Archive for Shona Robison MSP

Minister Launches Social Enterprise Mentoring Partnership

May 21, 2013 Shona Robison MSP No comments
seated with the Legacy logo: L-R: Graeme Powrie of Pilotlight, Shona, Derek Marshall, Chief executive at Factory Skatepark.

seated with the Legacy logo: L-R: Graeme Powrie of Pilotlight, Shona, Derek Marshall, Chief executive at Factory Skatepark.

Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport was at the Factory Skatepark in Balunie Drive today to launch a mentoring scheme that will match-up successful business people and social enterprises  to help them develop and succeed.

The scheme will provide six charities across Scotland with top business mentors such as senior staff from Scottish Enterprise, Visit Scotland, sportscotland, Schuh, Scottish & Newcastle and Redspire – is known as the Pilotlight partnership.

Working with the Scottish Government, the scheme aims to put the social enterprises on a steady footing for growth and development.

The new partnership between the Scottish Government and Pilotlight in Scotland is part of the Legacy 2014 project to deliver a lasting legacy from the Commonwealth Games.

Shona said: “I’m launching this initiative at the Factory Skatepark – which previously benefitted from Pilotlight support and has prospered and substantially expanded as a result.

“The Commonwealth Games will deliver 11 days of spectacular sporting events but success will be measured not just by medals but by more training opportunities, a stronger economy and more jobs.

“This initiative will help these enterprises enhancing the services they offer to their local communities and making a positive imprint on the future of the organisation.

“The business leaders involve will provide invaluable experience, sharing the benefit of their skills and knowledge of the business world to create a significant impact on the operation and performance of social enterprises to ensure their future sustainability.”

The first three projects to benefit are Active Communities in Paisley, Drumchapel and District Sports Centre and Youth Football Scotland.

 

Walk To School Week

May 20, 2013 Shona Robison MSP No comments
Shona with Barnhill PS pupils at today's event.

Shona with Barnhill PS pupils at today’s event.

Dundee City East MSP Shona Robison today joined P7 school pupils at Barnhill Primary School to promote Walk To School Week.

The initiative by the pupils, part of the Scottish Government’s Greener Together campaign, is supported by Paths for All and Dundee City Council’s Education Department.

Speaking to the school assembly, Shona commended the pupils on their initiative and on their commitment to healthy exercise which was so important for them as individuals and for a more green, environmentally-friendly and more active Scotland.

Shona is pictured with staff and P7 pupils at the event. Also in the picture; Keith Irving, Head of Living Streets Scotland (back left), Ian Findlay, Chief Officer of Paths For All, (third from right), Headteacher Pamela Nesbitt is second from right.

MSP Opens Chiropodists and Podiatrists Annual Conference

May 20, 2013 Shona Robison MSP No comments

Chirop Podiastrists ConferenceDundee City East MSP Shona Robison gave an opening speech to the one day Scottish Conference of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists at the city’s Apex Hotel on Saturday 18th May.

Hosted by the local branch of the Society and attended by members from across Scotland, topics considered by the conference included Peripheral Neuropathy, Promoting Activity in Pre and Post Treatment Cancer Patients, Mature Onset Diabetes in the Young.

Among the speakers is Dr Andrew Murray an Edinburgh GP who completed 7 marathons in 7 days in 7 continents, Dr Kathleen White a Consultant Neurologist from NHS Tayside, Dr Anna Campbell of Dundee University, Dr Bob Leckridge from Glasgow Homeopathy Hospital and Jayne Cameron, MODY Nurse with NHS Tayside.

Picture shows Shona with speakers before the Conference.

MSPs On Fact-Finding Visit to Kingspark School

April 26, 2013 Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP No comments
Cllr Gregor Murray (Depute Convenor Education), Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP, Cllr Stewart Hunter, Education Convenor, Dundee City Council, at Kingspark School before their visit.

Cllr Gregor Murray (Depute Convenor Education), Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP, Cllr Stewart Hunter, Education Convenor, Dundee City Council, at Kingspark School before their visit.

Dundee’s constituency MSPs Joe FitzPatrick and Shona Robison today visited Dundee’s Kingspark School the only dedicated school in the city for pupils aged 5 to 18 years who have a range of severe and complex additional support needs.

 

The school was opened in August 2010 and was recently extended by the local council to ensure more spaces for pupils. The MSPs were given a briefing and a tour led by the head teacher Laura Smith to look at the recent extension to the school and all the facilities that are in place for the pupils.

 

Speaking during the visit, Joe FitzPatrick said: “Kingspark School provides state-of-the-art care and education for pupils with complex needs and we were very impressed with the tremendous work and dedication shown by staff.

 

and has specialist subject teachers of Art, Music, Physical Education, Home Economics and Craft who work closely with class teachers to provide a total learning experience for pupils which is broad, balanced, progressive and relevant.”

 

 

Dundee City East MSP Shona Robison added “We were impressed by the close collaboration with NHS Tayside and departments of Dundee City Council.

 

“We saw first-hand the difference this is making to the lives of the children.”

