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The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-14008, in the name of David Torrance, on Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club being awarded £90,000 of funding. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons.
I call David Torrance to open the debate—you have around seven minutes, Mr Torrance.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament congratulates Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club on securing £90,000 of funding from Foundation Scotland’s Tackling Inequalities Fund; understands that the Fife-based motorbike charity will use the money over a three-year period to go towards supporting local young people and harnessing their energy through the adrenaline-inducing sport; acknowledges the club’s aim to make safe, off-road motorcycling more accessible for people of all ages in a bid to reduce the antisocial and illegal use of off-road motorcycles; understands that the club works in partnership with Police Scotland and other organisations and has sustained an 80% reduction in antisocial behaviour over the last couple of years; commends the club on the opportunities that it provides for people, as well as the reported social impact that it has had in the Fife area, and wishes the club the very best for the future.
12:50
I thank my colleagues for supporting my motion and allowing it to be debated in the chamber. It is a pleasure to lead the debate and to recognise the success and outstanding achievements of a remarkable group of individuals and a fantastic community group that plays such an important role in Fife—the Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club. Before I reflect on the history, growth and success of the club and recognise the dedication, passion and resilience of its members, I would like to welcome some of those very people to the chamber—David Paton, chief executive officer and founder of the club, Jessica Carstairs, Calum MacLellan, Calum Michie, Kevin Davis and Owen Montgomery.
First, what is Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club? It is a registered charity whose aim is to make local communities safer by providing a controlled area for children, young people and adults to enjoy off-road motorcycling. However, that is merely the tip of the iceberg. Through its social awareness and re-education programmes in Fife, which seek to change behaviour, attitudes and values, it has helped to reduce antisocial and illegal use of off-road motorcycles. It recognises the value of its high-adrenaline-fuelled activity and the use of motorcycle-related activities as a means to influence positive change and promote health and child and youth development.
From its humble beginnings 21 years ago to the dynamic and vibrant club that it is today, Kingdom Off Road has become a shining example in the world of off-road motorcycle riding. It is committed to creating an environment where young people can grow, not just as riders but as individuals. The relationships and friendships that are formed in the club are invaluable and foster a sense of belonging while developing independence, resilience and character.
I have followed the club’s progress with a keen interest over the years and watched with great pride as it expanded and grew into the invaluable community asset that it is today. I have also taken part in a session with the club. My staff—many of whom have never been on a motorbike before—and I recently headed along to meet the team and try our hand at some off-road riding. There were varying degrees of success but I can assure members—and they can imagine—that a single common factor was the smile on all our faces and the buzz, which lasted for days.
While preparing for the debate, I asked the club whether any of its members would like to give us an insight into what the club means to them and how it has impacted on their lives. I am extremely grateful to everyone who took the time to share their story with me, and I would like to share a couple of them with members now.
This is Lewis’s story:
“I have volunteered at Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club for two years now. I go to the track and workshop every week, where I fix and maintain bikes for the club. I want to be a mechanic, so this is definitely helping. I also assist on track days, maintaining the track and ensuring that it is in the best condition for riders. Through my last year at school, I was authorised day release, where I helped out with Kingdom Off Road’s structured group working and mental health programmes. Volunteering for the club has given me opportunities to attend events, including the Scottish six-day trial in Fort William, where I was part of a Scorpa UK support team in keeping the bikes maintained and up to spec for the riders to compete. I attended the Drumlanrig castle Scottish road festival, where I had a stand as an assistant coach, and we taught people to ride. I always have fun, I am volunteering and I love to learn new skills. I feel very lucky to receive an amazing sponsorship deal from Kingdom Off Road and Duncan Wood’s East Neuk Trials Motorcycles. They are providing me with a trial bike to compete in the Scottish championships. I want to say a huge thank you to them both. I love off-road motorcycle sport and I feel very lucky to be given this opportunity.”
This testament comes from Lewis’s mum:
“Kingdom have played a crucial role in my son’s life opportunities and have positively impacted on his wellbeing and social skills. My son volunteers and they have provided him with mechanical experience, which has helped him secure a mechanical apprenticeship, which he will start in August. He has also developed a passion for riding and competing on trial bikes. That has been encouraged and supported by Kingdom, allowing him to develop his skills and participate in events. Because of Kingdom, my son has constantly achieved, from education awards, volunteering awards and skills development. All have really underpinned and improved his sense of self wellbeing. We will be forever grateful to Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club and will continue to support the charity to ensure that other young people are afforded the same opportunities as my son.”
