Chamber and committees

That the Parliament welcomes funding from Miller Homes Community Fund to the Linton Lane Centre, in Kirkcaldy, to deliver its October Holiday Youth Club; understands that the club will run on 13 and 20 October 2026 for children in P5, 6 and 7; believes that it will offer a range of activities, including cooking, Lego, sports and arts and crafts; recognises the value of youth work in providing essential informal education that builds confidence and positive opportunities for young people, strengthens community connections, supports children who might face barriers to participation and creates safe spaces for young people to grow; acknowledges Youthlink Scotland’s research, which indicates that 86% of young people involved in structured youth work report improved emotional, mental and social wellbeing; expresses gratitude to everyone at Linton Lane for all their hard work to support Kirkcaldy’s community, and extends its very best wishes to everyone at the Youth Club for an enjoyable October break.

That the Parliament congratulates Fife Gingerbread’s Lone Parent Positive Workplaces project on being shortlisted in the Removing Barriers to Employability category of the 2026 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration; understands that Fife Gingerbread leads the project in partnership with One Parent Families Scotland and Strathclyde Business School; acknowledges that the project has been developed together with lone parents to address structural barriers that can prevent lone parent families from accessing fair, flexible and sustainable employment; recognises that the project aims to transform how employers recruit, support and retain lone parents through developing direct guidance for employers on building inclusive, trauma-informed workplace cultures; is grateful to Public Health Scotland (PHS), Greener Kirkcaldy, and Fife Sports & Leisure Trust for all their work on the pilot's practical models, which included 26-week paid traineeships, guaranteed interviews and progressive flexible job design; believes that this project has been the exemplification of best practice, innovation and achievement in interventions that improve the lives of people living in Scottish communities, and extends its very best wishes to everyone involved for continued success.

That the Parliament welcomes Perth and Kinross Council’s (PKC) £5000 of funding to grow the Royal Voluntary Service’s (RVS) minibus project; understands that the RVS funding applications to Alyth, Crieff, Kinross and Perth Common Good Funds were approved recently; notes that the RVS has 150 volunteers across Perth and Kinross who support the elderly through lunch clubs, social clubs, a Home from Hospital service, Support You at Home service, as well as various activity groups and entertainment at sheltered housing complexes across the region; considers that the RVS has received a former council minibus as part of PKC’s Community Minibus Scheme to provide transport to the various activities and address transport barriers for elderly residents; is grateful to volunteers for all their commitment, hard work and contributions to supporting the region's older residents to enjoy social gatherings and helping them to live fulfilling lives, and extends its very best wishes to everyone at RSV for the success of the project.

That the Parliament congratulates Perthshire Highland Dancer Connie Urquhart on being awarded the Junior World Highland Dance Championship trophy at the Cowal Gathering in Dunoon; understands that Connie beat competitors from all over the world including the US, Canada and Australia; notes that Connie has had an excellent year in competition, being awarded the European and British titles, and has also just been announced as the Royal Scottish Official Board UK Champion of Champions for 2026; considers that of the three age category world champions, Connie was the only Scottish winner and was also awarded the top Scottish Junior Dancer title; believes that Connie trains with Nicola Grant in Kirriemuir where she has worked towards the goal of being World Champion and also trains with mum, Gillian Urquhart, who runs the Gillian Brough Dance School in Scone; celebrates that Perthshire has two top dancers in the Junior World category, as Lucy Patton from Coupar Angus finished in second place in the same category; applauds that Lucy has had an outstanding progression in Highland Dance, only entering the Premier competition stage in 2023 and attending Linda Napier School of Dance, in Coupar Angus; extends its very best wishes to both dancers in the Netherlands as they perform in the Dutch International Tattoo and for the rest of the 2026 competitive season.

That the Parliament celebrates the recognition of the Back Burn environmental restoration project in Glenrothes and Markinch in the Coasts and Waters category of RSPB Scotland's Nature of Scotland Awards; understands that the partnership project to restore the Back Burn to its more natural state in Glenrothes and Markinch has been recognised by the awards; notes that following the success of The River Leven restoration project, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s Water Environment Fund (WEF), Fife Council and Fife Coast and Countryside Trust continued their partnership to focus on the Back Burn with improvement works at both Coul Den and Balbirnie Park; recognises that the work completed at the Back Burn will improve the river’s ecology, return the river to a more natural state, enhance fish passage and create better habitats for wildlife, as well as improve local resilience to climate change and, importantly, provide a more natural space for visitors; celebrates that early signs of success are already visible near Coul Reservoir where otters and brown trout have been spotted; applauds the success and shared vision, solid partnership working and the expertise and dedication of all involved, including the input of the local community, and welcomes that this impactful partnership approach is now being replicated in Rosyth for the Whinny and Brankholm Burns for improvement

That the Parliament congratulates the apprentices who were recognised for their hard work, dedication and achievements at the Fife Council Apprentice Excellence Awards 2026; understands that the awards celebrated apprentices from across different trades and services, highlighting the skills, commitment and talent helping to build Fife's future workforce; believes that apprentices play an important role in delivering services and supporting local communities across the Fife region every day; applauds the event for also raising a total of £3,092.12 for two local charities, Fairway Fife and Youth 1st, with each receiving £1,546.06, which will help them continue their valuable work in communities across Fife, and extends its very best wishes for continued success to all the apprentices who were recognised.

