West Fife Villages youth volunteers visit Scottish Parliament

Young volunteers from West Fife Villages have enjoyed a visit to the Scottish Parliament – including a tour, photos with Commonwealth Games mascot Clyde and last minute tickets to watch First Minister’s Questions – following an invitation from local MSP Bill Walker.

The group, from Oakley, High Valleyfield and Blairhall, included pupils of Queen Anne and St Columba’s RC High Schools, volunteers on the Blairhall MUGA project, and recipients of the Democracy and Citizenship Award and Fife Council Youth Work Oscars.

The visit came about after Dunfermline MSP Mr Walker invited Anne Farrell and Claire Dunlop to Parliament after they won, respectively, West Fife Citizen of the Year and West Fife Young Citizen of the Year. He extended the invitation to the youth volunteers at the request of Community Education Worker Corrine McGinley.

Ms McGinley said the group loved First Minister’s Questions and had an enthusiastic discussion about it on the bus home.

She added: “An amazing day was had at the Scottish Parliament, meeting their local MSP, Bill Walker, for the Youth Work Volunteers of the West Fife Villages, winners of the WFV Councillors Award 2012, Claire Dunlop, Young Citizen of the Year, and Ann Farrell, Citizen of the year 2012.

“All have an active interest in their local communities, and the day helped put a national discussion into some of the things they talk about at a local level.”

Mr Walker said: “It’s always great to see young people so involved in their communities and taking such an interest. I very much enjoyed the opportunity to welcome them to the Scottish Parliament and am always pleased to meet such groups who would like to visit Parliament.”

Bill Walker MSP with Claire Dunlop, West Fife Young Citizen of the Year, and Ann Farrell, West Fife Citzen of the Year

West Fife Villages youth volunteers, with Bill Walker, at the Scottish Parliament