KO-NEKT Ardrossan award for most innovative community wealth-builder 2020

That this House congratulates Marianne Greenway of Ayrshire Children’s Services CIC on her innovative new venture, KO-NEKT, based in Ardrossan, on securing the award for Most Innovative Community Wealth Builder 2020 – Scotland in the Global Business Awards 2020; recognises the work of Ayrshire’s Ms Greenway who has dedicated thirty years of her life serving the children and young people of Ayrshire; applauds her new innovative venture, KO-NEKT, which, supports children with disabilities and autism; congratulates Marianne and her team upon these skill centres which are designed to be a haven of refuge and safety for children living with additional support needs, bringing people together and empowering them; understands that KO-NEKT, which was launched in 2017, offers support to families in Ayrshire, aiming to be a recognisable establishment for all children who are anxious about change, isolated from their peers or simply find it difficult to fit into traditional activities within their communities, offering day and evening support which can be accessed when required, flexibly; champions this all-inclusive service which works alongside each child to deliver support tailored to them, helping them achieve the highest degree of independence achievable and become confident in themselves; supports this fantastic work undertaken by Marianne and her team; and welcomes the forthcoming expansion of the service, with a second specialist childcare centre due to open in South Ayrshire in 2021, as this franchise expects to expand across the West of Scotland in the coming years and wishes this inspirational team every success for the future