It has been my honour & privilege to represent

the people of Aberdeenshire East since my

election to the Scottish Parliament in 2016. In

the last three years as your local MSP, I have

been very active, meeting many constituents as

well as with various community groups and

organisations.

As I reflect on the last year, there have been

various highlights, with wins for local people

and huge progress being made at a national

level. However the job is far from finished,

with many opportunities ahead.

In my annual review I will outline just some

of the work I have been doing in partnership

with local communities, charities & businesses

to deliver improvements to the North-East.

From campaigning for better transport links,

to calling for real improvements to local health

care. I hope this review of the year provides a

useful insight into some of my work locally

and nationally on your behalf.

Over the past year I have also served as the

Convener for the Environment, Climate

Change and Land Reform Committee. This

role has enabled me to steer through landmark

legislation as the nation continues to tackle the

climate crisis - the defining issue of this and

future generations - and ensure a just transition

to a low carbon economy which will bring jobs

and investment to the North-East.

I am also the member of several cross party

groups including Women in Enterprise and

Towns and Town Centres. These meet outside

of Parliamentary business to discuss areas of

policy.

Constituency work will always be my primary

focus and I am keen to continue helping people

locally, listening to the issues that affect you,

and working to help communities thrive. If

you have any matters you wish to discuss,

please do not hesitate to get in touch and I will

be happy to help in any way I can.

To get in touch, you can email me at:

gillian.martin.msp@parliament.scot or write to

my constituency office at:

Suite A, Unit 6, Colpy Business Park,

Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, AB51 0FU.

Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeenshire East Constituency

CONSTITUENCY HOLYROOD A strong voice in the

Scottish Parliament

01651 871750 Gillian Martin MSP @GillianMSP www.gillianmartinmsp.com

Gillian Martin MSP

Working hard for you

locally in the North-East

2019: A YEAR OF ACTION

Gillian Martin Officially Opening Flowerports Nursery, Turriff

Gillian Martin Member of the Scottish Parliament for

Aberdeenshire East Constituency

Some of Gillian’s Highlights from 2019

Tackling Period Poverty

Constituency Advice Surgeries

100+

Review of the Year | Gillian Martin MSP 2

Gillian has been taking the lead on

the campaign to end period poverty

in Scotland. She welcomed progress

by the Scottish Government that

made ours the first country in the

world to make sanitary products

available for free to all pupils and

students at schools, colleges and

universities. More than £5million

has been provided to support this.

Ms Martin has continued to call on

the private sector to match provision.

Ms Martin said “No-one should have

to suffer the indignity of not having

the means to support their basic

needs. Sanitary products are not a

luxury, and it is only right that they

are made available to women who

struggle to pay for them. I think that

anywhere with a public washroom

should provide period products in the

same way they do soap and toilet

paper.

“It is important that all public sector

buildings have them as a matter of

course. Scotland is leading the world

in tackling gender inequality, but

businesses must also follow our

lead.”

Share Aware

This year Gillian launched a film competition in part-

nership with Young Scot. The contest challenged local

young people to create a short film raising awareness of

the dangers of sharing intimate images online. The

winning video has since been viewed millions of times

by young people across the world. The Aberdeenshire

East Constituency MSP said, “The success of this com-

petition highlights just how big an issue image sharing

and internet safety is for young people’s mental health,

and I know this film has helped start conversations

about addressing the problem.”

Ms Martin was the first of the 2016 intake of MSPs

to pass a Members Bill. Her Seatbelts on School

Transport (Scotland) Bill was passed unanimously on

1st August 2018. Ms Martin celebrated one year at a

national level with all dedicated home-to-school

transport service vehicles being fitted with seatbelts.

The purpose of the Bill is to make the journey to and

from school safer for pupils. Although it was already

a requirement across the North-East, Gillian noted

this was not the case for all local authorities across

Scotland. After her Bill passed, the requirement of

school pupils to wear seatbelts on school transport, is

the law across the whole of Scotland .

One Year of Seatbelts on

School Transport

Turriff

New Pitsligo Strichen

Maud Mintlaw

Longhaven

Longside New Deer

Cruden Bay

Cuminestown

Ellon

Collieston

Balmedie

Potterton

Newmachar

Inverurie

Foveran

Newburgh

Udny Green

Pitmedden

Oldmeldrum

Tarves

Methlick

Daviot

Fyvie

Rothienorman

Gillian at a visit to Tipperty Primary School

MSP Says ‘Take 5’

Calling for North-East Rail Restoration

Workplace Menopause Policy

Visiting Fetterangus Primary School to discuss littering

Gillian Martin MSP has called for

people to ‘Take 5’ when out and

about in a bid to help prevent plastic

pollution.

