National Campaigner Awards Recognition for Free Bus Travel Campaign

That the Parliament recognises that the #FreeBusTravel campaign was commended as runner-up for Best Community Campaign at the National Campaigner Awards 2024, organised by the Sheila McKechnie Foundation; commends the efforts of Maryhill Integration Network and the VOICES Network in the success of the campaign, which was launched in December 2021 with a short video and social media campaign; understands that the campaign has grown over time, with the creation of information materials, support from the Cross Party Group on Migration, cross-party support from MSPs, direct engagement with successive ministers, the consideration of a petition in the Scottish Parliament, a Members' Business debate on the issue, and a resulting commitment from the Scottish Government in October 2023 to dedicate £2 million to deliver free bus travel for people seeking asylum in 2024-25; considers that the campaign is an example of what it sees as the power of grassroots organising in affecting change at a national level; awaits the detail of the Scottish Government's plans to deliver on these calls, and congratulates all organisations from the asylum sector, civil society and those with lived experience who have committed so much time and effort to the campaign so far.