Calvin’s aunt wanted to share the following words:
“Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club has helped Calvin a lot over the past year that he has been around them. He was on a programme after being referred to Kingdom Off Road charity through his school. This is where he got his chance to ride off-road motorcycles in a safer, legal place, where he was no longer getting into trouble. He stopped antisocial riding in the local community. After the programme, he was asked to be a volunteer for them. The volunteering has boosted his confidence and we have noticed an improvement in his behaviour as well. It has helped him improve on the bike too. He has been given the opportunity to do motorcycle racing events and follow his dreams. Calvin loves going to the club and he helps out every weekend and often during weeks too.”
Lastly, we have Jay’s story.
“He was struggling at school and riding illegally. He attended a club, the through the gears programme that is run in partnership with the community learning and development team in Levenmouth. His progress has seen his school attendance and behaviour in the community improve. He no longer rides illegally on the streets or in local parks. He does enjoy demonstrating his skills at the Scottish Twin Shock championship. He is usually in the top three of his start line. Competing is fierce and the quality of riders this year is great. Jay has finished his last race of the season in a commendable sixth position. He has now passed his motor CBT test and can ride a motorcycle legally on the road. This will help him with his transportation to employment or further education. More recently, Jay has been invited to visit Gray Fabrication in Cupar. Our charity has nominated him as being a good candidate, competent in the use of tools and mechanical knowledge, some of which he has learned from his time at Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club. Over the last year, Jay has grown in confidence and we hope his potential position on a mechanical maintenance apprenticeship will offer him”
the opportunity
“to kick-start his life beyond school.”
It is important that the voices of those young people are heard and that their experiences are recognised and used as we look to shape the future delivery of services and ensure a culture of inclusion.
Although off-road riding is an exhilarating sport, antisocial behaviour, illegal riding and misuse of road bikes is a problem in many constituencies. We have all witnessed the damage to roads, green spaces and other vehicles, but there is also an element of human tragedy that often occurs with antisocial behaviour. The work of the club with the area’s youngsters has produced dramatic results. Local police have witnessed an 80 per cent reduction in calls about the illegal use of motorcycles, as well as a decline in traffic incidents. That is a notable reduction and a testament to the passion and dedication of the staff and volunteers at the club. Many accolades and awards have been bestowed on them over the years and, from coaching sessions to volunteering mechanical engineers, volunteering hours at the club have exceeded 5,000 hours, with more than 25 people regularly giving their time.
Never one to rest on their laurels, David and his team are always looking to the future: electric trial parks, school initiatives and better ways of sharing effective intervention strategies, and research and work to discourage young people from being involved in illegal and dangerous activities—they truly never take a breath. Indeed, I know that they followed the debate about off-road vehicles in the chamber in September, which was led by my colleague Bob Doris, and were pleased to hear his call for a working group to be established by the Scottish Government to look at how partnership working can tackle the misuse of vehicles. As one of the leaders in research into and knowledge of off-road misuse behaviour, I believe that the club could be an integral part of that working group.
Antisocial behaviour involving the use of vehicles is on the rise. There is much work to be done to tackle that problem and make our streets and green spaces safer for everyone. However, the work of the Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club has shown that, with the right people, the right tools and a lot of hard work, a big difference can be made. I congratulate the club on everything that it has achieved so far, and I look forward to seeing its success in the future.
12:59
I do not often speak in members’ business debates, and even more rarely do I pop up in debates that are about areas outside the north-east. However, on this occasion, I saw the motion that David Torrance put forward on the Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club and I pretty much demanded to speak in the debate, because what the club is doing is brilliant.
Two aspects of what the club does caught my attention. First, it focuses on reducing illegal and antisocial motorcycling in communities. As David Torrance pointed out, many of us will be familiar with or represent places where that happens. We all recognise that, although the police do their absolute best—as they always do—funding and resource issues make their job challenging. We also recognise that a formal response to criminal or antisocial behaviour is one way to deal with things, but such an approach can have consequences for individuals that extend long into the future and impact their life choices and chances going forward. Sometimes, a different approach will result in better outcomes in the short and longer terms, and for the individual and the community.
That is one of the things that the club is about. It takes that energy and passion for riding and excitement, and channels them in productive and useful ways, while also providing insight into the impact of antisocial behaviour and victims’ perspectives. That says to young people, “Make different choices, not only to enjoy what you are doing but to do it safely and with positive outcomes for all.”
