Harnessing sports power
I have been exceptionally proud, as always, to watch our Commonwealth athletes competing for Team Scotland, including seven athletes from East Kilbride and district.
Sport is a great confidence builder and it is important we invest in our young people, promoting physical and mental health.
I am, therefore, delighted to be presenting at the EK Sports Council Awards this week where we will showcase a wealth of our local talent. Thank you in advance to everyone involved in bringing through our athletes and ensuring they reach their full potential.
System problems At Westminster, as chair of the Disability All-Party Group, I met with the disabilities minister Sarah Newton to highlight ongoing problems evident in the system involving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credits.
She will be responding formally to this meeting and I will continue to challenge the government on the inequity in this system, failing to adequately assess those with learning difficulties, brain injury and mental health issues.
It is undoubtedly too stressful a process, exacerbating people’s problems. If you are struggling in this respect, please get in touch by emailing lisa. cameron.mp@parliament.uk or come to my surgery every Friday from 3.30pm at the Civic Centre, East Kilbride and 1pm to 3pm on Fridays in Waterside Street, Strathaven.
Good luck everyone! I was especially pleased to spend time this weekend with an amazing group – East Kilbride Youth Disabilities Sports Club.
I am delighted Diane Gillan, who has won numerous medals at the Special Olympics, is a nominee for EK Sports Personality of the Year. Good luck to Diane and all nominees.
Honouring K-Otic Another inspirational group I had the chance to meet with this week is K-Otic Productions who provide dance and drama for people with learning disabilities.
One of their attendees informed me “his confidence is growing” and said that he had been in a number of local performances.
I was pleased to present K-Otic with an Early Day Motion to celebrate their outstanding contribution.
Respite for carers I also met with carers this week and listened to the issues that they are currently facing attaining respite which I will be following up with South Lanarkshire Council.
I am piloting surgeries for both carers and constituents with autistic spectrum disorder within the next few months – so I will keep everyone posted on dates when confirmed.
Improving railways We have recently been discussing the railway network to East Kilbride and modernisation is much needed.
Councillor John Anderson is keen to progress the availability of parking at Hairmyres station, which seeks to relieve pressure for local commuters, and is an important step forward. Focus on business My local campaign to attract and champion local business development continues as we have faced far too many company closures.
This week I visited Rambus at the technology park, who pioneer smart ticketing across the UK, Europe and internationally.
We discussed the importance of recent investment and high-quality jobs at the East Kilbride site. It is important that we move forward positively, supporting “East Kilbride, Here for Business!”