Chamber and committees

That the Parliament welcomes the £145,000 from Fife Communities Climate Action Network’s (FCCAN’s) 2026 Community Climate Grants Programme to support community-led climate action projects; understands that the FCCAN SOUP participatory event, is planned to take place on 12 August 2026 at 6.00 pm at Betty Nicols, Kirkcaldy, where part of funding for these grants will be decided; notes that there are three levels of support available to communities that are members of FCCAN, and that applications opened on 20 July; understands that this will be delivered through Fife Climate Hub and in partnership with Climate Action Fife; celebrates that the 2026 programme has been enhanced with £125,000 from Fife Council's Climate Adaptation Fund; believes that the Community Climate Grants programme is designed to help groups start new projects, develop existing ideas, build organisational capacity and create lasting climate impact in their communities, and is encouraged that, if a Fife-based community group has an idea to tackle climate change or is looking to implement an ambitious project scale, the fund is available to support such ambitions.

That the Parliament congratulates Mandy Hunter on 30 years of service to Linton Lane Centre and the people of Kirkcaldy; believes that Mandy has been at the heart of the community, through leadership and friendship at Linton Lane Centre as the development manager and chief executive officer (CEO) in Kirkcaldy, Fife, starting in 1996 from centre supervisor to leading the charity's operations, outreach programs, and facility management; commends Mandy’s commitment, dedication, significant contributions and positive impacts in her time at Linton Lane; believes that reaching 30 years valuable service is a remarkable achievement and is testament to the unwavering support, kindness, professionalism, and passion that Mandy has selflessly provided to so many lives within the community; expresses its immense gratitude for all the years’ service and extends its very best wishes for continued success in the future, and hopes that everyone at Linton Lane very much enjoys the celebrations to mark this wonderful achievement.

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of a new e-bike share scheme in Stirling; understands that the initial three-year pilot will be delivered by £100,000 of funding from Stirling Council and £35,000 from the Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership (TACTRAN), through Transport Scotland’s People and Place programme; further understands that the project will introduce a fleet of around 130 electrically assisted bikes, operating on a modern dockless system and supported by around 40 designated GPS-enabled parking locations; notes that deployment will focus on key transport corridors, including the city centre, the University of Stirling, Forth Valley College, Stirling railway station and Stirling Castle, as well as employment hubs and leisure facilities; commends Stirling Council’s long-standing commitment to active travel and shared mobility, following the completion of its Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling infrastructure programme, and recognises that this scheme will improve access to cycling and sustainable travel in Stirling, supporting Scotland’s ambitions for healthier communities and lower carbon emissions.

That the Parliament celebrates 70 years of the Isle of May as a National Nature Reserve (NNR); understands that the island, which is located off the coast of the East Neuk of Fife and is known as the “Jewel of the Forth”, was designated a NNR in June 1956 to protect its special species and habitats; notes that it has been owned and managed by NatureScot and its predecessor bodies since 1989; believes that the reserve is significant for its thousands of breeding seabirds in the summer and internationally important grey seal nurseries in the autumn; notes that it is one of four strategic seabird research sites in the UK, and that such research has been carried out on the island since 1966, which has been followed by seal research since 1982; recognises that this long-term work and the study of wildlife populations and trends help to understand the effects of climate change on the diet and distribution of seabirds and seals and considers it valuable in influencing the management of habitats; believes that the Sandeel (Prohibition of Fishing) (Scotland) Order 2024 has played a crucial role in the protection of puffins, other seabirds  nesting on the island and marine ecosystems, and applauds the hard work of staff at NatureScot to preserve and protect this special place for everyone to enjoy and for future generations.

