Bo’ness and Area Community Bus Association

That the Parliament congratulates the Bo’ness and Area Community Bus Association on being given a £25,000 Build It award from Firstport, which uses money from the Scottish Government’s Social Entrepreneurs Fund to provide free business advice and financial support to people who want to start businesses that help communities; understands that the association is a not-for-profit minibus service that runs between Bo’ness and Edinburgh via Blackness; notes that it was started by Robert Jeffery following the withdrawal of bus services in the area in 2015; recognises the importance of good community transport connections for people of all ages; commends the Scottish Government on the proposals in the Transport (Scotland) Bill to provide local authorities with flexible options, including local franchises and extensions, and new powers to provide bus services to meet social need; recognises that this funding will be used by the association to further tackle social isolation; commends Robert and everyone involved with the association on the work that they do for their community, and wishes them continued success.