Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick met with the Chair of Orkney Charitable Trust, Lynne Spence, to talk about the charity’s work and how it supports children and young people in times of need. Set up in 2014, the charity provides financial help through a range of grants, support schemes, and one-off payments to those [...]

As part of her busy recess schedule, Highlands & Islands MSP Emma Roddick has visited Employability Orkney, a charity supporting those with barriers to gaining employment in the islands through a range of sustainable supported employment, training, and volunteering opportunities. Commenting on her visit, Ms Roddick said: “It was fantastic to see first-hand all the [...]

Highlands & Islands MSP Emma Roddick has said that ‘community empowerment’ must be at the centre of Scotland’s economics as MSPs discuss the transition to a wellbeing economy. During a debate in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Roddick expressed that the UK’s trickle-down economic framework and failure to redistribute wealth was not working for communities in [...]

Highlands & Islands MSP Emma Roddick has praised the Scottish Government’s progressive approach to its benefit and taxation policies, saying low-income families in Scotland will now be better off as a direct result. Speaking in the parliament chamber, Ms Roddick highlighted a report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) which found that amongst the [...]

Highlands & Islands MSP Emma Roddick has said that tomorrow’s UK budget must deliver for households across the Highlands & Islands that have felt the ‘devastating’ impacts of the Tory-made cost of living crisis.  Ahead of tomorrow’s UK budget announcement, Emma Roddick MSP has joined SNP colleagues in calling on the UK Government to deliver [...]

Highlands & Islands MSP says scheme’s milestone is a testament to SNP’s commitment to tackling child poverty Highlands & Islands MSP Emma Roddick has welcomed the news that Scotland’s Baby Box has reached 250,000 deliveries across Scotland. Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Roddick asked the Minister for Children and Young People, Clare Haughey, to [...]

Highlands & Islands MSP Emma Roddick has said that the failure of the Tories to support low-income households has seen the standard of living for many in the UK plummet. Ms Roddick’s statement comes following research published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Trussell Trust which found that UK benefits are falling at least [...]

Highlands & Islands MSP Emma Roddick has praised Social Security Scotland’s latest addition to its series of benefits, pointing out that it more than doubles the support previously provided by the DWP. The Winter Heating Payment, which is being rolled out this week, replaces the DWP’s Cold Weather Payment and is projected to support around [...]

Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick has said that too much of Scotland’s budget is being spent on reducing the impact of harmful UK Government policies. During the debate prior to passing this year’s Scottish Budget, Ms Roddick praised the SNP Government’s continued prioritisation of tackling poverty, climate change, and social inequalities, but said Scotland [...]

Highlands & Islands MSP Emma Roddick has praised Social Security Scotland for its progressive approach to the delivery of benefits across the Highlands and the rest of Scotland. During her speech on the agency’s soon-to-be thirteen benefits for Scotland, Ms Roddick took the opportunity to highlight her visit to the Local Delivery Team for the [...]