Margaret recently visited a local employer as part of her drive to hear from local business people. Margaret spoke to the manager of the Baillieston branch of Morrisons, which employs over 200 people, to find out more about the retail sector in the area.

Margaret also took the opportunity to speak with local people – and pick up a few groceries!

Margaret said:

“I have always sought to create close links with local employers, and there are few larger in this constituency than Morrisons. This visit was really worthwhile. I enjoyed speaking with Jason Campbell, the store manager, and hearing his thoughts on a wide range of issues.

I was really pleased to see that so many of those employed there are from the local community, and from a wide range of backgrounds – from students to older people.

It is important to me to work closely with local businesses and to meet with as many people from within our community as possible, and I would welcome more chances to do this in the future.”

My advice surgeries are currently being reorganised at present with new dates and times to be announced over the course of the summer months.

In the meantime if you wish to discuss anything with me then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with my constituency office where I will be more than happy to assist you with any questions or problems you have.

I also have a fully staffed constituency office where my staff will be more than happy to assist with anything they can.

Margaret in the Scottish Parliament

Margaret said:

 ”I believe that victims of crime should be more involved in the criminal justice system. The right to make their feelings heard at hearings of the parole board would give victims a voice, and also allow those involved in the hearings to have a fuller understanding of the impact of the offender’s behaviour. 

 

Unfortunately the amendment did not pass in the Parliament. However I am hopeful that, when the issue is debated again, it will be more successful.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margaret inspecting the condition of St Bridget's Primary

Margaret Curran said:

“I have been campaigning for years that something be done about the state of this school and I have once again, written a formal letter to Glasgow City Council asking that at the very least, the front of the school be repainted.

“St. Bridget’s Primary School in Baillieston is full of both wonderful teachers and pupils and it is an absolute disgrace that the school building has been left ins uch disrepair for so long.

“Enough is enough.

“I hope that Cllr. Paul Rooney will accept my request for an urgent meeting as soon as possible so that we can act now to improve the quality of this building, and make sure that our local schools educate our children in a working environment of which we can be proud.”

Jessie Thompson is a local mother mother from Craigend.  She has 6 children of her own, as well as 43 grand children and great grand children.  As well as being a mother, Jessie Thompson also runs a local community group for disabled people in the East End.

Margaret with our "Mum in a Million"

Margaret Curran said:

Mother’s Day is an excellent opportunity to celebrate all the great mums in the world.  Jessie is exactly that – with 6 children and an amazing 43 grand and great grand children, she certainly has her work cut out!  The fact that Jessie also finds the time to run a very successful local community group in the East End is truly inspirational.

“Like all the other mums, I am looking forward to spending Sunday with my own sons and celebrating Mother’s Day with my family.

“I want to wish all the mums in Glasgow Baillieston a very happy Mother’s Day – and a well-earned day of rest!”

Margaret congratulating the young people of GEYB

Youth Bank are a great local organisation that fund projects which are delivered by young people.  In the last 5 years, Glasgow East Youth Bank has funded 310 separate projects that have been proposed by 730 young people.  Local beneficiaries of Youth Bnk include the Gladiators that have received funding to help with the costs of football coaching for young people and the Healthy Active Promotion of Positive Youngsters (HAPPY) Club that has receieved money for hall hire as well as resources for disabled youngsters in the East End of Glasgow.

Margaret Curran said:

“I had a great time at the awards ceremony last week.  The work undertaken by the young people at Youth Bank is really impressive and I was delighted to be invited along to attend the event and given the opportunity to personally congratulate the young people involved.

“Last week in the Scottish Parliament I also tabled a motion to formally acknowledge this dedication and enthusiasm evident in the group at Youth Bank.

“It is so important that we make sure our young people have an interest in the activities and opportunities available to everyone in the community – if the dedication and work ethic of the young people at Youth Bank is anything to go by, the future of our local communities here in the East End is in safe hands!”

Key stakeholders in the public, private and voluntary sectors in Glasgow met at the Jobs Convention to discuss how public investment can bring economic stability and boost jobs in the east end of the city. Martin Armstrong, the chief executive of Glasgow Housing Association, Mark Fienmann, the Director of East Community Health and Care Partnership and Chris Brodie from Slims Consulting all spoke at the event which was held in John Wheatley College in Easterhouse.

Margaret Curran, MSP for Glasgow Baillieston, says:

 “Enough is enough – there should be no more bonuses for bankers.