It comes after Ms Martin wrote, earli-

er this year, to major supermarkets

asking what further steps they were

taking to reduce the amount of excess

packaging they produced.

Ms Martin also met with the Scottish

Retail Consortium to discuss the ex-

cessive use of plastic packaging in

shops.

Now, Ms Martin has called on her

fellow MSPs, businesses and

individuals to back her pledge to

‘Take 5’ by collecting at least five

pieces of litter they encounter on

walks in their neighbourhood, forests

and beaches. This year she will also

be bringing her ‘Take 5 Tour’ to local

schools, to engage with local children

and young people about littering.

Ms Martin, who is Convener of the

Environment, Climate Change and

Land Reform Committee in the

Scottish Parliament, regularly takes a

reusable bag when out and about in

her constituency with her dog Lucy .

Commenting, Gillian Martin MSP

said, “As someone who regularly

goes on walks around the natural

beauty spots in Aberdeenshire, I am

unfortunately all too aware of how

often litter can accumulate and how

plastics can end up on our shores and

riverbanks.

“Work is being done to reduce plastic

waste by the Scottish Government

and some retailers.

However, we must also be mindful

when out and about as to how we can

all play our part as individuals and

help reduce litter by collecting it in

reusable bags.

“I’ve been encouraging everyone,

from the youngest to the oldest, to

‘Take 5’ when they’re out and about

because it really can make the differ-

ence to our environment, keeping our

waters clean and helping to protect

wildlife and marine life too.”

Grey Seal Species Champion Aberdeenshire East Constituency MSP, Gillian Martin, has been named as the LINK Species Champion for the Grey Seal. Ms Martin’s constituency is home to the Forvie National Nature Reserve on the Ythan Estu-ary, near Newburgh. Hundreds of visitors are attracted to the site to see the grey seals—more than 2,000 seals regularly use the site. Ms Martin has also been sup-porting efforts by a local community group to help upgrade the carpark near the viewpoint at Newburgh, as well as the creation of an all-abilities path and view-ing platform and efforts to protect the seals from be-ing disturbed. In May 2017, it was made an offence to harass the animals, after the Scottish Government in-troduced legal protection for the marine creatures.

Aberdeenshire East Constituency MSP has been hard at work campaigning for the Formartine- Buchan Way rail link to be re-opened. Ms Martin launched her campaign ‘Get our Track Back’ along with a local survey on rail provision.

Ms Martin has also written to the Transport Secretary Michael Matheson MSP, urging the Scottish Government to support reopening the Formartine- Buchan rail line and hosted meetings with local businesses and Network Rail.

In a letter to the Transport Secretary, Ms Martin wrote:

“As you are aware, I am very much in favour of the expansion of rail services in North-East Scotland, and particularly the exploration of the possibility of reopening of the Formartine-Buchan

rail line.”

The railway line linked Aberdeen with Fraserburgh and Peterhead, but was closed as part of the Beeching cuts of the 1960s.

Commenting, Gillian Martin said, “The opening of the AWPR has been a huge investment for the North-East, reducing pollution and cutting journey times for commuters.

“Additional rail services would allow more people wider access to travel in and out of Aberdeen, and further reduce the numbers of commuters on the roads.

“Last year the Scottish Government announced a climate emergency. It is imperative we look at all options for reducing traffic on our roads with more access to rail for commuters being a top priority.”

Campaigning for Rail Re-opening

Review of the Year | Gillian Martin MSP 3

Workplace Menopause Café hosted by Gillian Martin

Aberdeenshire East Constituency MSP, Gillian

Martin, highlighted the importance of a good

menopause workplace policy across the North-East.

Following a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the

stigma and challenges of menopause, Gillian Martin

wrote to Aberdeenshire Council and NHS Grampian

asking how the rights of women were being promoted

and what support measures were in place. The local

Council in their response, recognised that symptoms

can manifest both physically and psychologically.

They also committed to make workplace adjustments

and implement support measures which can be offered

to employees. The health board are currently in the

process of creating a Mental Health and Wellbeing

Policy and Ms Martin is actively making progress.

