We greatly appreciate being recognised by our MSP in the Scottish Parliament and we’re looking forward to continuing to work together to make Larkhall an even better place to live.
Alex Kerr MSP said in parliament:
“I encourage members across the chamber to engage with organisations that are delivering in their local areas and to ask them for their views. I have had some fantastic conversations of that sort. Last month, I spoke to Nancy and Terry of the Larkhall community plan group, who are involved in a host of local initiatives in the town, from growing to planning and a host of other services. In the process, they have highlighted a particularly obvious example of duplication that is getting in the way of empowering our local communities and which offers a great opportunity to help to share services locally. I will write to the cabinet secretary to raise that example with her, with the aim of moving forward public service reform at a local level, too.
“I have also had the pleasure of re-engaging with the Larkhall and District Volunteer Group, which is run by Sandra McCrory and which does fantastic work, particularly with older residents, to tackle social isolation and loneliness—issues that are often not given the significance that they deserve. The group’s free call line offers regular friendly phone calls for lonely or vulnerable people who live in the Lanarkshire area, with volunteers making daily calls from Monday to Friday, in either mornings or afternoons, for a friendly chat and to check that members are safe and well. The service provides reassurance and social contact for those who live alone and feel isolated. That is another service that the public sector would find it incredibly difficult to deliver on its own.
“I end by putting one of our fantastic community organisations in the third sector back at the centre of the debate. I extend an invite to the newly appointed minister, Simita Kumar, to come along and see the work of the Larkhall and District Volunteer Group at first hand.”