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Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has written to West Lothian Council to ask what more can be done in schools and council facilities to help children and young people apply for their free pass.In welcoming the news that 15,987 children and young people across West Lothian are benefitting from the SNP Scottish Government's free bus travel scheme, Fiona has said she wishes to see uptake increase even further. Fiona has written to West Lothian Council to find out what is currently being done to support young people to apply for their pass and how efforts can be increased.Fiona said:“It's wonderful to see 15,987 children and young people in West Lothian already benefiting from the SNP's Government's free bus travel scheme."But I want all children and young people…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency Fiona Hyslop has been named the Scottish Environment Link Nature Champion for Blanket Bogs. The Nature Champion initiative was established by Scottish Environment Link and encourages members of the Scottish Parliament to champion threatened species and priority habitats by raising awareness and promoting action to restore and safeguard Scotland’s natural environment. Blanket Bogs are a rare habitat globally and are a type of peatland found in places with cool, wet, and usually oceanic climates. Blanket Bogs are so important for biodiversity that they are listed on Annex 1 of Scotland’s Biodiversity List, and as a Priority Habitat under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Fiona commented: “I am pleased to share that I am now Scottish Environment Link’s Nature Champion for Blanket Bogs. “Blanket Bogs…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, visited the Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian in Bathgate on Wednesday 17th August. Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian is the Third Sector Interface operating in West Lothian who work from their offices known as ‘The Gateway’ in Bathgate. Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian are a membership organisation of locally based charities, social enterprises and volunteer-led community organisations. They aim to strengthen the third-sector and create partnerships within the local community that can deliver change by connecting people, resources and ideas. Commenting Fiona said: “I was pleased to visit the Gateway, where I was able to meet the members of the Board and thank them for their important work. I also received an insightful and helpful update on the work of the Voluntary…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, visited Everwarm in Bathgate on Wednesday 17th August and visited  a home installation being carried out by Everwarm in Winchburgh where new a new boiler and radiators had been installed that day. Everwarm, who are based in Bathgate, employ over 350 members of staff and provide domestic and non-domestic services, aiming to deliver energy efficiency in all their work, with renewable energies seeing a huge growth within the business. Everwarm also deliver the Scottish Government’s flagship national fuel poverty scheme, Warmer Homes Scotland. Warmer Homes Scotland provides households with insulation, efficient heating and renewable technologies in order to help with the rising cost of energy bills. This helps make homes warmer, more comfortable and importantly, more affordable. Commenting Fiona said: “I was pleased…

Local SNP MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has demanded urgent action from the UK Government to financially support people with spiralling energy costs. Fiona has called on the UK Government to scrap the upcoming increase to the energy cap, double the energy grant to £800 and ensure all payments are made by the beginning of October, introduce an energy price cap for Small and Medium Enterprises and bring in a further windfall tax and extend it to include all large businesses who made significant profits during the pandemic. A recent study found that 72.8% of those living in Scotland will fall into fuel poverty by January 2023 without further action from the UK government. The SNP Scottish Government is using its limited powers to extend eligibility for and…

The meeting included visits to established projects run by the Trust including the Community Garden and Community Fridge followed by a discussion on the Trust’s future proposals for a community asset transfer of Whitburn’s Library building. Commenting on the visit, Fiona said: “The valuable work of the Trust through the COVID pandemic to support the most vulnerable in our society cannot be understated. “It was a pleasure to meet with David, learn more about their fantastic work in and for the local community including the establishment and development of a Community Garden, the produce of which also feeds into the Community Fridge which is for all local residents with the purposes of reducing food waste. “I would encourage Whitburn residents to support the Trust in any way that they can and…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop has been working with local supermarkets to introduce trollies appropriate for disabled children. These trollies are designed for older children with a disability and have a large basket, making them a suitable size for a regular shop. They also have a harness seat to keep the child safe while shopping and a fifth wheel to provide extra support and allow for easy mobility. Fiona started this work as a result of correspondence she received from local mum, Stacy Dunsmore, who shared the difficulties she faced in supermarkets in the area who did not provide suitable trollies for her disabled son. Fiona said: “After hearing of the difficulties my constituent was having in finding supermarkets with suitable trollies for her son I was…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency met with the McIndoe family at the family run Mill Garden Centre in Armadale on 27th July. The Mill Garden Centre in Armadale is a highly successful independent, family-owned business who grow a wide range of trees, shrubs and plants in their adjacent nursery. The McIndoe family have been operating a nursery on the site since 1900, beginning with a soft fruit farm and growing some vegetables. The present owners, Joe and Peggy McIndoe, have diversified the business into growing a range of high-quality plants and the Garden Centre is now run by their children Colin and Kathleen. Commenting after the visit Fiona said: “I was pleased to meet with the McIndoe family who own and operate the Mill Garden Centre which you can…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency Fiona Hyslop, met with Declan Harrigan, CEO of S.M.I.L.E Counselling & Training at her Whitburn Office on 28th July. S.M.I.L.E Counselling provides training for both professionals and members of the community, and supports 11-24-year olds across West Lothian by providing a range of services including: face-to-face counselling services, one-to-one phone calls, email and online chat services. Over the last seven years S.M.I.L.E have supported 1,000 young people in West Lothian with 7,000 one-to-one counselling sessions offered. Commenting after the meeting Fiona said: “I was pleased to meet Declan and personally extend my congratulations to him, and the team at S.M.I.L.E, on their recent Charity of the Year Award which they won at the Scottish Charity of the Year Awards. “I was also proud to…

Local Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, visited the Brock Garden, Wood and Craft Centre at the Strathbrock Partnership Centre in Broxburn in Fiona’s Linlithgow Constituency this week.The Brock, located at the back of the Strathbrock Partnership Centre, is an independent charity and social enterprise that supports people in West Lothian with chronic mental illnesses. Fiona met with Chair of the Brock’s Board, John McLean, and service users at the Centre, and learned more about the invaluable work they do. Service users can participate in therapeutic horticulture, woodwork, and craft activities such as textile, clay and paper crafts, and spend time with others who have similar interests, encouraging social inclusion. The Brock also organise outings and develop community projects – a recent project involved upgrading the borders at the front of…