AN INDEPENDENT MSP has visited Moray to offer his personal congratulations to the award-winning third sector interface group tsiMoray.
John Finnie, whose Highlands and Islands constituency includes Moray, called in at tsiMoray’s Elgin headquarters on Tuesday to meet the local team in person – and congratulate them on their recently being awarded the prestigious ‘Committed to Excellence’ trophy at the Scottish Awards for Business Excellence.
Mr Finnie has lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament in which he hopes other MSPs will lend their support in praising the group’s exceptional work in providing support to local charity groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.
The MSP said: “Voluntary organisations do so much to support our communities, improve our quality of life and protect the vulnerable, especially in this age of vicious cuts – but they rarely get the recognition they deserve.
“Even less glory goes to organisations like tsiMoray that work behind the scenes, helping dozens of charities stay afloat, find and train volunteers, and become more effective in their mission. I’m delighted that the great work tsiMoray has been recognised at this national level.
“It’s a testament to the talent and dedication of tsiMoray’s staff that they have been able to maintain such excellence while the voluntary sector is being so thin. Cuts are making funding tighter while exacerbating the social problems voluntary organisations are committed to tackling.
“The Scottish Government can help by protecting funding, and by giving organisations longer, more secure funding deals.
“But the biggest threat to the voluntary sector is the tidal wave of welfare and other cuts coming from Westminster, creating poverty and hardship that they will be expected to deal with.”