Inside News - Summer 2024

Insidenews
August 2024
Email your news to InsideNews@westlothian.gov.uk
SCHOOL ESTATE GROWS
More young people will be able to attend Calderwood Primary in East Calder after a planned
extension to the school was completed. The school was specifically designed to be expanded in
the future when first built, and these plans were brought into place as the projected school roll was
now sufficient to require the additional accommodation to be constructed.
P3
Are you
a carer?
The council has achieved Carer Positive
Accreditation. Find out what this means for carers.
P4
Success for Fleet
services
Double joy for fleet with the service and
apprentices recognised on a national level
P6
We want to hear
from you!
Next month, all council employees will be invited to
complete the council’s bi-annual employee survey.
Please have your say!

Chief Executive, Graham Hope reflects on a busy
summer period for the council
Despite the very unseasonal weather we’ve experienced I hope you have all had
the opportunity to enjoy your summer.
T
he summer holiday period can
traditionally be a quieter period for
many areas of the council with schools off and
many people enjoying well-earned breaks with
family and friends.
However, it was slightly different this year
with the start of the summer holiday period
coinciding with the UK General Election on 4
July.
It’s a huge amount of work to organise an
Election with colleagues from across council
services coming together to formulate plans
as soon as the General Election was called on
22 May.
In total, well over 600 team members are
involved in helping to organise, facilitate
and deliver an Election for residents in West
Lothian.
The collective effort from council employees
during this period cannot be underestimated
and I would like to personally thank everyone
involved. Your hard work helped deliver
the election for our two local parliamentary
constituencies: Livingston and Bathgate &
Linlithgow. Thanks also to those who helped
deliver the recent Armadale and Blackridge
By-Election.
A warm welcome back to all education staff
and best of luck for the new school year.
While schools might have been closed to
pupils and staff over the summer, a great deal
of effort has gone into progressing many of our
school investment projects with the brandnew
East Calder Primary School delivered on
time and open for pupils returning.
Additional highlights include the completion
of an extension to Calderwood Primary
School and construction work commencing
to deliver the new Hawkhill Primary School in
Winchburgh.
Finally, I am looking forward to continuing
with a series of staff engagement sessions over
the next few months in which I hope to meet
with staff from across the council.
I hope you enjoy this edition of Inside News.
Graham Hope
Chief Executive
New head
teacher
appointments
Local schools have new
head teachers at the helm
at the start of the new academic
year.
Shona Wallace
Headteacher,
Broxburn Academy
Gerard Higgins
Headteacher,
West Calder High
School
Vicky Fish
Headteacher,
Southdale Primary
School
Dr Thomas
McGovern
Headteacher,
Pinewood School
John Cloherty
Headteacher,
Windyknowe
Primary School
S
hona Wallace has been appointed as the
new head teacher of Broxburn Academy
following the retirement of Peter Reid and Gerard
Higgins has been appointed as the new head
teacher of West Calder High School.
Ms Wallace will join Broxburn Academy after a
number of senior teaching roles in the Edinburgh
replacing long serving head teacher Peter Reid
who retired in June.
Ms Wallace said: “ It is such a privilege to
be joining Broxburn Academy as the new
Headteacher.
“Broxburn is a thriving and caring community,
and I am overwhelmed by the warm welcome
and kindness shown to me. I am passionate
about education, and the opportunities it affords
in improving outcomes for young people and
their families and I am ambitious for what we will
achieve together.
Mr Higgins is arriving at West Calder after five
years at Rosshall Academy in Glasgow where
he was in the role of Depute Head Teacher with
responsibility for attainment.
Mr Higgins said: “I am delighted to be joining
West Calder High School at the start of the
new academic term. The school already has
a fantastic reputation and comes with first
class facilities. I look forward to working with
colleagues and feel privileged to be working with
them to build on the ongoing success story of
West Calder High School.”
Meanwhile there are three new Head Teachers
at West Lothian Primary Schools.
Vicky Fish has taken up the position of
Head Teacher at Southdale Primary School in
Armadale. She joins Southdale after seven years
as Head Teacher of Parkhead Primary School in
West Calder.
She said: “Southdale Primary is undoubtedly
a welcoming, inclusive and nurturing school with
amazing children, dedicated, hardworking staff
and supportive families and I feel privileged to
have joined the school community. “
John Cloherty is the new head teacher of
Windyknowe Primary School in Bathgate. Mr
Cloherty takes up the role after time as the head
teacher at Southdale Primary.
He said: “I am absolutely delighted to become
the new Head Teacher at Windyknowe Primary
School and ELC. I am looking forward to working
with the children, staff, parents and wider
community to ensure the school goes from
strength to strength.
Dr Thomas McGovern has joined Pinewood
School in Blackburn. He worked in the Falkirk
area prior to his move at Sacred Heart Primary
School where he was Head Teacher for 6 years.
He said: “ It is with great excitement and a
profound sense of responsibility that I step into
the Head Teacher role at Pinewood School.
There is a very positive ethos and the warmth,
compassion and expertise that the staff team
here bring to their roles is reflected in the strong
relationships across the school community.”
2 insidenews / August 2024