Commenting, Gillian said, “A discussion on how we

can support women who are experiencing menopause

is long overdue as women should feel they are being

treated sensitively and seriously as with any other

physical or mental illness.

“I welcome the steps taken by the health board and

local authority and call on other firms and businesses

in the North-East to consider how their policies on

supporting women experiencing menopause could be

improved.”

Gillian with conservationist and artist Ron MacDonald

Fighting for Rural

Connectivity

Hundreds of Affordable Homes for the North-East

Representing North - East Agriculture

Ms Martin meeting with local Young Farmers

Oldmeldrum has benefited from a share

of the an additional £80 million over the

next two years. This investment will help

local councils deliver affordable homes

across Scotland.

Aberdeenshire Council will share a total

of £1.3 billion with other local

authorities between now and 2021.

Gillian visited the new Meadowside

Development in Oldmeldrum to see

some of the houses available for social

rent, providing affordable

accommodation for a new generation.

Gillian Martin MSP commented, “I am

delighted to see this investment in

Oldmeldrum. This additional

funding for councils in this financial

year and in 2020/2021 is important as it

supports the construction of

affordable housing in our communities.

“The need for affordable homes is urgent

and I am under no illusion that there are

major challenges ahead. ”

We need to ensure that young

families in the Aberdeenshire East

Constituency are able to stay in the place

that they grew up.

“A high priced housing market can mean

that those working in the public sector in

particular, can find themselves priced

out of the market. “

These high quality houses are a large part

of the solution to that issue.”

Rip-Off TV Charges in North-East Hospitals

Meadowside development in Oldmeldrum: 26 affordable homes unveiled in September 2019

Gillian Martin MSP has called for an end to “rip off”

television charges as it emerged patients in the North-

East face significant bills to watch TV in hospitals.

Patients can face a charge of £24.90 to stream limited

content to their bedside for just three days.

The contract with Hospedia, which NHS Grampian is

locked into, also prevents the health board from

providing free Wi-Fi to patients and is not due to end

until 2027.

Commenting, Gillian Martin MSP, said, “These costs

are exorbitant and unacceptable. I firmly believe that

watching TV in hospital should not be a privilege. It is

particularly disappointing, but unsurprising, that these

charges are disproportionately affecting the elderly.

“It is hard enough being hospitalised, and loneliness

can be compounded. Having access to the outside

world through television can help reduce the isolation

older people may feel whilst in hospital.

“Elderly patients are less likely to have access to smartphones with iPlayer and Netflix, so this is a real Equalities issue. The cost of access to a TV in hospital is nearly half the weekly state pension amount. That can’t be fair.

“I continue to ask NHS Grampian to do what they can to terminate their involvement with Hospedia as soon as possible.”

Review of the Year | Gillian Martin MSP 4

Gillian Martin MSP at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

Gillian Martin Aberdeenshire Constit-

uency MSP welcomed over £400 mil-

lion of Scottish Government funding

for the provision of high speed internet

through the Digital Scotland Superfast

Broadband (DSSB) programme.

Ms Martin has met regularly with

DSSB since her election, securing a

roadshow event in Fyvie, raising many

local issues and working on behalf of

constituents to secure connection.

As of September 2018, over 95% of

premises in Scotland have access to

superfast broadband. This new rollout

has enabled more households and

businesses across Aberdeenshire to

upgrade to fibre broadband.

Thanks to Scottish Government funds,

around 65% of homes and premises in

Aberdeenshire that wouldn’t otherwise

have been connected can gain access

to fibre broadband.

This is despite telecommunications

being reserved to the UK Government.

Scottish Government intervention has

also meant that towns and villages

throughout Aberdeenshire East have

access for the first time.

Gillian Martin MSP, said, "More and

more people are now able to sign up to

fibre broadband thanks to the £460

million Digital Scotland Superfast

Broadband programme. It is pleasing

to see this in rural areas that otherwise

might have lost out.

"The difference that having fibre

broadband can make to businesses or

to improving the range of services

available in the home is amazing. I

will continue to raise the importance

of broadband at a national level as we

seek to secure the best connectivity in

Aberdeenshire.”

Gillian welcomed news that £160 million convergence funding from the European Union will now be paid to the Scottish Government.

Ms Martin commented, “This money was given by the

EU to the UK Government in 2013 expressly to uplift

the low per hectare payments received by Scottish

farmers.”

