Chamber and committees

That the Parliament welcomes the announcement by First Bus that service 65, which operates between Glasgow City Centre and Cambuslang, will continue to run on a revised timetable beyond its previously planned cessation date of 13 July 2025; notes that this decision follows extensive engagement with local residents, community organisations, local authorities and elected representatives, including John Grady MP and Michael Shanks MP, who raised concerns about the impact of the proposed withdrawal of the service; believes that service 65 is viewed by many as a vital link for work, education and community life; further believes that its retention will help prevent social isolation in communities such as Halfway and Fernhill; welcomes the commitment by First Bus to work with stakeholders to review services and mitigate gaps in connectivity; acknowledges the importance of accessible and reliable public transport in tackling social isolation and supporting inclusive growth, and calls on the Scottish Government and local authorities to continue working with operators to ensure that communities across Glasgow and Scotland are well served by sustainable, frequent and affordable bus services.

That the Parliament congratulates Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership’s Health Improvement Team on achieving the Silver LGBT Charter award from LGBT Youth Scotland; commends the dedication and hard work of staff and young people in reaching this milestone; acknowledges what it sees as the team’s commitment to ongoing training and to reviewing policies, practice and resources to ensure that it provides an inclusive and supportive environment for young people, staff, families and the wider community; recognises what it sees as the value of creating spaces where everyone feels respected and included, and wishes the Health Improvement Team every success as it continues its work to promote equality, diversity and inclusion across Glasgow.

That the Parliament congratulates Cochrane Castle Golf Club on receiving the prestigious award of Best Golf Club at the Scottish Hospitality Awards; understands that the Johnstone-based golf club received the award for its constant attentiveness to members who have been there for years, as well as to guests who have come to play the course and utilise the impressive hospitality facilities offered; commends Cochrane Castle Golf Club for being recognised on the national stage, and hopes that it can continue to provide what it sees as the incredible experience that it is already providing, to both members and guests alike.

That the Parliament congratulates Michael Rainey, a retired deputy headteacher from Clydebank and a long-time educator in Dumbarton, on successfully kayaking the length of Loch Ness; notes that, on 6 June 2025, Michael completed the 22-mile challenge from Fort Augustus to Lochend Beach, Inverness, to raise funds for the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF); acknowledges Michael's long-standing support for SCIAF, including his work in schools and parishes over the last 30 years; recognises the importance of SCIAF's work in helping some of the world's poorest communities to overcome poverty and build sustainable futures; appreciates Michael's dedication to this cause and his inspiring efforts to raise awareness and funds, and wishes him continued success in his future endeavours.

That the Parliament commends the inspiring group of young and older volunteers from Lanarkshire who recently climbed Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest peak, in support of Project Nakuru, a charity that works to improve the lives of some of the world’s poorest people in Kenya; believes that the charity provides vital support, including building schools, distributing food parcels and supplying essential equipment, to communities in need in the Nakuru region; applauds the efforts of event organiser Fiona McCall, from Wishaw, who, despite being unable to take part in the climb for health reasons, accompanied the group to the Highlands to support their endeavour; notes that the event has already raised £600, a sum that will make a significant contribution to the charity’s work during its upcoming visit to Kenya in September, and celebrates what it sees as the compassion, community spirit and international solidarity demonstrated by everyone involved in this remarkable fundraising initiative.

That the Parliament congratulates Treetops Nursery in Irvine for raising £1,941.50 for Cash For Kids through a week-long walking challenge; commends the collective effort of children, parents and staff who logged over five million steps together; acknowledges the creativity of themed walking days and fun events, including dinosaur walks, dance classes and costume parades; recognises the extra care and attention taken by staff and parents to organise fun and charitable events for the nursery children; believes that charity events are important for early year learners to help instil a sense of giving and empathy for others, and applauds the Collin Care Nursery Group's nurseries for raising a total of £9,300 for Cash for Kids across Scotland.

That the Parliament congratulates Irvine Youth Legacy Centre (IYLC) on being named team of the year by YouthLink Scotland at the National Youth Work Awards 2025; recognises the team’s commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, and young person-led space in North Ayrshire for over 370 young people; acknowledges what it sees as the vital role that the centre has played in offering a safe space for young people since opening in 2022; commends its creative approach to community engagement, education and wellbeing; acknowledges the importance of its partnerships with vital community agencies, including the Alcohol and Drug Partnership, and commends what it believes is the transformative and positive impact that the centre has had on young people across North Ayrshire.

That the Parliament welcomes the UK Government’s announcement of a £750 million investment to establish the next generation of national supercomputing infrastructure at the University of Edinburgh; believes that this investment will strengthen the UK’s global leadership in advanced computing, artificial intelligence and data science; acknowledges what it sees as the University of Edinburgh’s longstanding excellence in research and innovation, including the flagship data driven innovation programme, as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, alongside the university’s role in hosting the Edinburgh International Data Facility and ARCHER2; notes what it sees as the significance and potential of this investment for economic growth, skills development and scientific progress across Scotland and the UK, and commends all those who advocated for this landmark investment, including local representatives, academic leaders and industry partners.

That the Parliament congratulates Project Sonrisa on its fifth anniversary, which, it believes, marks five years of empowering young people across Scotland to share their lived experiences of mental health through creative expression; recognises the recent launch of its short documentary Our Minds, which amplifies diverse voices and perspectives on mental health, identity and wellbeing, and was produced with accessibility at its core; notes that Project Sonrisa will shortly release its new film, Creative Minds, on 17 July 2025, which explores the vital role of creativity in supporting mental health and wellbeing; commends everyone involved for their courage and openness in challenging stigma, breaking down barriers to honest conversation and highlighting what it sees as the unique mental health needs of young people in all their diversity, including those from marginalised and rural communities; acknowledges what it sees as the project’s contribution to raising awareness of the need for more timely, inclusive and person-centred mental health support, and wishes Emma Prach, and the whole Project Sonrisa team, every success as they continue to champion youth voice, creativity and wellbeing in Scotland and beyond.

That the Parliament congratulates Callum McKenzie, aged 21, from Clarkston, and a student at Glasgow Kelvin College, on being named Scottish student photographer of the year; notes that Callum’s award-winning portfolio, Avian Pairs, captures remarkable moments of bird-to-bird interaction in the wild, including his striking image of two puffins mid-squabble on Lunga, off the coast of Mull; further notes that his portfolio also features a pair of fulmars in quiet companionship and two red kites in synchronised flight, demonstrating his exceptional talent, dedication, and love for Scotland’s wildlife; recognises the valuable support of his mentors at Kelvin College, in particular his lecturer Simon Murphy, who encouraged him to pursue his passion; appreciates the importance of encouraging young people to develop their skills and creativity, and of celebrating Scotland’s natural environment through the arts; recognises the vital role that colleges and creative courses play in equipping students with the confidence and experience to build careers in the creative industries; highlights that there is a need to ensure that opportunities to study photography, the arts and related subjects remain accessible to all who wish to pursue them, and wishes Callum every success in his future studies and career in nature photography.