Now we have a light at the end of tunnel

Stirling’s placement into Level 4 coronavirus restrictions was the news that nobody wanted to hear, necessary as it is to save lives.

However, while there are challenging weeks ahead for all of us who live in the area the past few days have been accompanied by a light at the end of the tunnel.

A vaccine is now just over the horizon, offering us a way out of a pandemic which has done enormous damage to everyone’s year.

But while things look like they will improve soon, it is important for now that we stick to the rules.

The virus has not yet gone away and in the depths of winter it has the potential to do a lot of harm before the vaccine is finally rolled out.

That’s why it’s vital that the Scottish Government ensures adequate support for communities affected by the harshest restrictions, as well as committing to improving the patchy testing regime.

Serious consideration must also be given to the issue of schools in Stirling now that the area has entered level four.

While the desire to keep schools open is understandable it simply cannot be at all costs.

In Stirling this week we’ve seen a growing number of classes in primary and secondary schools forced into self-isolation.

This will be an anxious experience for many young people who are left attending school with class teachers and support staff having to self-isolate and a dwindling number of available supply teachers brought in to cover.

The school work needs to shift more online in the rundown to Christmas, teachers were preparing for this during the Summer anyway and schools should now be allowed to put plans in place that are right for young people.

The First Minister has made clear that pupils who were previously shielding should no longer attend classes, but that same advice has not been so clearly stated for staff.

We need to support our schools and that’s why Greens brought forward a motion that was agreed in Parliament last week to roll out more testing of school staff, recruit an additional 2,000 teachers and commit to protect vulnerable staff who need to work remotely.

The prospect of a vaccine in the early parts of next year naturally encourages thoughts to turn towards our recovery from the damage done to communities by this virus.

That’s why I was delighted to recently host a roundtable discussion on the Living Wage in Stirling alongside the Poverty Alliance.

Held to mark the end of Living Wage Week, there was cross party representation at the meeting as well as a wide range of Living Wage employers based in Stirling and Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce.

It was a really positive discussion about the benefits of the Living Wage and the role it can play in Stirling’s post-covid recovery.

The Living Wage is, unlike the minimum wage, calculated to ensure its recipients can enjoy a decent standard of living.

While nobody shied away from the fact this has been an incredibly hard year for businesses the evidence shows that paying the living wage is ultimately good for both employers and employees. It encourages retention and motivation of staff and even in this difficult year, more employers are committing to the Living Wage across Scotland by becoming accredited employers.

The Stirling area already has 30 employers signed up and there is the potential to expand this further and badge Stirling a Living Wage City like Dundee.

The will is there and it’s exactly that kind of ambition that should drive our recovery from this terrible virus.