Café Connect Friendship Group

That the Parliament congratulates the Café Connect Friendship Group in Bo’ness on receiving £1,000 from the Aviva Community Fund, which will help to pay for hall hire, heating, transport, craft material and food for the group; understands that the group has been together since 2018 when The Old Kirk in Bo’ness set it up in response to Deanburn Primary School’s enhanced provision unit seeking to attend a group within the church; recognises that the group meets at Bo’ness Kirk every Wednesday, where older people come along for a chat and a coffee, while the pupils engage and interact by playing games, reading stores and making crafts with the aim of supporting the children to develop their social skills; recognises that the group have also been supported by the Bo’ness Belles, Branches Gift Shop and the Bo’ness Real Ale Society; considers that the work undertaken by the group is important in supporting children to develop their social skills while also tackling social isolation and loneliness among older people by bringing everyone together in a social setting; commends the work of the group, and wishes everyone involved the very best for the future.