05.06.2013
Pupils from Our Lady’s Primary School (pictured) look forward to Friday 21 June when the Scottish Parliament will come to Stirling for Parliament Day.
Video: Parliament Day Stirling - watch an interview with Deputy Presiding Officer Elaine Smith MSP
Meanwhile, more details of events and activities have been announced of Parliament Day, which is designed to give people across Scotland an insight into the work of the Parliament and its politicians.
Parliament Day will see the Deputy Presiding Officer, Elaine Smith MSP, visit a number of community organisations across the Stirling area. From the children at Red Kite Nursery in Doune to volunteers at Start Up Stirling Crisis Food Bank, both will feature in her whistle stop tour of the local community in Stirling.
The Presiding Officer the Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP was due to lead Parliament Day activities but is currently recuperating following recent surgery. Deputy Presiding Officer Elaine Smith MSP will now take the lead during events in Stirling.
Deputy Presiding Officer Elaine Smith MSP said:
“Parliament Day is all about taking the Scottish Parliament out of Edinburgh and in to communities across Scotland.
“By giving the people of Stirling an insight into the Parliament for a day, I hope we will build strong links with the local community and inspire longer term engagement with the Parliament.
“I am delighted we’ll be visiting Stirling and very much look forward to meeting local people, organisations and groups.”
Stirling Council's Leader, Councillor Johanna Boyd, comments;
"I am delighted that Stirling has been chosen as one of the Parliament Day locations this year. On 21 June we have a great opportunity for communities to see what it's like to be part of Parliamentary life, inspiring local people to take an interest in and engage with the work of Parliament. Key themes for Stirling will be Health and Sport, so keep an eye out for times and venues in the coming weeks."
Holyrood’s Health and Sport Committee will also visit a number of local projects and hold a formal Committee meeting in the afternoon on the impact of health inequalities on the area.
People from communities across Stirling will be involved in welcoming the Parliament as the series of activities around Parliament take place.
Parliament Day Activities
Deputy Presiding Officer
The organisations being visited by the Deputy Presiding Officer include:
- Red Kite Community Nursery. Red Kite Community Nursery is based in Doune and owned and managed by the local community.
- Recyk-a-bike. This is a social enterprise arm of Fallin Community enterprises and repairs and refurbishes unwanted and scrapped bikes and sells them locally and inexpensively.
- Start up Stirling Crisis Food Bank. The charity operates to assist and support families and individuals experiencing homelessness and financial hardship by providing home starter and wellbeing packs, befriending support and crisis food packs.
- Stirling Citizens Advice Bureau. Stirling Citizen’s Advice Bureau is one of the oldest and longest running in Scotland at 74 years old and is at the heart of the local community providing free and independent advice to thousands of citizens in the area.
Health and Sport Committee
Details of the local community organisations that the Health and Sport Committee will visit will be announced shortly as well as names of the witnesses that they will take evidence of as part of their formal Committee meeting.
Education
The Parliament’s Education Outreach Team will work with pupils in local schools in the run up to Parliament day to build a greater understanding of the work of the Parliament. The team has already visited Our Lady’s Primary School and plan to visit Riverside Primary School on June 13th to give sessions in English and Gaelic to three classes.
Background
The Parliament Day aims to take the Parliament out of Edinburgh. It allows people to see the Parliament at work, be it ‘official’ Parliamentary business, or on a less formal level.
The Parliament Day is at the heart of the Parliament’s engagement strategy for its fourth session. The Parliament Day seeks to take the Parliament into communities around Scotland, inspiring local people to take an interest in and engage directly in the work of their Parliament.
Stirling is the third Parliament Day to be held with events already being held in Hawick and Stornoway.