Boost for young carers in Caithness as Caithness KLICS get new home
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Holyrood Notebook by Rhoda Grant
Nearly three years ago I visited Caithness KLICS group which helps young carers in the area.
At the time the charity was looking for a new forever home, so I was very pleased to hear last week that the group had finally found one in the old Norlin Playgroup.
I’ve seen the photos on its Facebook page and it looks bright and welcoming and a great place for young carers to relax and get time away from all the help they give their families.
Wendy Thain and all her volunteers and workers do a fantastic job and in normal times there are organised trips and activities for the youngsters, as well as a listening ear for any concerns they may have.
Last year, during the pandemic, it must have been a real test for all involved but with a new centre and the gradual easing of restrictions, the group should relatively soon be able to get back to their full range of services supporting young people under 18 who care for someone at home.
All the young carers groups I’ve visited carry out an essential role in their communities, building youngsters’ confidence and self-esteem, and providing respite away from their day-to-day duties.
I really can’t over-emphasise how much the young carers are appreciated by society and how groups like Caithness KLICS are needed.
I wish them all well for the future and I do hope to visit the new centre as soon as I can.
Transport Minister moves on Wick Airport
More good news came in the past month when the Scottish Government finally moved to protect future flights from Wick John O’ Groats Airport.
My Labour colleague David Stewart and I had long pressed for Scottish Government action and so the announcement that up to £4 million would be made available over the next four years to subsidise services is welcome.
Highland Council must also find funding to help with this and it must also develop plans for a Public Service Obligation to ring-fence and aid the routes, so the devil will be in the detail.
Sadly, it is not all good news. The Scottish Government is downgrading Wick airport and removing air traffic control.
This will restrict its future potential to four flights a day, two hours apart. While that works for the air traffic during the pandemic, it would have prevented Wick Airport becoming an oil industry hub, as it did recently.
I am also unsure of the implications for the Spaceport on the A’ Mhòine peninsula. This will have serious implications for attracting additional traffic and businesses to the area.
Up and coming Scottish Parliament elections
The Scottish Parliament will go into recess on March 25 in advance of the election on May 6 but unusually MSPs will still be MSPs until the day of the election.
This is to allow the Scottish Government to recall us for any major decision to do with the pandemic and MSPs will be allowed to carry on outstanding cases.
In Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, I’m delighted that Marion Donaldson is our Scottish Labour candidate.
She has a wealth of experience as a former Labour councillor for Leith Walk, Edinburgh, but has family links to Reay and was raised on Skye.
- Rhoda Grant is a Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands.