Meanwhile, Gillian lobbied the Scottish Government

for more support for young farmers and new entrants,

particularly when seeking to access finance to help

them start up their businesses.

Gillian met with the new owners of Meikle Tillyeve

Farm, near Pitmedden to discuss how to increase the

opportunities for young farmers to own their own farm.

“Supporting the next generation of food producers is

vital for our economy, particularly in the North-East.

“The only way that we will get that support right is by

listening to the views of our young farmers.”

Gillian Martin MSP raised concerns with Aberdeenshire

Council’s application process when applying for Council Tax

relief. Ms Martin expressed concerns that pensioners with severe

mental impairments were not being given the relief to which they

are entitled.

The application form for Council Tax relief for those suffering

from severe mental impairments, like Dementia or Alzheimer’s

disease made it unclear whether some pensioners were eligible.

After writing to the Scottish Government to clarify eligibility

criteria, Ms Martin encouraged Aberdeenshire Council to

amend their application form, making it easier for pensioners to

claim.

To be eligible for Council Tax relief because of a Severe Mental

Impairment individuals must be entitled to one of a number of

benefits – most of which are only available to those under the

pension age.

Following Ms Martin’s letter, Aberdeenshire Council agreed to

change the application form to recognise this.

Gillian Martin said, “It’s vital that the support available to the

most vulnerable in our society is easily accessible and clear.

“I was delighted that Aberdeenshire Council recognised this

through their recent updates to the application process.

“I would urge anyone who feels that they, or someone they know,

might be eligible for Council Tax relief to contact Gordon Rural

Action, or the Citizens Advice Bureau whose staff will be able to

provide assistance in applying for this relief.”

Council Tax Relief For Vulnerable Pensioners

Gillian Martin MSP welcomed the opening of Aberdeen’s CAMHS unit. This follows on from her letter to the Scottish Government asking for the necessary £1 million investment.

Ms Martin was delighted to see the opening of the unit which was described as the “future” for Scotland’s child and adolescent mental health services by the First Minister.

The new LINKS Unit was a £1 million Scottish Government funded refurbishment. The dedicated facility in Aberdeen was purpose-designed for children and young people struggling with their mental health, ensuring that services are accessible and co-ordinated. Previously, NHS Grampian teams were spread across three locations at Royal Cornhill and Foresterhill.

The new unit also enables different CAMHS services to be provided under one roof. The First Minister said this was ‘crucial’ to the future provision of mental health services.

CAMHS Unit

Leads the Way

Wood RecyclAbility

Funding Success

Gillian with Rosie Nicol from

Balmedie Community Trust

MSP Secures Cycle Path Repairs Aberdeenshire East MSP, Gillian Martin, called

for repairs to be carried out to the Balmedie

cycle path following excessive damage making

the cycle path unsafe to use.

Ms Martin raised concerns that the cycle route

was left in a state of disrepair, preventing locals

from cycling safely during works on the

Balmedie to Tipperty dualling project. The

North-East MSP wrote to BEAR Scotland to ask

for assurances the vegetation on the route would

be removed and that it would be maintained.

Commenting, Gillian Martin MSP said, “A

recurring theme in meetings with constituents

has been the need for greener forms of transport.

The state of the Balmedie cycle path was

unsafe. I am delighted that BEAR Scotland have

carried out the much needed repairs as a matter

of urgency, so that constituents can continue to

use the route for both commuting and leisure.”

Lifesaving Firefighters Ms Martin welcomed the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

training programme that enables firefighters to co-respond to

out of hospital cardiac arrest incidents.

Trials saw firefighters in Turriff and Maud undergo training

for cardiac arrest response and is part of a Scottish

Government initiative to see public services working together

to achieve a common aim. Ms Martin wrote to the Minister for

Community Safety, to ask about the implementation of the

service nationally, and welcomed the transformation provided

to local communities through this new initiative with

emergency services.

The Aberdeenshire East Constituency MSP said, “This service

focuses on delivering more for Scotland’s communities and I

know that it will have a lifesaving impact locally. I’d like to

commend the work of our local firefighters who risk their lives

and sacrifice their time for the sake of others.” Meeting local firefighters to discuss lifesaving initiative

Supporting an End to

Sheep Worrying Crown Office statistics reveal that offences under the current

livestock protection legislation have more than doubled

since 2008, while Police Scotland said that they received

338 reports of attacks on livestock in 2018. Ms Martin has

added her support to strengthen livestock attack laws and

welcomed Emma Harper MSP, to discuss her Members Bill

at the Turriff Show.

