Gordon Macdonald MSP

Edinburgh Pentlands Constituency Monthly Report July

2013

More Job losses at Barracks!

Casey raises 2,000

Little Casey Gorrian, aged 7, and her family from the Saughton Mains area of Edinburgh have raised nearly 2,000 for the Sick kids Friends Foundation which they hope will help the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit, Ward 2 at the Edinburgh Royal Hospital for Sick Children. On the 15th June Casey had her first hair cut in 4 years which resulted in 15 of hair hitting the hairdressers floor at March Hair Salon but in the process raising 1,000. Just two weeks later Casey and the

Gordon Macdonald MSP whose constituency includes Dreghorn and Redford Barracks has raised the following parliamentary motion highlighting the local job losses at the two facilities. That the Parliament condemns the 90 job losses at the two Edinburgh barracks as part of the UK Government's latest round of defence cuts; notes with concern that over 500 posts will have been lost in Scotland since the first tranche of redundancies with nearly a fifth of those losing their jobs being employed in Edinburgh, including 40 at Redford Barracks and 50 at Dreghorn Barracks; and further notes that a fourth tranche of army redundancies is due to take place in early 2014. The Armed Forces Redundancy scheme is currently underway to achieve some of the reductions outlined in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review. The first tranche of redundancies took place in February 2012 with the latest round taking place on the 18th June 2013. The Army Families Federation has compiled a series of Q&As on issues relating to the redundancy programme which can be found at the website http://www.aff.org.uk/latest_news_information.htm#redundancies

family were back fundraising at Asda Chesser where they invited their local MSP Gordon Macdonald to help out at their fun day. The total raised by Casey and the family so far is 2,000Well Done!

Keeping you up to date @ www.gordonmacdonaldmsp.info

Recognition for Al-Anon Family Groups in Parliament

Gordon Macdonald MSP recently submitted the following parliamentary motion:

Sure Start for local kids

Local MSP Gordon Macdonald visited The Oxgangs Sure Start Project, based at Colinton Mains Community Centre to support the Scottish Grocers Federation Healthy living Programme. The healthy eating event had been organised to demonstrate how parents can save money by cooking proper meals, instead of buying ready meals and frozen burgers. Dennis and Linda Williams of the Broadway Convenience Store were on hand to make parents aware that their local convenience store stocks a good range of healthier alternatives. Linda highlighted to parents how to save money by taking the basic ingredients required on the recipe cards and explaining the cost of each dish. The Oxgangs Sure Start Project provides nursery facilities and also offers parents/carers the opportunity to chat on a confidential one-to-one basis, receive support at home, access further education and training. Gordon is pictured with Sue Christie, Project Manager and Ross Kerr from the Scottish Grocers Federation.

That the Parliament understands that Al-Anon Family Groups, a charity that receives no external financial support, has only one focus, which is to help and support families and friends of problem drinkers; believes that for every problem drinker it is estimated that at least five other people are adversely affected; understands that there are over 120 Al-Anon Family Group meetings in Scotland, including in Edinburgh, for people who are or have been affected by someone elses drinking to meet and gain understanding and support in order to resolve their common problems, and commends the work of Al-Anon Family Groups over the last 60 years in supporting families dealing with alcohol-related issues. Families needing support can find the nearest group meeting here: http://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/ meetings/ Follow Gordon on Social Media

Oxgangs Foodbank Collection

The second National Food Collection, in conjunction with the Trussell Trust and FareShare took place over the first weekend in July at Tesco stores throughout the UK. The Trussell Trust has said that the number of people across the UK turning to food banks has tripled in the last 12 months. Gordon commented The UK Government welfare cuts are hitting the poor and disabled in our society. People are being forced to use food banks and it is heartening to see the generosity of people who use the Tesco store in Oxgangs. When I took part in the first collection at Christmas over 1,300 of food was donated at this store and we look as if we will pass that figure this time round

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How to contact Gordon Macdonald MSP:

1 By email: 2 By phone: 3 By letter: 4 By appointment: 5 Surgery:

Gordon.Macdonald.msp@scottish.parliament.uk Local office: 0131 466 5810 or Parliament: 0131 348 5741 Gordon Macdonald MSP, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP 69 Inglis Green Road, Edinburgh EH14 2EZ Held every Monday at 6.30pm at various locations throughout the constituency

6 Home visits are available for those people who cannot travel.
PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE NO SURGERIES DURING PUBLIC AND BANK HOLIDAYS
Published by Gordon Macdonald MSP at 69 Inglis Green Road, Edinburgh, EH14 2EZ. The cost of this publication have been met out of parliamentary allowances.