Members' Business — S6M-07928 Jackson Carlaw: East Renfrewshire Good Causes

That the Parliament acknowledges what it sees as the incredible and transformative work of charities in the Eastwood constituency and across Scotland; welcomes the ongoing contribution of East Renfrewshire Good Causes in providing what it considers outstanding support to vulnerable members of local communities; understands that, in the period since the charity was established and first started to offer much-needed support in August 2007 and up to September 2022, East Renfrewshire Good Causes has provided £1.6 million in goods and services and helped 5,400 individuals; acknowledges that examples of support that the charity has funded, either in full or in part, include wet floor shower adaptations for disabled pensioners, help with travel costs for cancer patients on low incomes to attend hospital for treatment, and play spaces and equipment for young people with additional support needs; considers that the set-up of the charity means that it can respond very quickly to emerging circumstances and is able to undertake essential tasks in a short timescale, such as assisting with practical home support improvements needed to allow older people to be discharged from hospital to free up beds for incoming patients; recognises that all referrals to the charity are made by frontline professionals, including teachers, housing officials and health and social care staff, from both the public and third sector; understands that the operations of East Renfrewshire Good Causes have expanded over the years and that the charity is also now active in Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and East Ayrshire; congratulates the founder and project coordinator of East Renfrewshire Good Causes, Russell MacMillan, for what it sees as the remarkable and selfless efforts that he has made for more than 15 years in driving the Eastwood-based charity forward and ensuring that vital support has been provided to people in need, and considers that East Renfrewshire Good Causes has demonstrated a strong track record of delivery and established an operating model that has the potential to be replicated in all local authority areas across Scotland.