That the Parliament celebrates Newburgh-based bottler, Spiritfilled, on achieving a Gold Outstanding award for its Mythical Beasts Aberlour 13-year-old single malt at the 2026 International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC); understands that Spiritfilled, which was founded by Russell Spratley and Ross Archer in 2021, launched the whisky, which was finished in a Pedro Ximénez sherry cask, along with four other releases, to mark the company's fifth anniversary; notes that IWSC scoring categories range from Gold Outstanding (98-100 points), to Gold (95-97), Silver (90-94) and Bronze (85-89), and that every gold-winning entry is subject to re-tasting by an independent committee member for final approval; acknowledges that this whisky stood out among nearly 550 Scotch whiskies recognised at this year's awards and that, with 98 points, the Mythical Beasts’ Aberlour was one of only six to achieve the highest Gold Outstanding distinction, placing it among the finest single malts in the world; extends its very best congratulations to Spiritfilled, and wishes everyone at the company continued success for the future.

That the Parliament celebrates the grand opening of Dunfermline’s Sanctuary Garden, which is a community greenspace dedicated to organic cultivation, mental well-being and sustainable living; recognises that, in less than nine months, a team of volunteers, led by Grant Stewart, has created a thriving community green space that offers something for everyone; understands that the garden donates its produce locally, provides free learning courses to demystify organic food production and offers drop-in volunteering opportunities; further understands that it has worked collaboratively with a range of partners, including Dunfermline Greenspace SCIO, Fife College, Fife Voluntary Action (FVA), Fife Climate Hub, Climate Action Fife, the British Hen Welfare Trust, Forth Pilgrim and Grow West Fife: applauds the project's shortlisting for the 2026 FVA Green/Environmental Award; appreciates the passion, hard work, dedication and community spirit of all those involved in developing the space, and extends its very best wishes for a successful summer season and beyond.

That the Parliament recognises the positive impact of Perth Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) on communities in Perth and Kinross; commends Perth CAB for providing free, impartial and confidential advice since its establishment in 1942; believes that the organisation supports individuals to understand their rights, make informed decisions and take positive steps forward, reflecting its strong tradition of community service; understands that, during the 2021-2026 parliamentary term, Perth CAB supported 30,716 individuals across its main advice areas; further understands that this included 48,968 people with benefits issues, 13,566 with energy-related matters and 21,503 with debt advice; recognises that its tailored support, intervention and signposting to relevant schemes have helped to ease financial pressure and improve household stability, and expresses its gratitude to the staff, volunteers and all those involved in Perth CAB, as well as the wider Scottish Citizens Network, including in the Mid Scotland and Fife region, for their dedication and commitment to serving their communities.

That the Parliament welcomes the award of £19,000 from the National Lottery Awards for All Scotland programme to the Fintry Kirk Resilience and Community Trust for its project, Connecting Fintry: Community Activities and Participation; notes that the Trust acquired Fintry Kirk from the Church of Scotland in February 2026 and is working to secure the building’s future as a place of worship, heritage and community use for wider local benefit; understands that the funding will support a programme of activities aimed at reducing isolation, increasing participation and strengthening community connections in Fintry, including through the appointment of a part-time Community Activities Co-ordinator to work with residents, volunteers and local organisations; recognises that the project responds to locally identified challenges such as rural isolation, limited transport options and the need for better coordination of community opportunities; further recognises that, as a relatively new community trust, this award represents an important milestone and a strong endorsement of both the identified need and the community’s commitment to improving local wellbeing and participation, and wishes the project every success for the future.

As an amendment to motion S7M-00434 in the name of Gillian Martin (Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change), insert at end "; recognises that, in order to meet the 2030 targets and beyond, the pace of change has to accelerate, acknowledging that, if pace continues at the current rate, targets will be missed; calls on the Scottish Government to publish detailed plans on how it will meet interim targets, and further calls on the Scottish Government to move at pace to bring forward retrofitting and other measures to tackle fuel poverty and help Scotland reach its climate targets."  

That the Parliament congratulates the boxer, Alan Perrie, on being named as part of Team Scotland for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which begin on 23 July 2026; understands that Alan is originally from Fallin in Stirlingshire and is a member of Doghouse Boxing Club in neighbouring Stirling; notes that he went from a bronze medal at the EUBC European Under-23 event in 2024 to being a British and Scottish champion, reaching the quarter-finals at the 2025 World Championships in Liverpool; commends Alan for his determination and commitment to training and the sport, and extends its very best wishes to him, his coaches and everyone at the club and Team Scotland.