The SNP have announced a massive investment into our local environment in an effort to help give every child in Scotland a place to play. Building on the Outdoor Community Play Fund, £60 million will be invested to renew every play park in Scotland.
SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon has pledged that an SNP Government will be “more determined than ever to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up.” The SNP say they have recognised the impact the pandemic has had on children and young people and have unveiled a draft of measures to help children and families through the pandemic and into the recovery.
Key policies an SNP Government will support include:
Building on the Outdoor Community Play Fund, a £60m investment to renew every play park in Scotland.
A free laptop or device for every pupil, together with a free internet connection
Providing free school breakfasts and lunches, year-round, to every primary school pupil - as well as for children in state-funded special schools.
Maintaining the provision of the Baby Box to all of Scotland’s new children, and explore ways that it can be used to further promote women’s health and support parental mental health.
Doubling the Scottish Child Payment and continuing the Best Start Grants - the Pregnancy and Baby Payment, the Early Learning Payment and the School Age Payment - as well as increasing the Best Start Food payment to £4.50 per week and increasing eligibility by around 50% to all in receipt of Universal Credit.
Speaking on this latest announcement, SNP candidate for Renfrewshire North and West Natalie Don stated;
“I am thrilled that the SNP have chosen to invest £60 million putting in place a plan to renew every play park in Scotland, so that all children have access to a place to play in their own community.”
“Our outdoor spaces in Renfrewshire North and West are extremely important and should be of a high standard for all children to enjoy. During the pandemic this has been especially important as many children who don’t have access to a garden have relied on our parks for their outdoor play.”
“I am very passionate about improving our local parks. This is something I’ve prioritised both as a local councillor and as part of the SNP Renfrewshire Council administration. In Renfrewshire our very first budget committed £1.5 million for community led improvements to our parks and green spaces and we have just invested a further £1.5 million following the clear importance of outdoor spaces during the pandemic. I am proud to have worked with local communities to see fantastic upgrades to their parks and I will be extremely happy to carry this work on, if elected as your MSP for Renfrewshire North & West.”
“The last year has been incredibly tough for children and young people across Scotland, and by voting SNP in this election, people will be electing an SNP Government more determined than ever to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up - and to put the tools for our recovery in Scotland’s own hands.”