Commenting, Gillian Martin MSP said, “The rise in the

number of dogs attacking livestock, particularly sheep, in the

past decade is a serious concern. The consequences of a dog

attack on livestock can be devastating both financially and

emotionally. It is a very serious animal welfare issue for the

livestock involved.” NFUS Stand at the Turriff Show

Gillian Martin MSP has welcomed

fresh funds for Wood RecyclAbility

as they look to purchase equipment

to tackle plastic waste.

Wood RecyclAbility is a popular

Social Enterprise that offers adults

with a wide range of abilities and

additional support needs, experience

in a real workplace environment.

The Social Enterprise makes a range

of products such as bird tables,

planters and garden benches from

recycled wood.

The £1,000 of funding was given by

BP following meetings with Ms

Martin and a further £20,000 was

donated by CNOOC. This will go

towards the purchase of a bailer and

granulator as the organisation hopes

to diversify their work by recycling

rigid plastic.

Gillian Martin MSP said it was just

the start and is working with Zero

Waste Scotland to unlock grant

funding to help the Social Enterprise

expand.

Review of the Year | Gillian Martin MSP 5

Visiting Wood RecyclAbility

Stand Alone event with Chief Executive Becca Bland

Call for Extra Cash to Help Self-Funding Students Defying the Odds

Gillian Martin MSP has been raising awareness of the challenges facing students who lack parental support or are estranged from their families.

Ms Martin partnered with the charity ‘Stand Alone’ to call for a grant for accommodation and a bursary to ensure financial independence. Gillian Martin also called on SAAS to ensure that these young people are exempt from their parents' income being taken into account when working out how much funding they are entitled to.

The former college lecturer has been highlighting the extreme financial and emotional pressure that comes with not having a family to fall back on. She is calling for all universities to provide a guarantor scheme for those estranged students seeking accommodation, and parity with the financial support given

to care experienced students.

The North-East MSP is now meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney MSP, along with SAAS to progress her campaign and investigate what additional support these vulnerable students can be given.

Becca Bland, CEO of ‘Stand Alone’ commented, “Estranged students have neither the support of parents nor of a corporate parent. There is often an assumption of family support in the HE system, whereby parents supply deposits and become guarantors for accommodation. Without anyone to turn to for these requirements, these students face crisis and stress and many drop out of their studies.”

Gillian Martin added, “I have been

extremely touched by the stories shared about the barriers facing these young people, particularly when trying to secure funding and accommodation. They can often come from chaotic and abusive homes, and further and higher education is their best route to a better future. But they need support. These students can’t run to mum and dad for money, they can’t go home for holiday periods, and they can’t turn to their families for emotional support. The system we have assumes students have parental support, which for estranged students, isn’t the case.

“I hope that the Scottish Government will meet with me to further discuss how we can offer more support to those young people impacted, who can often live in fear of homelessness throughout their studies, and as a result may drop out of education altogether.”

Gillian Martin Aberdeenshire East Constituency

MSP led the Environment, Land Reform and

Climate Change Committee asking for tougher

targets in the new Climate Change Bill . The Bill is

set to demonstrate international leadership on

climate action and takes bold steps in response to

robust scientific assessment.

The landmark legislation commits Scotland to

becoming a net-zero society by 2045. This is a

tougher target than only committing to balancing

carbon dioxide emissions; and it is the toughest

statutory target of any country in the world for this

date.

Ms Martin said, “As the Convener for the

Committee I have scrutinised the legislation

throughout the Parliamentary process. In the stage

three debate I spoke in favour of the Bill and also

welcomed the ambitious new target to reduce

emissions by 75% by 2030. My Committee wanted to

reflect the urgency of action and we’ve done that.

“Since the Bill has been passed I recognise the most

important thing is to put in place the systems to make

it possible to achieve these extremely challenging

targets.

I recognise that in the North-East those challenges are

significant and I will be doing everything I can to

ensure we have a just transition that both protects the

livelihoods of my constituents and creates the low-

carbon jobs we need for the future. One of the most

pressing issues for my area is the need to improve

the public transport choices available. Doing so

would help ensure that we can play our part in

meeting the challenges ahead.”