Plentiful job opportunities at Access2Employment fair
The Access2Employment service hosted a free jobs fair at Howden Park
Centre in Livingston where nearly 200 people were able to speak to local
employers and access expert advice on developing their career prospects.
W
est Lothian College provided support for
the event that saw a wide variety of
different industries in West Lothian in
attendance to provide potential opportunities
for employment.
Police Scotland, Lothian Country, Genius
Foods and the Army were just some of the many
organisations represented on the day alongside
representatives from West Lothian Council
services and West Lothian Health and Social
Care Partnership.
The Access2Employment Team of
professional employment advisers were also
on hand on the day to offer tailored support
to help attendees who were looking to secure
new employment, training or educational
opportunities.
Further events of this nature are planned to
take place later in the year and details will be
shared in due course.
Rosemount
Café
Open to the public
Carer Positive Accreditation
The Carer Positive award is presented to employers in Scotland who have a
working environment where carers are valued and supported.
C
arer Positive employers recognise the
importance of retaining experienced
members of staff, reducing absence, and cutting
down on avoidable recruitment costs. Almost 500
people every day take on a caring responsibility.
It is estimated that there are 759,000 unpaid carers
in Scotland, with 3 in 5 people expected to care for
someone at one point in their lives.
A carer is someone who provides unpaid care by
looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member,
friend or partner. Unfortunately, many carers give
up work because the job of juggling their work and
caring responsibilities simply becomes too much.
Supporting carers to manage the sometimesdifficult
job of balancing work with caring
responsibilities can deliver real benefits to employers
as well as helping individuals and their families.
Interim Head of Corporate Services, Lesley
Henderson said:
“We recognise that carers represent a significant
part of the working population and can face many
challenges juggling care and work responsibilities.
We want to attract and retain the valuable skills
and experience that many carers can bring to the
workplace and will continue to work with partners
such as Carer Positive and Carers of West Lothian to
inform our workplace policies and practices.”
More information on support for carers.
Did you know a café and
restaurant is open to
members of the public at
the Rosemount Gardens
Sheltered Housing in Mid
Street, Bathgate.
Hot food is served, cooked
breakfast, and filled rolls.
Open Sunday – Friday: 9am -1.30pm
Closed on Saturdays
Email your news to InsideNews@westlothian.gov.uk or call 01506 282006
insidenews / August 2024 3

Students are Career Ready
Multiple council services have
supported secondary school
pupils taking part in the
Career Ready Employment
programme this summer.
T
his year 48 students are spread across 28
different employers within West Lothian with
five spending time with council services.
Services providing the students this summer
include NETS, Access2Employment, Housing &
Building Services, Member Services and Finance &
Property services.
Students hosted in the council have a more
supportive experience - through the additional
experiences that we provide. This year this included
– an Access2Employment session, a visit to WL
Foodbank, a session on budgeting, creating a film
at the Sky Up Academy and attended a Wellbeing
session.
Head of Education, Siobhan McGarty said:
“Thank you to all services who have supported the
programme and provided a mentorship experience
for pupils. Giving young people a glimpse into the
world of work means they will be better equipped
for making that first step into their own career path
and could also additionally inspire them to pursue a
career in sectors they’d not considered before.”
Plenty to do and see
with the Social Club
The Sports and Social Club was formed
around 30 years ago for Council
employees and is run by a committee
comprising of representatives from various
Council services.
T
he construction work started
recently with the project set to
be complete in September 2025. The
development is located behind the
Tony Macaroni restaurant.
The supported housing consists
of 28 one-bedroom flats in total,
with 16 flats designed to be flexible
for future use as mainstream
housing. Flexible office space will be
View 360 site image
Work has started on essential new housing
facilities in the heart of Livingston.
Staff from across council services are working together to create
brand new Supported Housing for Young People and Affordable
Housing, located at Almondvale Crescent, Livingston.
provided for a maximum of ten staff
members along with staff overnight
accommodation to provide
dedicated space and privacy, whilst
still being on hand to assist and
support the young people.
The affordable housing will provide
an additional 20 units with a mix
of two and three-bedroom houses,
along with 2 three-bedroom flats.
W
here possible, the Social Club will always look to
support local events and attractions in West
Lothian with some destinations falling outside the local
area.
Club members have enjoyed a number of events over
the years such as theatre trips, race days and enjoyed
access to discounted tickets to zoos and safari parks.
There is a monthly payment of £3 for membership.
Every member is entered into a monthly cash Prize Draw
(£200, £150, £100, £75 and £50)
Events are advertised on the Councils Intranet Notice
board or notified to members via our Newsletter to work
or personal email addresses.
There are approximately 1,800 members and there is
a committee of 14 which includes:
Chair Person – Melanie Beveridge
Vice-Chair – Ann Jack
Secretary – Yvonne Meechan
Treasurer – Janice McInulty/Ann Jack
Information on how to join the Social Club and further
information on activities can be found on the intranet
within the HR and Staff Resources section
Social Club Information
4 insidenews / August 2024

