The Bruce Festival

26/07/2013

The Bruce Festival has become an eagerly anticipated event in the Fife calendar and takes place on 24th and 25th of August.

Fifteen thousand visitors are expected to flock to Dunfermline and the Glen to enjoy a huge range of free entertainment including a medieval village, storytelling, jousting, battle re-enactments and a food and craft court.  Brought to life by Dunfermline Delivers with the support of Fife Council, this event has something for everyone and will no doubt be a great day out for all the family.  Read more of this post

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Funny who you meet in the Scottish Parliament!

26/07/2013

Mr QOn a recent visit to Holyrood, MSP for Dunfermline Bill Walker bumped into a few interesting characters in the parliament’s hallways… And being a politician he, of course, did not miss out on the photo opportunity!

Fife Councillor for Lochgelly and Cardenden, Ian Chisholm, had been attending First Minister’s Question Time along with Tam Livingstone, a well known local activist and community campaigner.  Afterwards, the pair met fellow Fifer, Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker, who treated them to lunch.  Luckily for Ian and Tam, there were a couple of far more interesting encounters to come. Read more of this post

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West Fife businesswoman encourages mums to get creative

05/07/2013

1A west Fife glass-painter is encouraging other mothers to follow their creative instincts and even take the plunge in setting up their own businesses.

Jacquelyne Davidson, mother to six-year-old Christopher-Luke, launched hand-painted glassware business Jac By Design in November 2012, after twelve years of glass-painting as a hobby. Read more of this post

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Carnegie Primary Schools earns “Outstanding” BREEAM award

03/07/2013

CPSA Dunfermline Primary School opened by First Minister Alex Salmond in 2011 has won an “Outstanding” BREEAM award for its environmental credentials.

The £9.6m Carnegie Primary School is the only Scottish school to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ award. Its environmentally sustainable features include a combined heat and power plant, a wind turbine and external cedar cladding. Read more of this post

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Funding available for groups to reduce community carbon footprints

01/07/2013

KSBDunfermline MSP Bill Walker is encouraging west Fife community groups to find out if their projects for reducing the carbon footprint of their communities are eligible for funding through the Climate Challenge Fund (CCF).

The CCF makes grants of up to £150,000/yr and includes a Junior Climate Challenge Fund of the same amount. Development Grants of £750 are available to help young people, disadvantaged communities and ethnic minority communities develop their applications. Read more of this post

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Oakley holiday scheme receives £8,773 Coalfields grant

28/06/2013

Coalfields Regeneration TrustOakley Centre Management Committee has received £8,773 from the Coalfields Community Investment Programme to extend an existing holiday play scheme.

The scheme will give 24 local young people the chance to participate in supervised activities such as sports, photography, gardening, crafts, indoor games and music. Read more of this post

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Dunfermline Reign Basketball Club receives Lottery funding

28/06/2013

Big Lottery FundDunfermline Reign Basketball Club has received a £1,837 award from the Big Lottery Fund’s 2014 Communities programme.

The Reign, home of Fife’s only national and local league basketball team, provides basketball development for youths and adults in the Dunfermline area. They will use the award to organise five competition evenings for four high school teams from Dunfermline.

Bill Walker, MSP for Dunfermline, said: “Congratulations to the Dunfermline Reign Basketball Club. It’s good to see young people being encouraged to keep healthy and active. Read more of this post

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Bruce Festival funding boost

28/06/2013

Bruce FestivalThe Bruce Festival, which will form a key event in Homecoming Scotland 2014, has secured £30,000 funding from the Scottish Government.

The two-day celebration showcases Dunfermline’s status as the ancient capital of Scotland and burial place of King Robert the Bruce, who lies beneath the pulpit in the Abbey.

Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker said: “The Bruce Festival, and indeed Homecoming Scotland, is important for so many reasons. Read more of this post

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Fife directory for elderly people

26/06/2013

FEFDunfermline MSP Bill Walker has welcomed the launch of a Fife-wide online directory for older people, by the Fife Elderly Forum “Local Area Coordination (LAC) Project”.

The resource, available at, www.fife-elderly-directory.org.uk, covers a wide range of community-based resources and services.

