This month, whilst the Parliament is in recess, Ruth has:
- Held a ‘Street Surgey’ in Hayocks along with Councillor Davina McTiernan to speak to constituents directly
- Visited the wonderful team at Centrestage Communities, an Ayrshire charity which supports many thousands of people living with multiple deprivations, to feel more connected to the wider community. The group also works alongside children, looked after and excluded young people, prisoners, ex-offenders, the elderly and adults and children with additional support needs. Ruth enjoyed a tour and chatting about the the inspirational work going on with the Connect and Catalyst projects
- Met with the Dogs Trust to discuss issues relating to dog welfare and upcoming campaigns
- Lent her support to a project run by the charity Action on Hearing Loss Scotland, which aims to reduce the digital exclusion experienced by older people with hearing loss. Ruth visited an Online Today! training session in the Vennel Centre, Irvine, where local people learned how to go online, stay secure when using the Internet, and get the most from their tablet, smartphone and eReader
- Visited Hallmark Hotel in Irvine to congratulate the staff in person on raising more than £1,000 for charity by climbing Goatfell on Arran, which will be donated to the British Heart Foundation. Ruth also lodged a parliamentary motion congratulating the staff on their efforts – which they now have framed in the hotel!
- Attended the opening celebrations of the newly restored Irvine House. The Townhouse, which is linked with the Irvine’s new leisure centre, the Portal, is open to the public as a venue for hositing wedding ceremonies, civic function, and artists in residence. It also hosts information on genealogy and local and family history, with space for people to conduct research in the building. The microfiche machines hosting Irvine Herald archives will also be housed in the Townhouse.
- Visited Ingeus Irvine to celebrate UK Employability Day, which was on 14th Employability Day is an event for the employment support sector, allowing organisations such as Igneus to open their doors to local stakeholders, networks and businesses to show what employment support means at the frontline and the impact it is having in the local area. At the visit, Ruth was able to see how employment support is helping jobseekers in the local community.
- Met with OneKind to discuss all things animal welfare, in particular, Saving Scotland’s Foxes
- Enjoyed the Men’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Golf Course – making sure to pop by and support the #madeinayrshire tent!
- Met with Scottish Enterprise (SE) to hear about some of the activity being delivered in the local area and how SE is working with local companies and specific regional priorities which will impact on Cunninghame South
- Supported MSP colleague, Stuart MacMillan, at Somerset Park in Ayr, as he undertook a ‘Pipeathon’ challenge to pipe at 42 football grounds across Scotland in 5 days in order to raise money for Clydeside Action on Asbestos, Andy Adams Fund & Cash for Kids
- Attended a Leadership Forum on ‘Gender Diversity in Business, Politics and Sport’ organised by Aberdeen Asset Management. Ruth heard from impressive speakers such as Elaine C Smith, Scottish actress and comedian, Petra Wetzel, Entrepreneur and chief executive of West Brewery, Lucy O’Carroll, Chief Economist at Aberdeen Asset Management, Sheila Begbie of Scottish Rugby, Sir Clive Woodward, England rugby legend, and professional golfer, Beth Allen.
Ruth Maguire MSP 