Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates 16-year-old Selkirk entrepreneur, Brooke Laurie, on the launch of her home baking business, Blissbakes26, and the opening of her new self-service cake shed in Ladyshaw Drive; recognises the initiative and entrepreneurial spirit shown by Brooke in establishing her own small business at such a young age; understands that the cake shed officially opened in July 2026 and has been described as Selkirk’s first cake shed, offering customers freshly baked cakes, cookies and other sweet treats through a self-service honesty-box model; acknowledges the hard work, creativity and commitment required to establish and grow a business while continuing in education; recognises the importance of encouraging young entrepreneurs and providing young people with opportunities to develop practical business skills, confidence and experience; welcomes the contribution that new independent businesses can make to the vibrancy of Selkirk and its local economy, and wishes Brooke and Blissbakes26 every success as the business continues to grow.

That the Parliament congratulates Think Fitness 4 Less in Hawick on reaching its 25th anniversary; recognises the contribution made by Stuart Oliver and his team over a quarter of a century to supporting the health, fitness and wellbeing of people across Hawick and the surrounding area; acknowledges the dedication required to establish and sustain an independent local business for 25 years, particularly within the competitive health and fitness sector; notes what it sees as the important role that local gyms and fitness facilities can play in encouraging people to be active, supporting healthier lifestyles and providing a place for members of the community to meet and build friendships; recognises the generations of local people who have used Think Fitness 4 Less over the past 25 years, and wishes Stuart, his staff and everyone associated with Think Fitness 4 Less continued success as they celebrate this significant milestone.

That the Parliament congratulates T.N. Crosby Chemist in Hawick on celebrating 75 years of serving the local community; recognises the important contribution made by the pharmacy to the health and wellbeing of generations of people in Hawick and the surrounding area; acknowledges what it sees as the particular value of independent community pharmacies in providing accessible healthcare, advice and support close to people's homes; understands that T.N. Crosby Chemist continues to provide NHS prescription services and Pharmacy First support from its premises on North Bridge Street; recognises the dedication of the pharmacists and staff who have maintained the business and its service to the community across 75 years; acknowledges what it sees as the importance of long-established independent businesses to the vitality and character of local high streets, and wishes T.N Crosby Chemist and everyone associated with the business continued success as it begins its next chapter.

That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Borders finalists in the 2026 Helping it Happen Awards who are based in, or have strong connections to, the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency; recognises the River Tweed Commission for its work to protect and improve the River Tweed and its fish populations, including its partnership work to restore fish passage at Ettrick Marshes; acknowledges the Border Union Agricultural Society Schools Countryside Day for providing young people with hands-on opportunities to learn about farming, food and rural life; welcomes the recognition of the Tweed Salmon Festival for celebrating the cultural, environmental and economic importance of the River Tweed and bringing people together through fishing and outdoor activities; recognises IndiNature, in Jedburgh, for its work developing carbon-storing hemp insulation while supporting local supply chains and rural diversification; acknowledges RM and JF Seed Ltd for its contribution to rural business and modern farming; recognises Trevor Jackson of Charlesfield Farms for his work in developing a diverse rural enterprise supporting businesses, employment and investment in the Scottish Borders; congratulates Hailey Thomson of Chirnside Hall Hotel on being shortlisted for the Rural Rising Star Award in recognition of her dedication to developing a career in the countryside; recognises Philiphaugh Gardens and Events for its contribution to the local community, tourism and the rural economy; acknowledges the work of the Borders Forest Trust in restoring native woodland, supporting biodiversity and engaging communities across the Scottish Borders, and wishes all of the Borders finalists every success at the Helping it Happen Awards ceremony in Edinburgh on 1 October 2026.

That the Parliament welcomes the return of the Lilliesleaf Summer Music Festival, taking place from 23 to 30 August 2026; recognises the important contribution that the festival makes to the cultural life of Lilliesleaf and the wider Scottish Borders; understands that the festival brings musicians and performers from across Scotland and around the world to the village, providing local audiences with access to a diverse programme of live music close to home; acknowledges the work of the festival director, Andy Sherwood, together with performers, volunteers and organisers , in establishing the event as an important part of the Borders cultural calendar; notes that 2026 marks the fourth staging of the festival; recognises the wider benefits that cultural events can bring to rural communities by attracting visitors, supporting local businesses and creating opportunities for people to participate in and enjoy the arts, and wishes everyone involved in the 2026 Lilliesleaf Summer Music Festival every success.

