The growing problem of food poverty in rural areas of the South Scotland region was the focus of Martin Whitfield MSP's visit to Peeblesshire Foodbank. Mr Whitfield visited the Peebles-based service and met with co-ordinator Fiona Dalgleish to discuss the foodbank's important work and the increasing number of local people accessing its services. Speaking after [...]
Martin Whitfield MSP has attended one of East Lothian Play Association's summer Spark the Park informal play sessions which are taking place on on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays until 11th August. The South Scotland MSP spoke to ELPA staff and volunteers as well as some of the children and families attending the event, which is [...]
This year’s Carers Week is taking place between 5th and 11th June. This is always one of the most welcome and important in the annual calendar of awareness weeks and one I am always keen to support and help promote. It provides the opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness of the crucial role of unpaid [...]
Martin Whitfield MSP was joined by Anas Sarwar MSP and Douglas Alexander at today's Our Community Kitchen fundraising event at Knox Academy in Haddington. The Indian themed cultural event was organised to raise funds to support the important work of Our Community Kitchen, which helps tackle loneliness and isolation in the Haddington area. Commenting after [...]
Martin Whitfield MSP has congratulated and thanked the winners and nominees at this year's East Lothian Inspiring Volunteer Awards. Organised by Volunteer Centre East Lothian (VCEL), the awards were held at the Fraser Centre in Tranent at the start of this year's Volunteers' Week. The annual awards recognise the efforts of outstanding local volunteers across [...]
Since the Scottish Borders RNID Near You service was launched in February, the team has been busy recruiting volunteers and setting up their monthly hearing loss drop-in sessions, which are now set to launch. At these free sessions, RNID's friendly volunteers can help with: Information on hearing loss and tinnitus, Maintenance of NHS hearing aids [...]
Martin Whitfield MSP is supporting Foster Care Fortnight (15-28 May) the UK’s largest foster care campaign, led by The Fostering Network. Across Scotland, 500 more fostering families are needed and Mr Whitfield is urging constituents to come forward to foster so that more children can be cared for locally. Currently, there are over 90,000 children [...]
With just over two months to go until Volunteers’ Week 2023, taking place 1-7 June, Martin Whitfield MSP has welcomed the announcement that the theme for this year’s week-long event is ‘Celebrate and Inspire’. Volunteers’ Week is an annual UK-wide event, now entering its 39th year. The week sees charities, voluntary groups, social organisations, and [...]
Volunteer Centre East Lothian's Inspiring Volunteer Awards 2023 are now open for nominations. The annual awards recognise and celebrate the amazing efforts of volunteers in communities across East Lothian, with every nomination able to be individual or team based. Martin Whitfield MSP is urging county residents and groups to consider recognising a volunteer or team [...]
The team at the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), Scotland’s all-animal emergency service, have been thanked by Martin Whitfield MSP after reporting a record year of activity in 2022. While attitudes towards animals and their welfare have generally changed for the better since the turn of the century, 2022 was unprecedented [...]
