Latest News – Martin Whitfield MSP
Backing Scotland Loves Local Week
Martin Whitfield MSP is proudly backing this year's Scotland Loves Local Week (26 August - 1 September) which aims to put localism at the heart of a stronger, greener, fairer Scotland. Following the success of last year’s inaugural week, this will be a national campaign with a local focus - shining a spotlight on why choosing local is so integral to building better, stronger, more sustainable places and communities for the future. This year the campaign will seek to concentrate minds on the significant impact that choosing local has. Throughout the week the organisers will be working with a number [...]
Visiting Mental health wellbeing service
Martin Whitfield MSP has been joined by parliamentary colleagues Jackie Baillie and Paul Sweeney on a visit to local mental health service The Haven, based at the Fraser Centre in Tranent. Run by the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, the pilot wellbeing and resilience service is designed to complement CAMHS and to help prevent problems escalating to the point where professional intervention is needed. It is open to families living within the catchment area of Ross High School and/or registered with Tranent Medical Practice. During the first six months of service, there were 1,264 visits. Of these, 656 were children and [...]
Living Wage Awards 2024
Applications have now opened for this year's Scottish Living Wage Awards. These awards celebrate the Living Wage network and employers who have gone the extra mile by supporting, not only their employees but the wider Living Wage movement. Living Wage Scotland would love to hear from accredited employers who have made an impact. This could be by encouraging others to accredit as Living Wage employers, by working in communities to tackle in-work poverty, or by actively promoting their Living Wage status in a range of forms. There are seven categories available, including a Living Hours Award for businesses that have [...]
#BeyondSeizure campaign welcomed
Martin Whitfield MSP has welcomed Epilepsy Scotland's new #BeyondSeizure campaign which the charity has launched during this year's National Epilepsy Awareness Week (20-26 May). The campaign has been launched to help raise awareness of the challenges that can be faced by those living with the condition and the lack of funding to support them. The central message it is highlighting is that epilepsy is so much more than seizures and can often impact on many aspects of a person’s life Martin Whitfield MSP said: "I welcome the important work of Epilepsy Scotland and its new #BeyondSeizure campaign. "The campaign aims [...]
Foster care efforts highlighted in Holyrood debate
Martin Whitfield MSP has led a Members’ business debate at the Scottish Parliament on this year’s Foster Care Fortnight, which runs from 13 to 26 May. The South Scotland MSP brought the debate to Holyrood in order to take time to mark the fortnight in the Parliament because foster care is so important for the more than 4,000 children and young people in Scotland who are being fostered. During his opening speech in the debate, Mr Whitfield highlighted the significant amount of work and investment East Lothian Council has made in fostering over recent years in order to help address [...]
25 years of the Scottish Parliament
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the new Scottish Parliament sitting for the first time. There will be many special events, debates and other activities over the next few weeks to commemorate the parliament's first 25 years, but Martin Whitfield MSP has marked the anniversary with his own brief reflection on the occasion and the important role East Lothian played in delivering devolution. Commenting, Martin Whitfield MSP said: "25 years ago today the new Scottish Parliament sat for the first time, following a long campaign to deliver devolution and restore a parliament in Scotland. "As we celebrate, let us reflect [...]