Promoting & Supporting The Third Sector

Across South Scotland, charities, volunteer groups and community clubs are changing lives and expanding horizons. These third sector groups play a hugely important role in our society, delivering support and advice to those in need, encouraging people to live healthy active lives and making our communities better places to live.

I’m determined to highlight the great work these organisations are doing during my time as an MSP. I regularly visit third sector groups throughout the region and promote their work in parliament and local media.

I’m always happy to receive suggestions of groups within South Scotland (particularly the Clydesdale, Kilmarnock & Irvine Valley and Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituencies) that deserve recognition or who would like me to visit.

News

MSP celebrates success of meals partnership

A partnership between Ayrshire charity Centrestage and local businesses, Buzzworks Holdings and Braehead foods produce and deliver to people in need has been recognised in the Scottish Parliament. South Scotland MSP Brian Whittle lodged a motion at Holyrood applauding the team behind the project, w

MSP welcomes success of UK Government support for workers

Brian Whittle MSP has welcomed the success of the UK Government’s schemes to protect jobs and support the self-employed during the pandemic. It comes after HMRC published figures showing that over 628,000 people across Scotland have had their wages protected by the UK Government’s furlough scheme,

Brian Whittle MSP shows support for National Carers Week.

South Scotland MSP Brian Whittle is calling on everyone to show their support for carers during National Carers Week which runs until Sunday. Brian praised carers for going above and beyond during the coronavirus pandemic and highlighted that many more people have taken on roles as unpaid carers fo

MSP calls for support for charities supporting covid-19 efforts

At First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood, local MSP Brian Whittle asked Nicola Sturgeon to deliver greater support to charities and other third sector organisations being hit by the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. While charities and community organisations of all sizes have been pitching in w

MSP criticises MP’s comments on drug death summits

Local MSP Brian Whittle has accused Alan Brown MP of misrepresenting how the Scottish and UK Governments came to hold separate conferences in Glasgow on Scotland’s drug death crisis, one day after another. Shortly after the UK Government announced plans for a summit of politicians and experts from

Whittle says Scottish Government budget is hanging councils out to dry

South Scotland MSP Brian Whittle has hit criticised the Scottish Government’s budget proposals for the coming year, accusing the SNP of short-changing councils and other vital services. In particular, Brian has condemned the Scottish Government’s funding for South Ayrshire Council and other local a

MSP joins Fundraising Hero's bid to support COPD Sufferers

To mark this year’s World COPD Day, Brian Whittle MSP joined Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s own superhero at the Scottish Parliament to highlight a unique fundraising bid for more support for people living with the incurable lung disease COPD. The charity’s Director of Communications, Lawrence

MSP visits Doon Valley Boxing Club

Brian Whittle MSP dropped in at Doon Valley Boxing Club this week for a catch up with head trainer Sam Mullen and give some encouragement to some of the Club’s younger members.

Brian Whittle MSP joins leading charity's "No Bad Ends" campaign

Local Member of the Scottish Parliament Brian Whittle joined Aberlour Child Care Trust in the Scottish Parliament this week, giving their support to the charity’s ‘No Bad Ends’ campaign. The campaign was launched following research that shows young people from the most deprived communities in South