That the Parliament congratulates and recognises the remarkable work that is being carried out by the Springboard Charity at HMP Dumfries, which will be celebrating the outstanding achievements of six short-term prisoners who are due for release within the next year and who have completed the hospitality employability course, Let’s Cook; notes that this is a five-week hospitality employability skills course that has been running at HMP Dumfries for the last 12 years, thanks to funding by the Holywood Trust and The Castansa Trust; recognises that the course participants are required to complete a variety of workshops, including cooking three-course meals and a Christmas dinner under the supervision of local industry chefs, and participating in barista and mocktail sessions in order to complete the accredited qualifications of Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) Introduction to Food Hygiene, REHIS Emergency First Aid at Work, and SQA Scottish Certificate for Safe Sale and Service of Alcohol; acknowledges that the Springboard Charity remains committed to its mission of transforming lives and opening doors of opportunity in Dumfries and Galloway’s hospitality and tourism industry; understands that the journey began with the dedication of Fiona Colley, who was the charity's Head of South West Scotland, based in Wigtownshire, and a passionate advocate for nurturing young and disadvantaged talents in the hospitality industry, before tragically passing away as a result of breast cancer in 2017, leaving behind an indelible legacy of support and hope, and wishes the charity continued success in the coming months and years ahead in offering real hope for prisoners to break the cycle of crime.
Supported by:
Clare Adamson, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Sharon Dowey, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Pam Gosal, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Stuart McMillan, Douglas Ross, Colin Smyth, Paul Sweeney, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Elena Whitham, Brian Whittle