 

“The recent £1 million investment by Dundee City Council to extend Kingspark and create more classrooms to allow more pupils to attend has been successful in creating a modern and welcoming school.”

 

Picture: Cllr Gregor Murray (Depute Convenor Education), Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP, Cllr Stewart Hunter, Education Convenor, Dundee City Council, at Kingspark School before their visit.

 

Shona Opens Craigie Community Sports Hub

April 19, 2013 Shona Robison MSP No comments
Shona cuts the ribbon with (L) Brian McNicoll, Project Manager and Steven Maloney, Chair of CCS.

Shona cuts the ribbon with (L) Brian McNicoll, Project Manager and Steven Maloney, Chair of CCS.

Shona Robison, Minister of Commonwealth Games and Sport — and local Dundee City East MSP – today performed the official opening of Dundee’s newest sports hub; the Craigie Community Sports Hub at Huntly Square.

Formed from a merger of the existing Dundee United Sports Club changing rooms and Morgan FP clubrooms, newly renovated gym/social area will facilitate an area that groups or individuals can use for fitness, Zumba classes, and any additional activities.

The Craigie Community Sports Hub, which gained charitable Status in June 2012, comprises two well-established local Football Clubs, a Tennis Club and a local Boxing Club.

Dundee United Sports Club has boys and girls football teams from under 9 age bracket to under 19′s. The club have also recently established a 4 v 4 football centre in line with the new Scottish Football Association’s Player Pathway. The other Football team involved within the hub is Morgan Academy FP Amateur Football Team. They also have a strong link with the local community and have recently refurbished 2 local shops into a changing rooms and a local facility for socialising and meeting.

The other member of the Hub is Discovery Boxing Club, again a local club with strong local ties with the community which has been in existence for over 15 years.

Performing the official opening of the facility, Shona paid tribute to those whose efforts had made it possible, bringing together local groups and the community to create a first-class community resource that will help to encourage sport and healthy activity among more people of all ages.

MSPs’ Concern For May Gurney Workers

April 17, 2013 Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP No comments

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “Our concern is for the May Gurney workers facing redundancy through the loss of the Scotia Gas Networks contract last year.

“Although the numbers of redundancies announced today is lower than was initially feared, we contacted the company’s senior management last year to find out if there was some scope for redeployment of workers into other contract work, and that seems to have been the case.

“We also got assurances that they will be working hard with employee representatives and with their other major clients to  find opportunities for staff and to keep job losses to a minimum.”

“May Gurney will still be employing 300 in Scotland and as a relatively large support services company, providing essential services right across the UK,  their staff have certain transferable skills which will — we hope — make them sought-after employees for similar work with other service companies.”

Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee City East said: “We were previously assured that the Scottish Government’s Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) local response team will be liaising with May Gurney during the 30 day consultation period and actively supporting all of those affected by this announcement, offering advice and assistance on retraining opportunities where needed.

“In terms of investment in Dundee, the Scottish Government is contributing a massive investment towards the Waterfront development, which in 2013 will see delivery of over £100m worth of capital projects, as part of a wider £1bn project.

“This makes it the second largest regeneration project in Scotland and it is estimated that more than 9000 new jobs will be created as a result of this investment.

“The people of Dundee will contrast this action from the Scottish Government which is very real and visible to Dundonians with the senseless sniping from the sidelines from the Labour Party.”

Joe and Shona Tour New Creative Industries Development at Seabraes

April 17, 2013 Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP No comments
Joe and Shona with Isla Robb of SE on the site of District 10.

Joe and Shona with Isla Robb of SE on the site of District 10.

Dundee’s constituency MSPs Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick were today given a briefing and tour of work progressing at the new £1.7 million District 10 building in Seabraes that will offer flexible office accommodation to the expanding creative industries sector.

 

The briefing and tour was led by Stuart Wilson and Isla Robb of Scottish Enterprise, John Aitchison, Managing Director and Barry Simpson, Construction Director, of Maxi Construction Limited, with Architect Ged Young of Aim Design.

 

Speaking during the visit, Joe FitzPatrick said: “Dundee is at the forefront of the Computer Games Industry. Both the city’s Universities are turning out many highly-qualified graduates, who want to stay where the best designers and best ideas are – in Dundee.

 

“This project will help to solve that problem by proving flexible accommodation for start-up computer games companies that will enable more local graduates to stay here after graduation and it is expected to be completed in a matter of months.

 

“It will create another focus for idea-sharing among new companies and new designers that will produce a synergy and creative spark for success.

 

“The Scottish Government is very keen to keep the momentum going and facilitate new ideas being nurtured in Dundee.”

 

Dundee City East MSP Shona Robison said: “Congratulations to Scottish Enterprise for gestating this potentially attractive new computer games hub.

 

“The new offices, imaginatively constructed from re-used containers, will offer low-cost facilities and short-time contracts for start-up companies – the best possible way to allow creativity and foster that all-important step for people wanting to take forward ideas.

 

“The Computer games sector is one of the fastest-moving industries in the world and this will allow Dundee’s fledgling companies to keep at the centre of new creativity and success.”

