Submitting member has a registered interest.
That the Parliament welcomes the news that a champion of the Armed Forces community has been honoured for her contributions to volunteering in Stirling; acknowledges that Mary Kenyon, the chair of the Forth Valley branch of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) The Armed Forces Charity, has been commended by Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise (SVE) as part of Stirling 900 celebrations in the 2024 Inspire Volunteering Awards with the efforts of all nominees acknowledged by being provided with a pin badge at the recent event during the Stirling 900 finale; notes that Mary has volunteered with SSAFA for over 30 years, supporting thousands of members of the Armed Forces family; understands that, in 2022, she was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year Honours List in recognition of her volunteering for SSAFA and now, as part of the finale for the city’s year-long birthday celebrations, SVE has further recognised Mary for continuing as a volunteer; further understands that, in the last 12 months, Mary and the SSAFA Forth Valley branch have raised and administered around £120,000 worth of goods and services for the benefit of 75 veterans and families, as well as referring many ex-service personnel and families to medical, housing and debt advice and other specialist services, in addition to hosting many community events; notes that SSAFA, which operates across the UK, with 19 branches across Scotland, including Forth Valley, providing a range of support and services for ex-service members, has been working for the entire UK Armed Forces community for 140 years, since 1885; understands that SSAFA has described Mary as having a “genuine interest in people” and a strong desire to help others in need, and has estimated that she has helped thousands of people over the years with the charity, embodying a “can-do” attitude, stepping up when required and serving as an inspiration to all, and commends Mary, as well as all the volunteers at the Forth Valley Branch of SSAFA, for what it sees as their tireless, sterling endeavours for the entire community.
Supported by:
Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Annabelle Ewing, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Craig Hoy, Stephen Kerr, Bill Kidd, Douglas Lumsden, Fulton MacGregor, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Douglas Ross, Paul Sweeney, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle