Locals Schools Earn Parliamentary Praise For Rock Challenge

North-east secondary schools have been praised in a Scottish Parliamentary Motion for their efforts in the 2006 Global Rock Challenge.

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has tabled the Motion highlighting the Global Rock Challenge, which is a drug and crime prevention vehicle in the form of a performing arts competition for secondary schools. The event is run by the Be Your Best Foundation, a registered charity.

Peterhead Academy continued their strong track record in the event and now go forward to the UK finals in Grimsby later this year. Mr Stevenson is a strong supporter of the Global Challenge and even picked up his own – unexpected – award at the 2003 event for his help in securing funding to allow the event to continue.

Speaking from the Scottish Parliament, Mr Stevenson said:

“I was delighted to be able to attend one of the Aberdeen heats once again this year given my long association with the Global Rock Challenge and I was even more pleased with the performance of those secondary schools from my constituency who took part.

“Peterhead Academy has perhaps the longest track record in the event and I was pleased for the youngsters and staff involved that they will once again be heading for the UK finals.

“I was present for the heat involving Banff Academy who gave a highly creditable performance which I am sure will stand them in good stead for next year’s event.”

Stevenson Welcomes More Lottery Good News For Banffshire

‘Big Lottery Fund’ awards totalling over £390,000 to two Banffshire organisations have been hailed by local SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson as further evidence of the turnaround in the fortunes of North east lottery applicants.

Mr Stevenson commented:

“I am delighted for the Banffshire Partnership and the Princes Royal Sports & Community Trust. These are substantial sums they have been awarded and clearly a lot of hard work has gone into making the application to the Big Lottery Fund and producing bids which have secured this level of funding, so I congratulate all those involved in this success.

“These latest awards bring the total lottery funding awarded to groups in Banff & Buchan in the last few months close to the half a million pounds mark. This is quite an achevement for the groups involved and this funding will benefit the communities greatly.

“There is now no doubt that Banff & Buchan is definitely on the up as far as lottery funding goes and I hope that this momentum keeps up.”

Note: The Big Lottery Fund have notified awards of £251,500.00 to Princess Royal Sports & Community Trust for a new sports, fitbess and community centre and £138,946.00 to Banffshire Partnership Limited to expand existing community transport services.

SNP Commenting On Edinburgh Airgun Attacks

Commenting on the two airgun attacks in Edinburgh, SNP Depute Justice Minister Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

"These incidents highlight the need to take real action on the ownership, sale and use of airguns. The half-measures proposed by the Home Office are simply not tough enough to deal with the menace of airguns.

"Only by giving the Scottish Parliament full powers to deal with airguns can we deal comprehensively with the issue."