Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates Home Link Family Support on receiving a £20,000 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund; notes that the funding will support a two-year project to help children who have experienced trauma, poor mental health and poor self-esteem through one-to-one sessions with an art therapist, and commends the work of everyone at Home Link Family Support.

That the Parliament congratulates Care Support Scotland Ltd on receiving a £95,916 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund; notes that this funding will be used to support 30 women who are homeless, each year and across three years, to identify how they will begin to rebuild their lives toward independence, and commends the work of everyone at Care Support Scotland Ltd.

That the Parliament congratulates Luisa Campbell on her appointment as General Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland; applauds the decision by the Bishops' Conference in appointing Ms Campbell, who is the first member of the lay faithful and first woman to undertake the role of general secretary; understands that Ms Campbell will take up the post from February 2026 when the current general secretary, Secretary Father Gerry Maguiness, will step down after serving two terms in his role; commends Ms Campbell on her long-term commitment to the Church in Scotland while working at a senior level in business administration for four decades, two of which she spent leading a Scottish business as chief executive, being actively involved in the Church through youth work, parish administration, liturgy, evangelisation, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and finance at both parish and diocesan level; notes that she has since realised her ambition post-retirement to deepen this commitment, and wishes Ms Campbell well in her appointment.

That the Parliament welcomes the news that the Manorview Foundation has been granted £20,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund; understands that this funding will sustain a year of operations, providing free activities and programmes for individuals of all ages in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire; recognises the vital role that accessible community services play in supporting families and reducing isolation, and congratulates the foundation on its continued service to the local area.

That the Parliament congratulates George Thomson, who is from Coatbridge and is a football commentator specialising in audio-descriptive commentary (ADC) for blind and partially sighted supporters, on the broadcast of his recent interview on UCB Radio’s podcast, The Big Man Up Top; notes that the programme, listened to by an estimated audience of around 250,000 people across the UK, featured George in a recent episode, where he spoke about his role and the importance of making football accessible to all; recognises George’s passionate advocacy for ADC and his dedication to ensuring that visually impaired supporters can enjoy a full and  immersive matchday experience; acknowledges the vital role that ADC plays in promoting inclusion in Scottish football and across the wider sporting community, and commends George for his ongoing work to raise awareness of this service, so that more fans may benefit from it in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates IgboAmaka Scotland CIC on receiving a £8,000 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund; notes that this funding was used to run the 2025 Igbo cultural day in September to promote Igbo heritage and build relationships for the Nigerian and wider community in Musselburgh, and commends the work of everyone at IgboAmaka Scotland CIC.

That the Parliament congratulates The Turing Trust on receiving a £20,000 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund; notes that this funding will be used to provide IT training in how to repair and recycle for 30 people aged 16 to 50-plus, as well as provide IT equipment for reuse; further notes that the project will also support the local community in Loanhead and surrounding areas by providing IT equipment for free, and commends the work of everyone at the Turing Trust.

That the Parliament congratulates the 1st Port Glasgow Girls’ Brigade on reaching its 120th anniversary; recognises that it is the longest continuously serving Girls’ Brigade company in the world; commends the organisation for its outstanding contribution to the lives of generations of girls and young women in Inverclyde and beyond; acknowledges the role it has played in promoting confidence, leadership and community values for over a century, and wishes the company continued success in inspiring and empowering future generations.

That the Parliament congratulates St Bartholomews Line Dancing Club on securing a £6,830 award from the National Lottery Community Fund; notes that the club intends to use this investment to sustain its weekly line dancing sessions and to organise free social outings for older residents in Coatbridge over the next year; recognises the positive impact that accessible activities and social opportunities can have on the wellbeing of seniors, and commends all those involved for their continued commitment to community inclusion and healthy, active ageing.

That the Parliament welcomes recent awards made in East Lothian by The National Lottery Community Fund; notes that Karele Limited has received £20,000 to continue delivering free equine therapy aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing and reducing isolation among children and young people across East Lothian; further notes that the Acorn Resource Centre has received £15,000 to provide one-to-one, culturally sensitive support for people experiencing hardship and isolation, with a particular focus on supporting minority ethnic and Muslim women in the area; recognises the important role that both organisations play in strengthening community wellbeing and inclusion, and congratulates them on securing this funding, which will allow them to continue their valuable work.