Latest News –  Martin Whitfield MSP

Martin Whitfield MSP has visited the Dirleton Solar Walk project, a scale model of the Solar System developed in partnership with Dirleton Primary School, to find out more about the unique initiative and the benefits it offers to local pupils and the whole community and help mark its official opening. The South Scotland MSP was invited by Dan Arnold, a local resident and Associate Professor at Heriot Watt University, who has led the initiative, a collaboration between the school, Heriot University, the University of Edinburgh and Glasgow School of Art. The project entails a 1:3.6 billion scale model of the [...]

Commenting on the announcement by LINK that it is recommending a new shared banking hub for Dunbar, Martin Whitfield MSP said: “I raised this matter with LINK just a few weeks ago, and strongly welcome this announcement. There is no doubt that our growing communities need to have good access to banking facilities and this is absolutely the right decision for Dunbar. "It will bring benefits for individual customers as well as the town’s many businesses and community groups. However, I also believe there is still scope for banking hubs in other local communities that have lost branches and intend [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP visited local wood turning supply and training business Why-Aye Wood at Cockenzie House and Gardens on Saturday 7th December to help celebrate and promote this year’s Small Business Saturday. Now in its twelfth year in the UK, Small Business Saturday encourages customers to go out and support all types of small businesses, online, in offices and in stores. While it is timed to coincide with the busy festive period, its intent is to support and promote small businesses throughout the year. Mr Whitfield has been encouraging businesses in East Lothian and across the South Scotland region to [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP is helping promote a national charity's Scotland grant programme for low-income families raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person. Family Fund provides a wide range of grants to families living in Scotland who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person, and who are living on a low income. Grant items range from white goods and sensory play equipment to digital devices and even family breaks and days out – whatever is needed the most. Martin Whitfield MSP said:  "I welcome Family Fund's grant programme for families living on a low [...]

A campaign to eliminate cervical cancer in Scotland has received the support of Martin Whitfield MSP at Holyrood. Launched by global pharmaceutical company, MSD, the #RacetoElimination campaign is celebrating Scotland's success so far in the pursuit of eliminating cervical cancer and encouraging further cohesive and collaborative national action to end the condition here. MSD held a reception in the Scottish Parliament today with The Eve Appeal to highlight Scotland's progress so far, the recent establishment of the Cervical Cancer Elimination Expert Group, and to outline the action that is needed to further advance work on the issue. Scotland’s HPV vaccination [...]

Last week I launched the consultation on my proposed Member’s Bill on the provision of youth work services. The Bill would seek to establish a robust legal framework ensuring that every young person, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to consistent and high-quality youth work opportunities. This landmark proposal reflects the critical importance of youth work in fostering social inclusion, tackling inequality, and empowering Scotland’s next generation. At its heart, the Youth Work (Scotland) Bill addresses the growing disparities in youth service provision, particularly in rural and economically deprived areas where resources are often scarce. I reached the conclusion [...]