenders, while almost 400 reports of suspected loan shark activity were recorded between March 2025 and March 2026, including 26 reports in the Stirling and Clackmannanshire area; recognises what it sees as the devastating impact that illegal money lending can have on individuals and families through intimidation, harassment and unmanageable debt; welcomes the work of Trading Standards Scotland, SIMLU, credit unions, advice agencies and community organisations in providing support to those experiencing financial hardship; encourages anyone concerned about illegal money lending to seek confidential assistance through SIMLU and the wide range of legitimate financial support services available, and wishes the Shark Free Summer campaign every success in protecting communities from illegal money lending.

That the Parliament congratulates the community organisations across the Clackmannanshire and Dunblane constituency that have recently secured support from the National Lottery Community Fund; recognises the funding awarded to Hearts and Minds Limited, Ochil Youths Community Improvement, Play Alloa, Sauchie Active 8 SCIO, Wee County Walkers, Children’s Health Scotland, Tullibody Community Garden, Greenbridge Ventures CIC, Alliance4growth and Recyke-a-bike Ltd; acknowledges that these awards will support a diverse range of projects, including therapeutic support for people living with dementia, opportunities for children and young people with complex disabilities, initiatives to tackle loneliness and social isolation, community gardening, volunteering, cycling, health and wellbeing programmes, support for ethnic minority families, rehabilitation work within HMP Glenochil and the continued development of strong local community organisations; believes that these projects demonstrate the compassion, innovation and dedication that exists throughout Clackmannanshire and Stirling, with volunteers, staff and community leaders giving their time and energy to improve the lives of others; recognises the transformative impact that National Lottery funding continues to have in enabling local organisations to grow, innovate and respond to the needs of their communities; notes that National Lottery players raise more than £30 million each week for good causes, with over 84 per cent of grants supporting grassroots organisations; welcomes the publication of the National Lottery Community Fund’s 2024–25 Impact Report, Communities Making the Difference, which highlights the remarkable contribution that community organisations across Scotland make in building stronger, healthier and more resilient communities; thanks everyone involved in these projects for their commitment to supporting others and strengthening community life across the Clackmannanshire and Stirling areas, and wishes all of the successful organisations every success as they continue their invaluable work.

That the Parliament congratulates Graham’s Family Dairy, which is Scotland’s largest family-run dairy business, on being awarded its largest-ever retail expansion through its longstanding partnership with Asda; notes that the agreement will see 11 new Graham’s product lines introduced to Asda stores across Scotland, bringing the total range stocked by the retailer to almost 60 products; recognises what it sees as the significance of this milestone for the business, which was founded in 1939 on a family farm in Bridge of Allan and is now one of Scotland’s leading dairy brands; acknowledges the contribution of Graham’s Family Dairy and the network of Scotland's dairy farming families that support its production, helping to sustain rural communities and strengthen the country's food and drink sector; welcomes investment in high-quality Scottish produce and the promotion of local supply chains; notes the company’s continued commitment to quality, provenance and innovation, including the recent launch of its Silver Top milk range, and commends Graham’s Family Dairy and Asda for supporting Scottish agriculture and helping to showcase Scotland's dairy products to consumers across the country.

That the Parliament congratulates the University of Stirling on its art collection being recognised as a Collection of National Significance through Scotland’s Recognition Scheme, which is managed by Museums Galleries Scotland; understands that the scheme highlights collections of outstanding importance held beyond the national museums and galleries; recognises that the university’s internationally acclaimed collection comprises more than 800 artworks, with a particular focus on Scottish contemporary art, reflecting a longstanding commitment to embedding art and culture into everyday life; considers this to be a prestigious accolade, which places the university among a select group of nationally recognised collections across Scotland; commends the university’s collections staff on their work in caring for, developing and promoting the collection, which has helped secure this accolade; recognises the collection’s important role in supporting teaching, research, learning and public engagement, and acknowledges its contribution to Scotland’s cultural heritage through its commitment to accessibility, creativity and community engagement.

That the Parliament congratulates Alloa Athletic Women on winning the 2025 ScottishPower Regional League Plate; notes that the team defeated Penicuik Athletic 4–0 in the final to secure the first major trophy in the club’s history; recognises what it sees as the remarkable commitment shown by the players, coaching staff, volunteers and supporters throughout the season; further recognises the continued growth of the women’s game across Scotland under the leadership and development work of Scottish Women’s Football; believes that achievements such as this inspire greater participation in sport among women and girls across Clackmannanshire and beyond, and wishes Alloa Athletic Women every success for the future.