LOCAL LADIES GROUP CHARITY CASH GIVEAWAY

Two charities were over the moon this week when they were presented with cheques raised by local members of the ladies branch of the Orange Lodge.

 Each year the Lodge chooses a charity to be the benefactors of their fundraising efforts.  This year, the ladies decided to nominate two charities and spread the goodwill a little bit further.  The charities, MS Society Scotland and Breast Cancer Care, each received a cheque for £7,150.

 The cheques were presented this week at the Ladies Annual Conference in Scotland held in Glasgow.

 Speaking on behalf of the MS Society Scotland, Maureen Chalmers said,

“We are a completely self-funded organisation so we rely on generous donations such as this to keep providing the support we do.

 “The money will be spent on the many and varied services that we provide.  This ranges from direct support to sufferers, to training and advice for health workers.

 “MS is the most common neurological disease that affects young people in Scotland.  Scotland also has the highest incidence of MS in the world.  This means that the work we do is very important and I am very grateful to the ladies of the Orange Lodge for their generosity.”

 Speaking on behalf of Breast Cancer Care, Lorna Simpson said,

“It is said that nowadays, we will all know someone who has had personal experience of breast cancer.  That could be a family member, friend or work colleague.  At Breast Cancer Care we work with over 70 volunteers from right across Scotland to provide peer support and produce leaflets and information packs to anyone who asks.

 “We also organise educational days and run helpline support as well as a range of other activities.  As the leading provider of support and information in the UK, this amazing donation will be of great help to us in providing care and support to men and women throughout Scotland.

 “All of our volunteers, both men and women have themselves suffered from breast cancer.  This gives them an insight into the thoughts and fears of people who get in touch with Breast Cancer Care.  Keeping our services running costs money which we need to raise ourselves.  This donation today will go a long way to helping us help others.” 

ENDS

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GRAND ORANGE LODGE OF SCOTLAND SIDELINED

BY FIRST MINISTER 

 The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland has criticised the First Minister for breaking promises made to involve them in drawing up plans to end sectarian bigotry in Scotland. 

The First Minister today launched an ‘ACTION PLAN ON TACKLING SECTARIANISM IN SCOTLAND’.  However, the Orange Lodge has never been asked to contribute in any way, shape or form to the plan.

 Despite promises made at the Sectarian Summit held by the First Minister in February 2005 that there would be working groups established to take matters forward, the Orange Lodge has never been invited to take part in any groups or to comment on any group activity or reports.

 It appears that other groups in Scotland who attended the Summit, including the Catholic Church, have also been ostracised by the First Minister and have joined in the criticism of the handling of this issue.

 Grand Master of the Orange Lodge, Ian Wilson said,

“We are very disappointed that so little has happened since the summit held almost a year ago.  We publicly stepped forward and offered to help and cooperate but to this day we haven’t been asked to get involved in any of the promised working groups or to contribute to the Action Plan being launched today.

 “Indeed, we only found out on Thursday of last week that the First Minister had drawn up this Action Plan.  We were advised of this in an email which informed us that we would not be invited to the launch of the document.

 “If the First Minister is serious about tackling this issue in Scotland then he needs to start including, rather than excluding, different groups within Scottish society.  

“Thus far, our only involvement seems to have been in providing photo opportunities for the First Minister.  That has to end.  We want to be involved in a serious way and we would like to reiterate our offer of help and cooperation to tackle this issue.” 

ENDS

 MEDIA RELEASE

IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MONDAY 24^th JANUARY 2005

  ORANGE ORDER WELCOMES REPORT

 Ian Wilson, Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, makes the following comments on Sir John Orr’s Review of Marches and Parades in Scotland:

Scotland has been fortunate that someone of Sir John Orr’s stature and experience was available and willing to undertake this review, and I would wish to pay tribute to the thorough and professional way he has conducted it. We were delighted to meet with Sir John, to submit our opinions, to discuss our ideas and to share our experiences. As Sir John observes, marches and parades are a traditional way of life in Scotland, of which those of the Orange Order play a large part. Our celebration parades and rallies, giving pleasure to thousands of spectators, have been an integral part of Scottish culture for more than two centuries.

It is right that the regulations and practices surrounding marches and parades – whether traditional ones such as ours or those more recent on the scene – are regularly looked at and reviewed to ensure that they are planned and conducted within a framework which ensures the safety both of those parading and spectating. It is vital that all applications to parade are treated fairly and the criteria used are the same; and that the process of application and decision are understood by all, are transparent, and have the confidence of everyone involved – applicant, local authority, police, and community.

The sharing of best practice has to be welcomed and should ensure that all such parades and celebrations are conducted within a framework which creates a genuine partnership between those who organise a parade, the local Council who must regulate and license, the local police who must be content with the proposed route and public safety, and the local communities in which parades are held. We believe Sir John has delivered a measured and inclusive report that balances rights with responsibilities.

 The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland wholeheartedly welcomes the recommendations made by Sir John and hopes that all other affected organisations involved will do likewise. The recommendations must be seen as a complete package and must not be cherry picked. We would now expect any legislation arising from the report to reflect both the spirit and context of Sir John’s report, and we look to Ministers to give that assurance at the earliest opportunity. For our part we have no hesitation in pledging ourselves to work with the relevant individuals and bodies to ensure that these recommendations are adopted and implemented.