MSPs Pass Landmark Climate Change Bill

Meeting with Angie Wood and Kimberley Menzies from

Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care

Gillian Martin MSP has been leading calls for a

new health centre in Ellon. Ms Martin has written

to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport,

Jeane Freeman MSP, highlighting the need for

better health services locally. Ms Martin has also

met with representatives from the Aberdeenshire

Health and Social Care Partnership and NHS

Grampian to discuss the purchase of the former

Ellon Academy site.

This follows concerns that have been raised by a

number of constituents since the MSP was elected

in 2016, regarding local healthcare. The MSP

hopes that a new health care hub would provide an

opportunity to improve the town centre and reduce

the need for locals to travel to Aberdeen for minor

procedures.

Ms Martin commented, “Since her appointment,

I’ve had a number of encouraging conversations

with Jeane Freeman, I’ve been keen to seek

assurances that the highest standard of healthcare

is delivered locally in Aberdeenshire East. I am

continuing to highlight the opportunity in Ellon for

a new health centre hub now that a site has been

identified and purchased. Ellon’s health service

estate is in need of upgrading and we should be

looking to be providing more health services

locally to reduce the need for travel to ARI.

“With that in mind, I am calling on the Scottish

Government to work with NHS Grampian and the

Health and Social Care Partnership to give Ellon

and District residents the top class primary care

facility that we’ve all been calling for.”

Seeking a New Health Care Hub in Ellon Tackling Mental Health Challenges

in Every Scottish Secondary School

“

”

Mental health challenges do not discriminate but thankfully

discrimination is decreasing against people who speak up about

the mental health challenges they have. As more young people

feel able to talk about their mental health, we must be prepared

and equipped to listen to and support them through any issues

they face.

I asked the Scottish Government to commit to providing every

Scottish secondary school with trained counsellors in addition to

the pastoral support they already provide. In a discussion ahead

of the 2018 Scottish Budget round, I pressed for earlier

intervention at school level. The aim is to take pressure off

teaching staff, and prevent adolescent mental health issues from

escalating to a level where referrals to the NHS are required.

I was delighted that £60 million has been made available over 4

years for the provision of school counselling services.

The dedicated Minister for Mental Health, Clare Haughey MSP

- herself a qualified mental health nurse - told Parliament that

counsellors are currently being recruited and should be in place

by September this year. I am convinced that dedicated, trained

mental health professionals in every secondary school will have

a positive effect on the mental health, and wellbeing of our

young people and I look forward to seeing the scheme rolled out

in Aberdeenshire.

Inverurie Academy visit the Scottish Parliament

Review of the Year | Gillian Martin MSP 6

Aberdeenshire East Constituency MSP, Gillian

Martin ,joined the Marine Conservation Society (MCS)

and hundreds of volunteers during a beach clean event at

Forvie Sands. The Great British Beach Clean is the

biggest annual beach clean-up in the UK and is organised

by the MCS. Gillian Martin MSP joined with volunteers to

help clear and survey the litter found on the beach at

Forvie. Data collected over 25 years by volunteers of MCS

-led Great British Beach Cleans was instrumental in the

introduction of Scotland’s 5p single-use carrier bag charge,

commitments to implement a ban on plastic stemmed

cotton buds and plans to introduce a deposit return scheme

for bottles and cans.

Ms Martin said,

"I was delighted to join the Marine Conservation Society

and other volunteers to take part in the beach clean .

"Looking after our environment is important and the issue

of plastic in our seas is becoming ever more serious. It's

vital that we all continue to work together to stop the tide

of plastic in our oceans.

“As well as being a practical way to clean up the beach,

MCS will also be surveying the litter which is collected, to

enable more understanding of where it has come from, how

far it may have travelled and, hopefully, provide even more

information on how we can counter this." Gillian at Forvie National Nature Reserve

Working with volunteers to tackle the tide of plastic pollution Welcoming funding for

early learning in

Aberdeenshire

Gillian Martin Aberdeenshire East Constituncy

MSP has welcomed an additional £26 million

being invested into early learning and child care

in Aberdeenshire by 2021-22. The funds will be

used to support the expansion of the early years

workforce in Aberdeenshire through a landmark

investment by the Scottish Government and

COSLA of £2 billion.