 “It’s time to redress the balance. It is morally wrong for huge bonuses to be dished out when many people are out of work and struggling to make ends meet.

 “The Jobs Convention was a great opportunity to talk about how we can all work together to get people back into employment to boost the local economy.

 “I was delighted to have both Martin Armstrong from the GHA and Mark Fienmann from the East CHCP speak at the event. The public sector plays an increasingly important part in the success of the local economy both in terms of employment and the services that they provide. I hope that we can build on today and move forward ”

 Martin Armstrong, Chief Executive of GHA, added:

 “Getting back into work is a key issue for many of our tenants. At GHA we work extremely hard to help our tenants improve their lives and to get back into employment.

 “The schemes we have launched here in Glasgow East have made a real difference to the lives of people throughout the city and we aim to build on the success in the years to come.”

 The annual competition to design Margaret Curran’s official MSP Christmas card was open to all primary 7 pupils throughout the constituency and a judging panel comprising of a representative from Glasgow Fort, the China Palace – both of which are official sponsors of the card – and a local community worker, picked the winning design from over 350 pupils that took part in the competition.

Chloe Hart’s winning design will feature on the front of all of Margaret’s Christmas cards that will be sent to hundreds of constituents, community groups, local businesses, MSPs and MPs – including the Prime Minister!

Margaret Curran, MSP for Glasgow Baillieston, says:

 “Once again, the annual competition to design my Christmas card has been a tremendous success with pupils throughout the entire constituency submitting excellent designs – we clearly have a very talented group of young people here in Glasgow Baillieston!

 Chloe’s design features a Christmas skyline and is a perfect accompaniment for my Christmas message. Well done Chloe!”

 Margaret Curran, MSP for Glasgow Baillieston, has welcomed the announcement that hundreds of jobs for people aged under-25 could be created in the East End of Glasgow as part of a UK-wide initiative announced by the Secretary of State for Scotland.

The Secretary State for Scotland, Jim Murphy, used his visit to Glasgow East Regeneration Agency’s new employment and training facilities at Parkhead and Easterhouse to formally announce an extension of the Future Jobs Fund, a £1 billion initiative created as a result of last year’s Budget.

The fund provides funding for around 150,000 jobs or work-focused training places across the UK, aimed at 18 to 24 year old jobseekers at risk of becoming long term unemployed. £95 million has been made available for Scots jobseekers and employers, and the Minister is confident youngsters from the Glasgow East area can benefit.

Margaret Curran, MSP, said:

“I was delighted to be able to welcome Jim Murphy to the Glasgow East Regeneration Agency’s facility in Easterhouse where he went on to annouce UK-wide plans to create hundreds of jobs for young people across the country.

“I am very hopeful that some of these jobs will be given to young people right here in the East End. It is vital that we continue our campaign to provide young people with training and job opportunities to help us through this difficult time – this annoucement signficantly helps toward achieving this important goal.”

Jim Murphy said:

“The Future Jobs Fund has the potential to help thousands of young Scots across the country by providing around £95m of additional support. The fund is focused on providing real help now to jobseekers and other people on benefits who would otherwise be unable to find work. That’s exactly the right thing to be doing in these difficult times.

“Anything we can do to make sure more people, particularly those aged 18 - 24 who have been unemployed for around a year are able to take up new jobs or training, will help ensure they do not lose touch with the labour market, whilst also delivering a boost to the local economy”.

 Margaret Curran, MSP for Glasgow Baillieston, has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating Jim Smith from Carntyne on receiving an MBE in this year’s honours list for his 30 years voluntary service to youth football in Glasgow.

Jim Smith from Carntyne in Glasgow has been the regional secretary of the Scottish Youth Football Association for the last five years, as well as the City Cup tournament director for Glasgow. Jim was recently commended by the Sports Council for Glasgow as part of its anniversary celebrations for his volunteer work in youth football, and is also responsible for the organisation of the largest youth tournament in Scotland, which is to be held at Glasgow Green later this year.

 Margaret Curran, MSP, says:

 ”I am thrilled that the dedicated volunteer work of Jim Smith to make football accessible and enjoyable for young people in Glasgow has been formally recognised in this year’s honours list. Jim is an outstanding example of a local volunteer putting his time back into the community and this award it testament to his hard work over the last 30 years.

“I want to wish Jim great success in the organisation of the largest youth football tournament that is taking place in August – I am sure it will be an excellent event for the city!”