The club is proactive. Earlier this week, I saw on its Facebook page that it had put out a call to find bikers who have been putting themselves and others at risk. It sought to find out who they are, contact them and work with them to make those different life choices. The data shows that that works, as David Torrance said. The motion refers to local police reporting an 80 per cent reduction in calls about the illegal use of motorcycles as well as a decline in traffic incidents. Perhaps Inspector Matt Spencer of the Levenmouth police station put it best when he said that the club has been
“an integral part in the work we do to tackle antisocial behaviour. They provide a safe and structured environment to teach the responsible use of bikes, along with the opportunity to learn maintenance skills.”
All that is impressive in itself, but there is another reason why I was keen to speak. Members may know that I am a keen biker, and I am very jealous that David Torrance got a shot at off-road. In my view, biking is about road craft and also about transferable skills, from working on the bike and from being social. It is also one of the best ways that I have found for reflection and destressing. I agree with David Paton, the club’s founder, when he said, after the club won an award from sportscotland, that it is also about
“the fitness and dedication required”
to ride.
Safe riding is good, but it is neither the easiest thing to get into nor the cheapest. There is a real risk that it is denied to people who do not have the funds or, perhaps, the opportunities, or that those who are keen to get into riding will take a, shall we say, less appropriate route. Therefore, the fact that the club has as one of its key aims that of making motorbiking more accessible is to be absolutely commended, because that gives, as the club puts it,
“a chance for youngsters to take part in high-adrenaline sports in a safe and controlled way”.
That is demonstrated by the fact that the club has taken on a coach to encourage school pupils to get involved through three introductory sessions.
I have no hesitation in echoing David Torrance’s commendation of Foundation Scotland’s foresight in giving the club £90,000 from the tackling inequalities fund. I wish all involved with Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club—especially the dedicated volunteers who are so crucial to it—every success in continuing to achieve their aims, both now and for a long time to come.
13:03
I thank David Torrance for bringing the motion to the chamber for debate, not only allowing us to pay tribute to the Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club and welcome those who are here today to represent it, but giving those of us across the country who are interested in these issues the chance to recognise that club in Fife and to consider how it could serve as an example of how to make a bigger difference.
The club is clearly a great example—because of the volunteer effort, the investment and the organisation that has gone into making it happen—of the difference that constructive youth work and strategic investment can make.
As I have said before in this chamber, when I was first elected as MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith in 2016, we faced significant issues with motorbike crime in the north of the capital city because stolen motorbikes were being brought there, driven dangerously and then burned out.
Operation Soteria by Police Scotland was activated to deal with that. Along with the stronger north initiative, the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, the council, the third sector, funding from the Robertson Trust and a youth work collaborative, it made a difference through diversion and intervention.
At that time, one of the projects that was looked at was in Fife. That shows that, even then, there was an understanding that what was being done in Fife was interesting because it was providing an alternative place for young people to learn about motorbiking in a safe way and to get the thrill of participating in that activity without engaging in criminality.
At the moment, in my constituency, the situation in the north of the city is not perfect, but it is not problematic in the way that it was. However, in Leith, as I have said in the chamber on several occasions in recent months, we have experienced issues with off-road vehicles—both two-wheeled and four-wheeled—being driven dangerously as part of a wider issue, with a very small minority of young people engaging in dangerous antisocial and criminal behaviour.
We can learn important lessons from the example that David Torrance has brought to the chamber. As Mr Torrance mentioned, this debate feeds into Bob Doris’s debate and other recent debates about how we not only better support the police but intervene in other ways to challenge this growing trend in communities in Scotland.
In some ways, it is a social media-driven trend. As I have said before, there is an element of organised crime in some incidents, but, along with some general crime trends that concern a very small minority of our youth, the situation has definitely got worse in the capital city and elsewhere in 2024.
In 2025, how do we undertake new initiatives collectively to improve the situation and make sure that it does not get worse? The working group proposal, which was discussed in previous debates and mentioned again today, is a good one. I would be interested to hear, not just in the minister’s response but as we go into the early quarters of 2025, what the Government will undertake to ensure that we have initiatives in all areas across the country that can make a difference by intervening, providing more positive destinations for young people, giving the police the resources and powers that they need, and putting public safety above everything else.
Although £90,000 is a lot of money, compared with, for example, the spending that would be needed if people ended up in the criminal justice system, it is not a large amount of money and could be a really important example of the Christie principle of engaging in preventative spend. What more preventative spend, such as the example that has been brought to the chamber today, can we have to make sure that we get on top of this issue in 2025?
13:08
I congratulate David Torrance on today’s debate on Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club’s success in securing a significant award from Foundation Scotland’s tackling inequalities fund.
