Latest News – Martin Whitfield MSP
Backing respect for shopworkers week
Martin Whitfield MSP is again backing the annual Respect for Shopworkers Week, which runs from 13-19 November. Run by retail trade union, Usdaw, the campaign raises awareness of the union’s year-round Freedom from Fear Campaign and promotes a message of ‘respect for shopworkers’ to the public. As this year's week got underway, Usdaw launched shocking statistics from their annual Freedom From Fear survey of over 3,000 retail staff across the UK. The results show that in the last twelve months: 65% have experienced verbal abuse. 42% were threatened by a customer. 5% were assaulted. 60% of these incidents were triggered [...]
Promoting short breaks directory
Martin Whitfield MSP is joining colleagues and organisations across Scotland to help promote Shared Care Scotland's Short Break Directory. The directory is a valuable online resource designed to support individuals and families in Scotland - and organisations who work to support them - who require respite and short break services. There are 800,000 unpaid carers in Scotland who provide over £36 billion worth of work. Unpaid carers are essential to the Scottish economy. Breaks from caring make a huge difference to the health and wellbeing of unpaid carers, yet many report being unable to access a break from their caring [...]
Marking Islamophobia Awareness Month
Martin Whitfield MSP has joined parliamentary colleagues in helping mark this year's Islamophobia Awareness Month (IAM) at Holyrood. MSPs came together to attend a photo call in support of IAM organised by Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND). IAM was launched by British Muslim organisations in 2012 to challenge stereotypes about Islam and raise awareness of Islamophobia. Every November, the campaign works with stakeholders including the police, schools, universities, community organisations and elected representatives. For 2023, the theme for IAM is #MuslimStories. The aim is to create connections between people from diverse faiths and backgrounds by sharing stories and creating meaningful [...]
Honouring Armed Forces service & sacrifice
Ahead of this year’s Remembrance services, Martin Whitfield MSP has called for residents in South Scotland to honour and remember the sacrifice of our UK Armed Forces on Armistice Day [11 November] and Remembrance Sunday [12 November]. On 11 and 12 November, communities nationwide will mark Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday together, paying tribute to those who fought and died in the First World War and all conflicts since. Today, our UK and Commonwealth servicemen and servicewomen continue to play a vital role in protecting British interests and values, training Ukrainian forces and upholding security and stability worldwide. PoppyScotland and [...]
Martin attends Absent Friends Week
Martin Whitfield MSP has attended North Berwick Coastal Community Connections' Absent Friends Week at St Andrew Blackadder Church. North Berwick Coastal Community Connections organises a range of activities and events to support socially isolated adults connect into local networks, gatherings, purposeful activity and develop new friendships. The group organised Absent Friends Week with the aim of helping communities to have open conversations about grief, death, dying and terminal illness. Mr Whitfield was invited to attend during the week to find out more about the charity's work and walk the thought-provoking Labyrinth, a time for quiet contemplation, thought, next steps and [...]
Comment on East Lothian Foodbank
Commenting on the news that East Lothian Foodbank is looking for new, bigger premises, Martin Whitfield MSP said: “The fact that the Foodbank has outgrown its current premises and is looking for somewhere much bigger underlines the significant and increasing demand it continues to experience. “Earlier this year the Scottish Government finally published its plans for ending the need for foodbanks, but this news demonstrates how distant that goal is currently. "However, as long as the need continues in our communities, I will always support the foodbank, including with its search for new premises.”