MSPs Support ‘We Dundee’ Cultural Bid

April 5, 2013 Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP, Stewart Hosie MP No comments

Dundee’s three senior SNP politicians have today signed up to show their support for ‘We Dundee’ the grassroots campaign supporting Dundee’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2017 organised by the local cultural organisation, Fleet Collective.

The three politicians added personal statements to the online ‘wall’ at We Dundee  and called for everyone in the city to join in and promote the ‘surprising’ qualities of Dundee. The campaign is seeking thousands of statements from people about the qualities of the city that surprise, excite and astonish them.

Stewart Hosie said: “I’m often astonished by extraordinary architecture in our city centre streets, especially if you look upwards at the rooflines. Dundee has some magnificent buildings evoking earlier periods in our city’s long and famous history.”

Shona Robison said: “The sheer number of creative, enterprising people now living here, many of whom have come from across the world to be passionate about Dundee’s future – is always a surprise. Dundee is vibrant!”

Joe FitzPatrick said: “Dundee’s thriving cultural scene, for far too long, Scotland’s best-kept secret, is now bursting out all over! Dundee is pulsating with creative ideas and regeneration!”

MSP’s Welcome for Retail Boost at Kingsway East

April 5, 2013 Shona Robison MSP No comments

Shonaface290808Dundee City East MSP Shona Robison has welcomed an announcement from the owners of Kingsway East Retail Park of £500,000 investment and 50-60 new jobs involved in a new tenancy at the old Comet Store site on the Kingsway.

 

For the new tenant, TJ Morris, trading as Home Bargains to occupy the unit, a minor modification to the current goods restrictions will be required to allow the new store to sell its range of food, clothing and footwear and toys alongside a variety of other goods.

 

Although ASDA already sells this range of goods at the Retail Park, the owners say this would be healthy competition.

 

Shona Robison said: “I welcome the potential investment and jobs which this new store will bring although it is up to Dundee City Council, as planning authority, to consider the modification of the Legal Agreement, and approve or reject the application on that basis.

 

“I note that the same company already operates a store in the city centre and is shortly opening another at The Stack in Lochee.

 

“The news is yet another sign of inward investment and retail confidence in the city.”

Dundee MSPs and Scottish Housing & Welfare Minister at ‘Bedroom Tax’ Advice Event

April 2, 2013 Council Group, Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP No comments
Before the meeting, L-R: Cllr John Alexander, Shona, Margaret Burgess, Joe, Cllr Kevin Cordell (Depute Housing Convenor), front - Ginny Lawson, Money Advice, Brooksbank Centre.

L-R: Cllr John Alexander, Shona, Margaret Burgess, Joe, Cllr Kevin Cordell (Depute Housing Convenor) front – Ginny Lawson, Money Advice, Brooksbank Centre.

Dundee’s constituency MSPs Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick invited the Scottish Government’s Housing & Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess to a discussion event on the bedroom tax with workers and volunteers from the advice and support sector.

The event, which took place today [2nd April], in the Brooksbank Centre, was well-attended by those in the front-line of services in the voluntary sector, the local authority and housing associations in the city.

Before her election as an MSP Ms Burgess was the Manager of a Citizens’ Advice Bureau, and briefed the audience on ongoing discussion with the UK Government on the welfare reforms.

She said the UK Government has promised to review the impact of the bedroom tax after three months and Ms Burgess said that the Scottish Government planned to gather case studies and evidence of the social dislocation it is expected to cause in a further attempt to persuade the UK Government to have the tax scrapped.

An independent Scotland governed by the SNP, she said, would have the full powers needed to create a fairer social welfare system more suited to the needs of a population of 5.5 million. The SNP has already committed to repeal the bedroom tax as part of its welfare policy if elected to govern Scotland after a Yes vote.

Dundee City Council has led the way in protecting tenants from the UK Government’s welfare reforms by approving a policy which specifically rules out eviction for bedroom tax arrears where the tenant has made reasonable efforts to pay their rent despite reductions in housing benefits.

Speaking at the event, Cllr John Alexander, Dundee City Council’s Housing Convenor, promised the Council would listen to suggestions from those affected by the welfare changes and those working with tenants and social landlords to ensure that the Council was doing all it can to help people.

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “We oppose this unfair tax and will work with Dundee City Council and the Scottish Government to do our best to mitigate its effects.”

Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee City East said: “The Scottish Government is working hard to help mitigate the impact of the bedroom tax.

“Estimates by the Scottish Poverty Forum put the total losses to Dundee of the UK Government’s welfare reforms at a staggering £71 million over 2010-2015.

“The total figure for Scotland is around £4.5 billion. That’s money lost to the income of ordinary people in Scotland.”

The city MSPs had organised special one-to-one surgeries for constituents affected by the bedroom tax and these had been heavily over-subscribed so that further bedroom-tax surgeries are planned in the near-future.

PICTURE: Before the meeting, L-R: Cllr John Alexander, Shona, Margaret Burgess, Joe, Cllr Kevin Cordell (Depute Housing Convenor) front – Ginny Lawson, Money Advice, Brooksbank Centre.

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