That the Parliament recognises Fife Gingerbread’s Lone Parent Positive Workplaces and Working 4 Families projects, which both deliver specialised employability and parental support in Fife; believes that these projects aim to help to overcome barriers to work and empower lone parents by providing tailored support, enabling economic independence, while advocating for more inclusive and flexible workplaces to help parents remain in employment and progress within the workplace; understands that the projects help single and low-income parents move into education, training or sustainable employment through work placements whilst working in partnership with local employers, including Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, Greener Kirkcaldy, Citizens Advice and Rights Fife and Fife Council; notes that Fife Gingerbread’s family approach has been delivered by the organisation since August 2023, and in this time has come to exemplify how a support service can adopt a holistic, whole-family approach to employability; acknowledges the positive impacts on families across Fife and recognises that targeted financial inclusion creates pathways that build confidence, strengthen families and provide parents with the tools to improve life chances for both themselves and their children; is grateful to everyone at Fife Gingerbread for all their hard work, and understands that the recent Breakfast & Blether Employability networking event, celebrating Employability Day and showcasing the impactful employability support provided by the organisation, was a great success.

That the Parliament congratulates BBC Radio Scotland’s Get It On programme on reaching its 20th anniversary; commends presenter Bryan Burnett and the production team for the programme, which invites listeners to share music requests linked by a daily theme; acknowledges the creativity and humour that have characterised the themes over the years, ranging from songs about rain, roads and recipes to songs connected by colours, numbers, places and many other imaginative connections suggested by listeners; notes the programme’s enduring popularity with audiences across Scotland and beyond; recognises the sense of community and connection that the programme has fostered among listeners over 20 years of broadcasting; thanks everyone who has contributed to its success, including presenters, producers, studio staff and all the listeners who have supported the programme, and wishes Get It On and BBC Radio Scotland continued success for many years to come.

That the Parliament congratulates the Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland (TMSA) on reaching its 60th anniversary; understands that the association aims to promote, preserve and present all the music and song traditions of Scotland through local branch and national activities; notes that the association's origins date back to the 1966 Blairgowrie Folk Festival, through St Andrews Folk Club members and students, to support Scots trad music and song; is grateful to the association for its important work to preserve, foster and promote Scotland’s rich and unique musical traditions; notes the success of the recent Patrons’ Concert at Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 22 August for a special celebration of 60 years of the Traditional Music & Song Association in Scotland featuring Barbara Dickson, Sheena Wellington, Margaret Bennett, Jack Beck, Jimmy Hutchison, Geordie Murison, Scott Gardiner, Alastair Hardie, Natalie Chalmers, Neil Sutcliffe, Roo Geddes, Eoin Taylor, Ian & Hamish MacGregor, Clelland Shand, Finn MacPherson, and Aly Bain; expresses particular appreciation to Sheena Wellington and Margaret Bennett for all their hard work in ensuring that the concert was a fantastic night celebrating musicianship, traditional music and song, and extends its very best wishes to everyone at TMSA.

That the Parliament congratulates Mid Scotland and Fife region food and hospitality businesses on winning awards at the 12th Annual Food Awards Scotland 2026: understands that the awards ceremony brought together Scotland’s food, drink and hospitality sectors to recognise and reward dedication, innovation and excellence demonstrated by businesses and individuals in the industry; believes that the awards showcase the quality, creativity and passion that continues to strengthen Scotland’s reputation as a world-class food destination; commends all the businesses which won accolades for Outstanding Achievement, including Mocs, Alloa, in the Café/Bistro of the Year category, Killiecrankie House, Pitlochry, in the Hotel Restaurant of the Year category, Cairnie Fruit Farm & Mega Maze, Cupar, in the Farm Restaurant/Café of the Year category and Olivio’s, Perth, in the Bistro/Diner of the Year category; celebrates those who were Recognised for Excellence, including The Woodsman Restaurant Fishcross, Alloa, in the Restaurant of the Year category, The Carnock Inn, Dunfermline, in the Gastro Pub of the Year category, 3G at Events Catering, Perth, in the Caterer of the Year group, Killiecrankie House, Pitlochry, in the Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year category, Stewart Tower Dairy, Perth, in the Dessert Outlet of the Year group, G’S Bistro, Crieff, in the Bistro/Diner of the Year category, and The Wee Chippy, Anstruther, in the Best Loved Food Spot of the Year group; applauds the winners, including Doner Angelina, Dunfermline, in the Takeaway of the Year Category, The Wee Chippy, Anstruther, in the Best Fish N’ Chips Establishment category, Bombay Club, Auchterarder, in the Best Curry Restaurant group, The Perfect Scoop, Kirkcaldy, in the Dessert Outlet of the Year category and Vera Artisan Bakery, Stirling, which won the Bakery of the Year award, and extends its very best wishes for continued success to all the businesses in the Mid Scotland and Fife region and across Scotland.