This is not the first time that I have highlighted the work of Kingdom Off Road in the chamber. I pay tribute to the work of David Paton and his team for establishing the charity, investing their time and resources into the local community, and I recognise their efforts on expanding and growing what they have to offer.
I first met David Paton, who co-founded the charity, around 2014 when I was supporting my constituent Shelagh Cooper, who had had a terrible experience with someone riding an off-road bike illegally, which resulted in the death of her dog from injuries.
I became involved in campaigning to tackle antisocial behaviour on off-road and quad bikes, and I held a number of round-table events and meetings across my region. In 2015, I led a members’ business debate, which members of Kingdom Off Road attended. Shelagh supported the work that it was doing. Since then, I have supported and promoted the work that the club does and have argued for that approach to become more widespread.
As David Paton has said, Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club was established in response to a community crisis. Young people were tearing around Levenmouth illegally on off-road bikes, risking injury to themselves and to others. Although dealing with the issue is partly the responsibility of the police, they cannot do that alone, and their ability to fine or arrest people is limited by the nature of the offence.
Kingdom Off Road was set up to offer a different solution. Through a referral system, with support from community workers, the police and local schools, young people are identified and offered a programme that covers topics such as the victims’ perspectives, the law, responsible riding, accidents and incidents, and riding on a motocross track. The programme has made a huge difference to many young people in the area by offering them an alternative to antisocial and risky behaviour. They learn bike maintenance and how to ride responsibly, and the programme has been shown to improve school attendance, health and focus.
As the motion recognises, the work of the club has supported a significant decrease in related antisocial behaviour in recent years. That has involved a concentrated focus on tackling the issue in Levenmouth, with local councillors, the police, community workers and activists co-ordinating activity and using a multipronged approach, which has included making physical changes to the landscape to make riding more difficult and focused efforts to gather intelligence and approach offenders.
Last week, I met police officers in Kirkcaldy to raise constituents’ concerns about antisocial behaviour on off-road bikes and quad bikes in an area of Kirkcaldy. I am pleased that the police will work with local stakeholders to target that area, but there remain limitations on what the police can do, and they rely on local intelligence to identify riders. We need to make sure that police across Scotland are able to share best practice, and that a method that is successful in one area—in a recent debate, Jackie Dunbar mentioned the use of spray paint in Aberdeen to identify riders and bikes—is available in others across the country.
The police successfully seize bikes, which are not always collected. I worked with Kingdom Off Road to establish a route for it to access those bikes and use them for its programmes, and that initiative is running successfully.
In the past few years, from its base in Levenmouth, Kingdom Off Road has developed its outdoor track at Cardenden. It is a valuable resource that provides affordable access to a legal off-road motorbike track. It is a controlled area that allows adults, children and young people to enjoy off-road tracks, and a facility that is much needed in the area. If riders have the resources to buy, maintain and fuel a bike, and they have a vehicle to move the bike around, they should ride responsibly to access the site. The costs involved—annual family membership costs from £30 and track fees cost between £15 and £25—are reasonable for such activity.
As we approach Christmas, the cost of off-road bikes has reduced significantly due to the availability of cheaper imports. We should make it clear to people that they cannot be ridden in local parks or on footpaths, and that it is illegal to do so. I have previously expressed concern about the Government’s weak response, but I hope that recent events will focus the Government’s mind on what positive actions can be taken.
The longer-term goal of Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club is to open an indoor all-weather track. A similar facility used to exist and was very popular. That would provide a year-round facility. I will support the provision of such a facility in any way that I can, and I wish the club well in those efforts and all its future endeavours.
13:13
I thank David Torrance for proposing this subject for today’s members’ business debate, and I welcome the members of the Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club who are in the gallery.
We have had several important debates on antisocial behaviour recently, and I am pleased that we are able to have a debate in which we can celebrate a community that is leading on a project of its own that has had such positive outcomes. In his opening speech, David Torrance recounted individual experiences that are testament to all the positive work that the club has done.
The wider social impact of the Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club is considerable, and I welcome Foundation Scotland’s continued support. The provision of an additional £90,000 over three years will make a big difference to the club’s work in Fife.
As well as tackling inequality, the club aims to provide safe spaces for young people, where they can develop safety awareness and skills. I understand that Fife police and local businesses are supporting the club with small donations. That is positive and a great example of how to engage with communities.
The Scottish Government is committed to delivering diversionary work with children and young people and the debate has given me an opportunity to highlight the on-going diversionary and intervention work that the Scottish Government supports through the cashback for communities programme, which reinvests the proceeds of crime in youth projects.