That the Parliament welcomes the return of the Scottish Borders Walking Festival from 4 to 12 September 2026, with Jedburgh among the locations hosting events; recognises the contribution that the festival makes to promoting walking, outdoor recreation and the natural and cultural heritage of the Scottish Borders; understands that the festival provides opportunities for residents and visitors to explore the Borders landscapes, towns and historic sites while supporting local businesses and the visitor economy; acknowledges the work of organisers, volunteers and local communities in developing a varied programme of walks and activities; recognises the importance of walking and outdoor recreation in supporting physical and mental wellbeing; further recognises the opportunity for Jedburgh and surrounding communities to showcase the area to visitors from across Scotland and beyond, and wishes everyone involved in the 2026 Scottish Borders Walking Festival every success.

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of River Tweed Gin by the Tweed Forum, celebrating the natural and cultural importance of the River Tweed while supporting practical environmental work across its catchment; recognises the initiative of Tweed Forum chief executive, Luke Comins, and the wider team in developing a product inspired by the River Tweed and its surrounding landscape; understands that the gin is distilled at Selkirk Distillery using locally foraged botanicals, including water mint and sweet cicely gathered from the banks of the River Tweed; acknowledges that £7 from every £38 bottle sold is donated to support the Tweed Forum’s tree-planting projects, helping to improve the health and resilience of the River Tweed catchment; recognises that tree planting can provide valuable habitat, improve biodiversity and help create cooler, cleaner water environments that support Atlantic salmon and other wildlife; further recognises the longstanding work of the Tweed Forum to protect, enhance and restore the natural, built and cultural heritage of the River Tweed and its tributaries; welcomes the innovative approach of combining a locally produced product with fundraising for environmental conservation, and wishes the Tweed Forum every success with River Tweed Gin and its continued work to protect and enhance one of the Scottish Borders most important natural assets.

That the Parliament recognises the 10th anniversary of The Hawick Paper, which was launched by Jason Marshall in 2016; acknowledges what it sees as the important role that the newspaper played in reporting on the people, organisations, businesses, events and issues that mattered to the Hawick community; recognises the contribution of Jason Marshall, journalists, photographers, contributors and staff who worked to provide a dedicated source of local news over the past decade; understands the particular importance of independent local journalism in ensuring that communities have a platform to celebrate their achievements, discuss local issues and share stories that may otherwise receive little wider attention; recognises the role that The Hawick Paper played in documenting the changing life of Hawick and recording the achievements of local individuals, community groups, businesses and organisations; acknowledges the challenges facing local newspapers and the wider pressures on the traditional newspaper industry; understands that The Hawick Paper has found a buyer and will continue to serve the Hawick community, and wishes Jason Marshall, the new owners and everyone involved with The Hawick Paper every success for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Bright Green Nature on receiving £62,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund’s Young Start programme; recognises the charity’s work in providing young people in the Scottish Borders with opportunities to connect with nature, develop skills and participate in activities within their local environment; understands the positive impact that access to nature and outdoor activity can have on young people’s confidence, wellbeing, learning and sense of connection to their communities; acknowledges the importance of the Young Start programme in supporting projects that create opportunities for young people and help them develop skills for the future; recognises the commitment of Bright Green Nature’s staff, volunteers and participants in delivering environmental and community projects across the Borders; welcomes the investment represented by the £62,000 award and the opportunities it will create for more young people, and wishes Bright Green Nature every success as it continues its work to help young people discover, understand and care for the natural environment.

That the Parliament congratulates the Jedburgh Grammar Campus Gardening Club on being shortlisted for the Reciprocal Learning (Scotland) category at the 2026 Generations Working Together Excellence Awards; recognises the club’s contribution to intergenerational learning by providing opportunities for pupils and older members of the community to share knowledge, experience and skills; acknowledges the commitment of the pupils, staff, volunteers and community members who have supported the club and helped establish it as a valued part of life at Jedburgh Grammar Campus; understands that initiatives of this kind can provide meaningful opportunities for young people to develop practical skills and confidence while enabling older people to share their experience and remain actively involved in their local communities; recognises the wider benefits of intergenerational projects in strengthening relationships between different age groups and supporting more connected communities; notes the work of Generations Working Together in promoting and developing intergenerational practice across Scotland and internationally; welcomes the international recognition given to the work taking place at Jedburgh Grammar Campus through its shortlisting for the 2026 Excellence Awards; notes that the Global Intergenerational Congress will take place in Glasgow from 29 September to 1 October 2026, with the Excellence Awards being presented at the Congress Hootenanny on 1 October, and wishes the Jedburgh Grammar Campus Gardening Club every success at the awards and in its continued work.