The Fife Elderly Forum is expected to keep the directory updated. However, the wider community and other service providers are encouraged to amend or add to it wherever appropriate. Read more of this post

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Local poet’s independence referendum tribute

24/06/2013

West Fife poet Robert Sclater, a retired architectural designer, has written a topical new poem to commemorate the upcoming referendum on Scottish independence.

Mr Sclater’s extensive career has included working for Dunfermline architects Shearer and Annand and redesigning the visitor maps in Pittencrieff Park. He is a former pupil of Blacklaw, Woodmill and Queen Anne schools. Read more of this post

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Pittencrieff Primary on Lottery funding

24/06/2013

Big Lottery FundThe Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at Pittencrieff Primary School in Dunfermline has received a £10,000 award after applying to the Big Lottery Communities and Family Fund.

MSP for Dunfermline Bill Walker said: “I am delighted that one of our local primary schools has received such substantial funding and wish to extend my congratulations.

“The PTA at Pittencrieff Primary achieved the maximum award possible from the fund, reflecting the important role they play in improving the early learning, health and wellbeing of young children.  I hope other local community groups will be encouraged by Pittencrieff Primary’s success to apply for Big Lottery funding themselves.” Read more of this post

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Asda Dunfermline Halbeath offers diabetes tests

24/06/2013

Asda is now offering free diabetes tests to shoppers at its Halbeath store and in all Asda in-store pharmacies across Scotland.

MSP for Dunfermline Bill Walker said: “I would encourage people to take advantage of the free diabetes testing being offered at Asda’s in Halbeath.  Many people suffer with undiagnosed diabetes, and I hope this number can be reduced throughout Scotland as a result of the service. Read more of this post

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Dunfermline residents encouraged to submit stories to new museum

21/06/2013

Dunfermilne MuseumLocal MSP Bill Walker is encouraging anyone with an interesting or unusual Dunfermline story to contact the team behind a project underway for the new Museum and Art Gallery.

Mr Walker, who recently welcomed a £2.8m cash boost to the museum from the Heritage Lottery Fund, said:

“This is an exciting project, which I hope will generate more tourism for our local area.  It will great if lots of people get involved in the creation of our museum and art gallery, to help it become as interesting and personal to Dunfermline as possible. Read more of this post

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Clarification on Queen Margaret Hospital services

20/06/2013

QMHDunfermline MSP Bill Walker has welcomed clarification on the services currently offered at the Queen Margaret Hospital (QMH), after NHS Fife pledged to keep West Fifers up to date via their new “Queen Margaret Development Project” newsletter.

Mr Walker said: “West Fife residents have needed, in particular, clarity on what can and can’t be treated at the Minor Injuries Service at the Queen Margaret. Not knowing whether to head there, or go directly to the Victoria in Kirkcaldy, has caused many people a great deal of undue confusion and stress. Read more of this post

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Dunfermline High wins top architectural award

17/06/2013

DHSThe newly opened Dunfermline High School has won a prestigious Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) award.

The school was recognised for its innovative use of space, which allows for transparency in all areas throughout the building – an idea aimed at discouraging bullying and improving behaviour.

Another main feature is the internal “street” used to link the three teaching wings, a design that impressed Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker when he visited for the official launch ceremony. Read more of this post

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D&G Autocare wins Scotland’s Garage of the Year

17/06/2013

D&GA Dunfermline garage has been named Scotland’s Garage of the Year by Motor Codes, the motor industry’s regulatory body.

D&G Autocare’s Fast Fit garage on Pitreavie Industrial Estate will now go through to the Garage of the Year UK finals.

Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker said: “Congratulations to George Simpson and David Hunter, the owners of D&G Autocare. This award is excellent news and another success story for Dunfermline. Read more of this post

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Central Dunfermline Community Council Awards for All grant

14/06/2013

Big Lottery FundCentral Dunfermline Community Council have received a £6,800 Awards for All grant from the Big Lottery Fund for their proposal to carry out a public consultation exercise to improve Dunfermline Public Park.

The money will fund the workshops and other provisions necessary to draft and finalise their plan of action.  Furthermore, they hope to achieve the creation of a climate change proof management plan. Read more of this post

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Funding for Scottish Water Ski Association in Townhill

14/06/2013

SportScotlandThe Scottish Water Ski Association, based in Townhill, Dunfermline, has received an £8,500 Awards for All grant from SportScotland.

