Bill plays his part in Racketball Challenge

Challenge organisers, Scottish Squash want to encourage schools, private clubs, sports centers and offices to take up the sport and raise money for ‘Mary’s Meals’, the Scottish charity which seeks to send as many Malawian children to school as possible.

Challenge sponsors DUNLOP have agreed to provide £400 of sports equipment as a prize for the most creative sponsorship activity across four categories.

Racketball is a fast growing sport and this challenge can help people shed pounds and raise them at the same time for a very worthy cause.

The challenge has proved so successful it is now being extended to April and any local organisation wishing to take part can get more details at:

http://www.scottishracketball.com/racketball-news/1/98

Bill enjoys the open day.

It was a great opportunity to learn more about the school, including its pioneering ‘outdoor play’ ethos.

Staff have developed an outdoor play area in order to encourage pupils to become more independent and more aware of their environment. As Shadow Sports Minister I am keen to encourage outdoor activity in school to help combat childhood obesity.

Additionally, there was a range of colourful displays, including stalls and games. Staff from Drumchapel LIFE were also on hand to promote ‘Money Week’, an initiative which seeks to encourage pupils to save from an early age.

It was a fantastic morning and I was very impressed by the range of activities offered by the nursery.

Cloan is a smashing nursery school and it is clear that pupils are very happy here. The outdoor play area is particularly imaginative and I would like to congratulate all involved in putting together this successful event.

Bill celebrates victory with supporters.

My Damages (Scotland) Bill, which improves rights to damages in respect of personal injuries and wrongful death, was passed by MSPs this afternoon.

The bill overhauls the current system and provides a fair level of compensation in cases of wrongful death without the need for unnecessarily long and distressing court cases.

The changes will benefits hundreds of people across Scotland each year. On average, 30 people die each year in Scotland in workplace accidents. Between 1st January 2009 and 20th April 2010, 210 people with mesothelioma and 58 people with asbestos-related lung cancer sought assistance from ‘Clydeside Action on Asbestos.’

Today the Scottish Parliament has shown that it is on the side of victims and their loved ones.

We can act now to speed up the legal process and ensure that people who have suffered the tragic death of a loved one can begin to rebuild their lives as quickly as possible without having to endure lengthy legal cases.

The victory was warmly welcomed by victims’ campaigners.

Joe O’Neill, Treasurer of Clydebank Asbestos Group, added:

“Protracted legal proceedings have placed unnecessary strain on families and I am pleased that these changes ensure that justice can now be accessed as quickly as possible.”
Annette Smith, of Clydeside Action on Asbestos, added:

“We have backed these proposals from the outset and this act will be of very real benefit to hundreds of people each year.”

The statistics which showed there were 235 convictions across Scotland for sectarian offences during 2009/10, more than half of which occurred in Glasgow. The figures bring the number of people convicted of sectarian offences in Scotland to 2,217 since tough new laws were introduced in 2003.

These statistics provide a stark reminder of the work which still needs to be done in order to rid Scotland of sectarianism.

Whilst the figures for Glasgow are shocking enough it must also be acknowledged that there have been convictions right across the country. Since 2003 we have seen over 2,200 people convicted of sectarian offences nationwide.

Such damning statistics demand urgent action and must serve as a ‘wake up call’ to anyone who doubts the need for a charity like Nil by Mouth. I would urge Ministers to act now to secure its future.

We cannot allow sectarianism to slip back into the darkness.

Bill opens Yoker Primary Credit Union.

I was delighted to formally opened the school’s branch, which is being operated in conjunction with Yoker Credit Union (YCU).

Pupils will be encouraged to save their pocket money on a regular basis as well as being taught how to act as tellers, ensuring they learn how to balance their budget at an early age.

Yoker becomes the latest school to link up with the Dumbarton Road based YCU following the example set by Garscadden, Blairdardie, Bankhead and Scotstoun Primary Schools.

I was very impressed with the professionalism of the pupils who are acting as tellers and I am sure that this link up will prove to be a great success.

It is very important that we learn the importance of saving at an early age and by putting their money into their local credit union these pupils are also investing in their local community.

Bill joins ex players and Unison members in showing Bigotry The Red Card

I joined some famous faces, including Jim Duffy, Gary MacKay and Derek Ferguson, to launch ‘Show Bigotry the Red Card’ at Easter Road Stadium.
The event brought politicians, pressure groups and players together to show support for the new ‘Rivals Not Enemies’ anti-sectarianism campaign being led by the charity ‘Show Racism the Red Card.’

Sectarianism and racism are not acceptable either on the pitch or off it, and we must pull out all the stops to remove racism from the touchlines and terraces of our game.