Latest News –  Martin Whitfield MSP

Martin Whitfield MSP is urging constituents who have an outstanding local councillor in their area to consider nominating them for this year's Cllr Awards. Now in their seventh year in Scotland, the LGIU & CCLA Cllr Awards are the only national awards celebrating the vital work of councillors. Anyone can make a nomination and it only takes a few minutes to submit one. The awards are  completely free of charge, but the deadline is Friday 13 September. Martin Whitfield MSP said: "There are many brilliant local councillors across South Scotland who work tirelessly for their area. The LGIU & CCLA [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP has welcomed the new Cashpot for Schools initiative from Asda aimed at enabling customers to help their local primary schools. The initiative, delivered in partnership with charity Parentkind, will make millions of pounds available to state primary schools by allowing customers to raise money for their own local school by shopping with Asda Rewards, the company's customer loyalty scheme. Asda will donate 0.5% of the value of any shopping done at Asda until 30th November 2024 to customers’ primary school of choice, and will kick off each school fund with £50.  Asda will also top up with [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP has joined Douglas Alexander MP on a visit to Belhaven Community Garden. Run by Sustaining Dunbar since 2012, the community garden is a project to transform an area of land adjacent to the former Belhaven Hospital for community use. Following the closure of the hospital, Sustaining Dunbar are now seeking to make a community asset transfer application to bring the land into community ownership. Mr Whitfield and Mr Alexander were given a tour of the existing garden site and heard more about the group's plans for developing it if the asset transfer is successful. Martin Whitfield MSP [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP is helping to highlight that Scottish Gas' Warm Home Discount Scheme for 2024/2025 has now opened for applications from customers. The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 payment towards electricity bills, paid directly by energy suppliers to their customers. The payment is targeted to those on low incomes including those who receive means tested benefits and is separate from the Energy Bill Support Scheme. Customers must apply for the payments through their electricity suppliers before 31st March 2025. Find out more about the scheme, if you are eligible and how to apply here https://www.britishgas.co.uk/.../warm-home-discount.html Scottish Gas [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP and Douglas Alexander MP have visited local social enterprise Heavy Sound CIC to meet staff and volunteers for an update on its important work supporting disengaged young people and adults. It was Mr Alexander’s first time visiting the organisation and he was full of praise for the flexible, person-centred support it provides to young people through a variety of different mediums, including music, martial arts, and cycling and bike maintenance. Mr Whitfield, who has visited the charity previously, also welcomed the excellent services it provides locally, which include a trauma informed mentoring service and community outreach initiatives [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP and Douglas Alexander MP have this week championed local businesses and communities as they helped to mark Scotland Loves Local Week. Spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), Scotland Loves Local Week (Monday 26 August - Sunday 1 September) is showcasing great local people and enterprises, highlighting the critical need for residents to support them to build stronger, more sustainable communities for the future. Throughout Scotland Loves Local Week, businesses and politicians are joining forces to call on everyone across East Lothian get behind local businesses in order to help drive communities forward. People across the region are [...]