The Minister for Children and Young People

Maree Todd MSP, confirmed Aberdeenshire

Council will also receive nearly £27 million of

capital funding to build, refurbish and extend

nursery facilities by 2021. The Improvement

Service published further progress data that

shows that, nationally, more than 46,000 two,

three and four-year-olds are benefiting from extra

funded early learning and childcare almost a year

before the full national roll out of 1,140 funded

hours of care for every eligible child.

Gillian Martin MSP commented, “The Scottish

Government’s investment in early learning and

childcare provision in Aberdeenshire is going to

make a huge difference for working families and

the development of our children.

“Ensuring we get it right for every child across

Scotland is essential and this investment shows

the commitment of the Scottish Government to

help meet the needs of local children and

families. I know this funding will make a huge

difference to both the workforce in Aberdeenshire

and to nursery infrastructure developments.”

New Health and Care Hub for Inverurie

Ms Martin welcomed the opening of the new Health and Care Hub at the heart of Inverurie and tabled a Parliamentary Motion marking the success.

The Aberdeenshire East MSP, along with the First Minister, attended the official opening of the new £14.7 million health facility in Aberdeenshire that provides additional services, including a dental surgery and a community maternity unit.

The Inverurie Health and Care Hub will provide services for an estimated 30,000 patients in its 38 consulting rooms, around double that of the previous GP practice.

It is now the largest medical practice in Aberdeenshire and the third largest in Scotland.

Ms Martin said, “The new Inverurie Health and Care Hub is an excellent example of providing a seamless health service locally under one roof. It brings together a maternity unit, community nursing provision, GP services and a dental practice.

“This facility will make a real difference to local people in the North-East and I am delighted the Scottish Government invested millions of pounds to improve health care in Garioch.

“I would especially like to commend the work of the staff who make the day to day running of the centre possible and do incredibly valuable work caring for patients.”

Aberdeenshire East Constituency MSP, Gillian Martin, is

working with Roadwise Driver Training and Social

Enterprise, in the wake of recent speeding figures around

Aberdeenshire, and continuing concerns over young

driver education.

Roadwise is set up to create a safer road environment for

all users by offering both refresher courses and advanced

learner sessions for new drivers. Their vision is to

enhance the skills of drivers, to build confidence and to

improve driver behaviour.

Road safety is a major local priority following recent

reports that many drivers on the A90 have been driving at

excessive speeds. Ms Martin has visited Meldrum

Academy with Roadwise to highlight the dangers of

driving on country roads in the North-East.

Commenting, Ms Martin said,

“I was happy to take part in the Roadwise driver training

course, as the importance of road safety is paramount

locally. I have been working with them to help engage

young drivers in rural areas and encourage them not to

take risks on country roads.”

Gillian has also written to the Cabinet Secretary for

Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael

Matheson MSP, urging him to consider funding practical

training to improve young driver education.

Rural Road Safety Among Young Drivers

The Official Opening of Inverurie

Health Centre

Review of the Year | Gillian Martin MSP 7

Gillian with the Dinky Doctors at Mintlaw Nursery

Gillian Martin MSP with Chris Gilchrist and Dave

Watson from Roadwise

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Cruden Bay Library

Wednesday 15th April

1530-1630

Garioch Heritage Centre

Thursday 16th April

1530-1630

Strichen Library

Friday 17th April

1400-1500

UPCOMING SURGERIES…

Balmedie Library

Wednesday 15th April

1100– 1200

Ellon Library

Wednesday 15th April

1300– 1400

Newmachar Library

Thursday 16th April

1000—1100

Constituency Office

Thursday 16th April

1400-1500

Turriff Library

Friday 17th April

1000-1100

New Pitsligo Library

Friday 17th April

1230-1330

GET IN TOUCH... “My work is only as good as the time I spend speaking to you, my

constituents. Do you want to highlight an issue? Are you having

difficulty with something? Please get in touch. I deal with a whole

range of issues, from housing matters, problems with healthcare,

and difficulties with education, to everyday concerns like potholes

and street cleaning.

I hold surgeries throughout the year and appointments are always

available. I also go on tour and bring my surgeries on the road to

local libraries and village halls. If I can help with anything, please

let me know.”

G i l l i a n . M a r t in . M S P @ p a r l i a m e n t . s c o t Suite A, Unit 6, Colpy Business Park, Oldmeldrum, AB51 0FU

MACBI Community Hub

Friday 17th April

1530 – 1630

Please note that times are subject to change as per changes in venue opening hours.