60 YEARS OF GLASGOW CHILDREN'S HOLIDAY SCHEME

That this House congratulates the work of the Glasgow children's holiday scheme (GCHS) which has provided tens of thousands of disadvantaged children and family members from Glasgow with holidays since its inception in 1956; notes that each year the GCHS supports almost 500 children from Glasgow, where a third of Glasgow's children, or 36,000 youngsters, live in poverty, by providing short sea and countryside breaks which can help improve self­esteem and promote better health and wellbeing; understands the organisation, now an independent charity, can trace its roots back to the visionary work of Scottish Episcopal Church social worker Lilias Graham who pioneered the scheme in the Gorbals of the 1950’s; is pleased the GHCS celebrated this history during its 60th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving on 4 June 2016 at St Margaret's Episcopal Church in Glasgow; commends all of those who have supported the charity over the years; encourages others to provide their support to that charity; and wishes it all the best for the future.