Category: News

Spectator sports in West Lothian will receive a share of a £55million package announced by the SNP Scottish Government. The support will help local teams cope with a difficult period where they have been unable to welcome fans to matches due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Amongst the funding, £30m will go to football, £20m to rugby and £2.2m to ice hockey and rinks. The money goes over and above what has been provided by the UK government in Barnett consequentials and means the SNP Scottish Government can provide the funds each sport needs. Fiona Commented: “I am delighted that the SNP Government has engaged with sporting bodies and have tailored a funding package to each sport. This has been a difficult time for many sports in West Lothian and this…

Businesses in West Lothian will receive their share of targeted Scottish Government coronavirus funding worth £185million.  The funding was recently announced by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and will benefit a wide range of sectors, such as taxi drivers, arts venues and the hospitality sector.  The Scottish Government is developing grant schemes for hospitality, the events sector, live music, arts, indoor football centres and the food and drink sector. A further £60 million will also be provided to the tourism sector.  In addition, there will be one-off payments of either £2,000 or £3,000 available for hospitality businesses in January to help them deal with the traditional post-Christmas dip in demand. Local Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, commented,  "I welcome this Scottish Government funding as it will help support firms and ensure that our economy is on the…

The first organisations to back the Young Person’s Guarantee have been announced by Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop. In a collective effort to help young people, the Scottish Government has been joined by SSE, Capgemini, NHS Lothian and Standard Life Aberdeen in making the commitment to ensure everyone aged from 16 to 24 has the opportunity of work, education or training. The Guarantee, backed by an additional £60 million investment, aims to give all young people in Scotland the chance to succeed despite the economic impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19). Organisations backing the Guarantee make five pledges to help young people at this critical time: prepare young people for the world of work through work experience, volunteering and work-based learning opportunitiesengage with and provide opportunities to young people who face barriers to…