Latest News –  Martin Whitfield MSP

Martin Whitfield MSP has visited community food initiative the Lammermuir Larder in Haddington to thank volunteers and find out more about the project’s work with local families and individuals. Established in February last year, the project aims to support individuals and families in the Haddington area who are struggling financially to feed themselves or their families. Any people in these circumstances are encouraged to seek assistance by completing a short referral form which is then dealt with confidentially by one person. The initiative has been supported by Haddington and District Community Council, Haddington Common Good Fund and a wide range [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP is urging residents in South Scotland to be on their guard against cost-of-living scams as Scotland’s ScamWatch Fortnight gets underway. This year’s ‘Read Between the Li(n)es’ campaign highlights the importance of remaining vigilant - with fraudsters using emails, texts and social media to prey on people of all ages. Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national consumer advice service consumeradvice.scot on behalf of the Scottish Government, continues to see new tactics deployed as criminals try to manipulate struggling households. Any local resident in South Scotland region who wants to report a scam should fill in the ScamWatch [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP has committed to supporting work being undertaken by the Woodland Trust following a recent visit to Pressmennan Wood near Stenton which is owned by the charity. Mr Whitfield joined Woodland Trust representatives on a walk in the woods and a briefing on its work there. Pressmennan Wood has been continuously wooded since the early 15th century and a large part of it is still classified as Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland. The charity purchased the wood from Forestry Commission Scotland in 1988 and has been slowly restoring it by gradually removing some of the conifers and rhododendrons, encouraging native species [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP has visited Cockenzie House and Gardens to underline his support for its community ownership bid and receive an update on the latest developments at the important community facility.  The South Scotland MSP met with trustees to hear more about the charity’s bid to secure community ownership of the site, as well as its summer events and other recent developments, and toured some of the various studios located in the house. Cockenzie House and Gardens now offers 47 studios for artists, small businesses, and therapists; a Willow Room for parties; two self-catering cottages; Café Filly; and its beautiful [...]

Applications for the 2022 #LivingWage Scotland Awards are now open and Martin Whitfield MSP is urging local Living Wage accredited employers and their staff to get involved. The awards are an opportunity to showcase the best of the real Living Wage and Fair Work practices. They also help raise the profile of the Living Wage and the drive to end in-work poverty by encouraging more employers to sign up. Mr Whitfield made becoming an accredited Living Wage employer one of his early priorities and was officially accredited during last year’s Challenge Poverty Week. He has been working to encourage more [...]

South Scotland MSPs Martin Whitfield and Carol Mochan have visited the Fa’side and Preston, Seton & Gosford lunch clubs to thank staff and volunteers for the important service they have been providing for families during the summer holiday period. Run by the Pennypit Community Development Trust since 2017, with the support of East Lothian Council and other partners, the lunch clubs aim to reduce food insecurity over the holidays and provide play opportunities for children in the Fa’side and PSG areas. The clubs also help improve health and wellbeing in the community as well as supporting vital work experience and [...]