Diversity award sparks civic reception plan
The Craigshill based charity Spark will be honoured by West Lothian Council with a civic reception after scooping a diversity award.
The provost and chief executive are to write to the organisation to congratulate them on gaining the Diversity Scotland Award and what councillor Frank Anderson called “their sterling work with the community, for the community.”
Spark, formerly the Craigshill Good Neighbour Network, is the first in the Scotland to win a Diversity Scotland award for its work.
The Diversity Scotland Gold Charter Mark is awarded to organisations that demonstrate considerable maturity in relation to diversity, equity and inclusion activities.
Full council agreed this month to honour Spark.
Councillor Frank Anderson, who raised the motion, said: “West Lothian Council SNP Group notes the tremendous work done by SPARK (formerly Craigshill Good Neighbour Network) since its inception but particularly during the pandemic. They were a lifeline, and continue to be, for many in our communities, in particular the Craigshill community.
“They adapted to providing a telephone befriending service, delivering meals, digital connectivity provision and training, ‘goody’ bags and activity bags, as well as online group activity like quizzes, singalongs, mental health wellbeing and virtual cookery lessons to name just some of the myriad of events that were there to support the community.
“The SNP Group also commends them on their achievement on becoming the first organisation in Scotland to receive the Diversity Scotland Gold Charter Award.”
Spark has also been helping deliver information to those most at risk from scammers as the countdown to the installation of linked fire and smoke alarms goes on.
Paul Harvey (Local Authority Liaison Officer from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service) attended an information session at Spark’s Livingston premises.
He gave a rundown on what is required and what help the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service can offer householders.
While tenanted properties such as housing association or council homes will have the work carried out by the landlords there has been widespread concerns about homeowners being unable to afford it.
The cost of installation is estimated to be about £220 and there are fears elderly people could be at risk of scams. Many of these scam operations started last year before the initial deadline for the completion of the work was pushed back to February 2022.
West Lothian Council passed a motion last week to write to the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon asking for the deadline to be delayed another year citing concerns about the ongoing uncertainty and the difficulty in securing tradespeople to fit the new alarms.