Since 2008, that flagship programme has invested £130 million in community-based activities the length and breadth of Scotland, supporting close to 1.3 million young people in that time. We continue to provide that support and we are currently in phase 6 of the cashback for communities programme, which runs from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2026 and will invest £20 million. It will deliver a range of services and activities for young people between the ages of 10 and 25 across Scotland.
At its core, the programme provides safe spaces, trusted adults and the opportunity for young people to build positive relationships with their peers. In Fife alone, the cashback for communities programme invested more than £4,123,000 in projects between 2008 and 2023, reaching more 142,000 young people.
The evidence proves that the cashback for communities programme is working. Evaluation shows that 4,318 young people reported that their antisocial and criminal behaviour reduced, 6,292 young people felt that they were less likely to engage in antisocial or criminal behaviour, and 4,954 young people gained an accreditation in furthering their development. Those statistics are from last year’s impact report for the cashback for communities programme that was published yesterday. The numbers illustrate how our focus on early intervention and diversionary activity is making a difference in communities.
While helping to provide more opportunities for young people in their communities, we also want to keep them safe from harm. That is why we have invested more than £4 million in the past two years to implement the action set out in the Scottish violence prevention framework. That supports the work of a range of partners, including the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, YouthLink Scotland and Medics Against Violence, to prevent young people from engaging in violence.
I also highlight the work of the improving Levenmouth together partnership. Through the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, £30,000 has been awarded to the local trade hub partnership, so that a science, technology, engineering and mathematics bus can now visit all 18 primary schools that feed into Levenmouth academy. Plans are in place for roadshow events led by various partners, including the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and ScotRail, covering issues such as fire-raising and track safety. In addition, the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit is supporting the role of the think equal programme across nurseries in the area with the stop the violence message. Together, those are some great examples of early and effective interventions in Fife that complement the work of the Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club in supporting children and young people.
I made it clear earlier that I wanted to focus on commending the positives in the debate. However, that does not mean avoiding concerns about antisocial behaviour, which remains such a core focus of the work of the Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club. As I have said previously, we take seriously the impact of antisocial behaviour, including antisocial driving, in our communities, and we have debated that four times in recent months. We are committed to working with local partners to tackle those issues effectively.
Recently, Bob Doris and Alex Cole-Hamilton have highlighted concerns about the reckless and dangerous misuse of a range of vehicles, and nuisance, such as noise. We have had another two comprehensive debates on that specific issue and, understandably, the level of interest in the debate has been high. Mr Cole-Hamilton discussed his concerns about South Queensferry with the First Minister. Along with the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, I hope to meet Mr Cole-Hamilton and Bob Doris to discuss practical considerations of what could be done in the new year with Police Scotland.
It was interesting to get that update from the minister. Will she extend the same courtesy to other members who have expressed a significant interest in those issues, which are of significant concern to their constituents? I, for example, would very much want to attend such a meeting.
I am definitely happy to consider that, although I would have to speak to Mr Fairlie about it. We are going to have an initial meeting; it was meant to be in December, but after trying to co-ordinate the diaries of all the members involved, Police Scotland and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, it will now be in January. I should also say that we are aware, too, of developments in England, as they might have a wider impact on any reserved matters, and we are ensuring that we are kept involved.
I know that Ben Macpherson has a constituency interest with regard to antisocial behaviour involving off-road vehicles, and he has contributed to many of the debates to highlight the importance of diversion and intervention. Claire Baker also highlighted the dangers of off-road vehicles when she talked about her constituent Shelagh Cooper, who lost her dog, and I know that Bob Doris’s constituent lost his life. Such antisocial behaviour can result in some very tragic circumstances.
I want to conclude on the high note with which David Torrance proposed this debate. The Kingdom Off Road Motorcycle Club has successfully helped to reduce off-road-related antisocial behaviour in Levenmouth by a really impressive 90 per cent, as has been confirmed by local police. It is also really welcome that overall antisocial behaviour in the area has reduced by almost 80 per cent over the period.
The club has achieved that through a remarkably simple approach—by providing a safe space, using private land, and all the associated support required. It is clear that we need to learn from that approach and all that it has achieved. Indeed, I understand that the additional funding that the club has secured will help it to create safe spaces for another 70 young people from Cowdenbeath, Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy.
On that note, I join all members in commending the club’s efforts, and those of similar community groups, in helping to address inequalities and in providing real opportunities and hope in our communities.
That concludes the debate.
13:22 Meeting suspended.Air ais
Point of OrderAir adhart
Portfolio Question Time