The funding will be used to purchase equipment – including wetsuits, wakeboards, water-skis and safety gear – for the launch of a new youth programme.

Bill Walker, MSP for Dunfermline, said: “I am delighted to congratulate the Scottish Water Ski Association on their successful application to the Big Lottery Fund.  Ensuring our communities become healthier is a priority in Scotland, and we are lucky to have the home of Scottish Water Skiing here in Dunfermline. Read more of this post

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Complementary therapy cancer charity awarded Big Lottery funding

13/06/2013

Big Lottery FundCircle of Comfort has received a £9,990 Awards for All grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

The award will help the Dunfermline-based charity to provide complementary therapies to diagnosed cancer patients, either in their own home or in hospital.  The charity offers therapeutic massage, aromatherapy and reflexology, conducted by fully qualified therapists, free of charge. Read more of this post

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Annual SPBE dinner

13/06/2013

Bill Walker MSP and Arthur McIvorScottish Parliament and Business Exchange (SPBE), the non-partisan organisation for fostering understanding between business and the Scottish Parliament, recently held its annual dinner.

Sixteen MSPs, including Dunfermline’s Bill Walker, joined 48 business representatives in the Members’ Restaurant of the Scottish Parliament. Attending member businesses included representatives from BP, Brewin Dolphin, Brodies, IBM, ICAS, Scottish Enterprise, ScottishPower, Shell, Serco and Pfizer. Read more of this post

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InVite Business Networking looks forward to first birthday celebrations

13/06/2013

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERABusinesses in and around Dunfermline and Fife are looking forward to InVite Business Networking’s first birthday celebration. The event takes place in Grill 48, East Port, on the 20th of June.

Ian Thomson (IT Turning Point) and Tim Thomson (Vine Conference Centre at Garvock Hill) set up InVite to encourage small and medium sized business, at all stages of development, to come together and share their enthusiasm for changing the face of the Fife economy.   Read more of this post

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Dunfermline students encouraged to apply for Lloyds Scholars Programme

12/06/2013

scholarsLocal MSP Bill Walker is encouraging prospective students in Dunfermline to apply to the Lloyds Scholars Programme 2013/14 before the closing date of 1st July.

Lloyds Scholars supports young people from families with below average income to get into some of Britain’s top universities.  It provides students with a complete package of financial and vocational support, including paid internships, access to a dedicated Lloyds mentor and volunteering opportunities in the local community. Read more of this post

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£249,210 funding for Gillespie Church

11/06/2013

Big Lottery FundDunfermline Gillespie Memorial Church has received a grant of almost a quarter of a million pounds to develop its Community Hub Project.

The £249,210 Community Spaces Scotland award from the Big Lottery Fund will enable the church to undertake energy efficiency measures and internal refurbishment. On completion, the facilities will provide a cafe, meeting rooms, touchdown work space and a training facility. Read more of this post

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Furniture Plus tackles poverty in Fife

11/06/2013

F+_BillWalker_1Following a visit to the Pitreavie showroom of Furniture Plus, Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has commended the charity’s efforts to combat poverty and social exclusion in Fife.

Furniture Plus – voted Fife Social Enterprise of the Year 2012 – provides low cost, quality goods and furnishings to low income households. Additionally, it offers employment and training opportunities to help volunteers gain skills and confidence.

Mr Walker joined Sales Manager Gail Jackson and former Managing Director Daniel Rous for a tour of the site and to learn about the work of Furniture Plus. Read more of this post

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MSP Bill Walker hopes new Tesco will aid regeneration of Dunfermline

07/06/2013

begjune2013 013Local MSP Bill Walker has welcomed confirmation that Tesco hopes to open its new store on Carnegie Drive, Dunfermline, by autumn 2014.

Speaking at a public exhibition of the proposed store, the Dunfermline MSP said:

“The people of Dunfermline have waited a long time for the new Tesco, so I very much hope there will be no further delays. Tesco say they don’t anticipate any problems when they submit a new planning application in autumn this year, as permission for their original proposal was previously granted. Read more of this post

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