Fleet services take home Gold from APSE
Congratulations to the to team the team at Fleet at Services Fleet
Services who received who the received Gold Award the in Gold the Association Award
in for the Public APSE Service Scottish Excellence Fleet (APSE) Service Scottish
“Striving
Fleet Service
for
“Striving
Excellence
for Excellence
Awards”
Awards”
T
he award ceremony took place during this year’s APSE Scotland Fleet, Waste
and Grounds Seminar. These Awards provide an excellent opportunity for
Scottish local authorities to demonstrate how they are going above and beyond when
delivering fleet, waste and grounds services for their local communities.
Congratulations to everyone at Fleet Services. Through the maintenance and management of all
council vehicles, the team plays a vital role in keeping the council moving..
David Maule
Double joy for Fleet Apprentices
Congratulations to Fleet Services Apprentices Connor
Russell and Mackenzie McDonald who were both
recognised by APSE at its national transport seminar.
F
ollowing the submission of work portfolios and a rigorous
interview process, the APSE panel selected Connor Russell as
the winner of the APSE Transport Apprentice of the Year Award. The
panel also chose to present a special recognition prize to Mackenzie
McDonald, also from West Lothian Council.
Conor and Mackenzie are both currently in the first year of their
apprenticeships in the role of Apprentice Technicians.
Interim head of operational services, David Maule said: “Both
Connor and Mackenzie have done exceptionally well to receive
this recognition from the industry and should be proud of their
efforts. This reflects their hard work and the excellent mentoring
and support from colleagues in Fleet Services and Organisational
Development.”
Email your news to InsideNews@westlothian.gov.uk or call 01506 282006
insidenews / / Summer August 2024 5

Visit West Lothian is your go-to resource
for the latest on local events, walking routes,
attractions, news, blogs and guides.
Their new section, “Resident Rewards”, is
designed to offer exclusive benefits and
discounts to the residents of West Lothian.
Get out and explore your own backyard,
support local businesses, and save money!
Visit West Lothian
It’s a bug’s life
A
n old play structure at Polkemmet Country Park has
been given a news lease of life and turned into a ‘bug
hotel’.
With the structure no longer suitable for climbing, the Parks
team didn’t want to see it go to waste and came up with the
idea of upcycling the old timber structure and rotten climbing
net an changing the space to create the perfect habitat for
native insects within the park to thrive.
It will act as a great place for young children to visit, explore
the Bug Towers and learn about nature through play. Excellent
work from Wiktoria Cook (pictured) and the team for breathing
new life into these materials that would have otherwise been
disposed of.
6 insidenews / August 2024
EMPLOYEE
SURVEY 2024
Next month, all council employees will be
invited to complete the council’s bi-annual
employee survey. Please have your say!
The results of the survey help the council and its service
management teams to understand what we do well and
what we could do differently in order to ensure this is a
great place to work.
We know that it is only by having a motivated, skilled
and empowered workforce that we will continue to
deliver quality services that positively impact the West
Lothian Community.
We want as many responses as possible as the more
results we get, the clearer the picture and the better any
improvement plans will be.
A link to take part in the survey will be issued via
email but services will ensure options are available
locally for anyone unable to access a device. We would
encourage each and every one of you to take a few
minutes to complete the survey as your views will help
shape our workplace moving forward.
A team member from
Housing, Customer
and Building Services is
stepping up to take part
in a charity challenge to
support a local voluntary
organisation.
E
states Officer, Tony Gordon will be
taking part in the Wee Wander on
Sunday 15 September to help raise funds
for the Ladywell Neighbourhood
Network.
Tony will join hundreds of others
taking part in the five mile walk which
is one of the partner events to the
Edinburgh Kiltwalk that is talking place
on the same day.
Tony said: “I became aware of the
work of Ladywell Neighbourhood
Network through my own role with the
council where I can sometimes interact
with tenants who may be elderly or
in a vulnerable position. The charity
provides a great deal of comfort, support
and friendship to individuals who find
themselves in a lonely and isolated
position. I am more than happy to
help them raise funds to support the
continuation of their vital work in the
community.”
You can support the Wee Wander
fundraiser via Just Giving.
The Ladywell Neighbourhood Network
is a non-for-profit organisation that has
been providing services for the local
community for over 30 years.
They work for those affected by
socially isolation due to age, disability,
illness or even if you are new to the
area, have young children or are a single
parent and would benefit from some
adult conversation.
Ladywell Neighbourhood Network
offers a number of activities which are
open to all who are interested as well
as volunteering opportunities to help
restore a sense of self-worth which may
be missing.
Further information is available via
their website.
Wee Wander fundraiser

Construction complete on
new East Calder Primary
New era at brand-new East Calder Primary School
The state-of-the-art primary school was
handed over to West Lothian Council by
Hub South East and Morrison Construction
allowing staff and pupils to move into the
superb new school at the start of the new
school term.
A special event was held to mark the
occasion, with East Calder pupils and staff
joined by some of key people involved in the
huge project of delivering the new school.
Head of Education, Greg Welsh said: “This
excellent new school building will provide an
excellent platform for the delivery of quality
education for the East Calder community.
“Thanks to colleagues from across the
council who have been involved in delivering
such a wonderful asset for our local children.”
East Calder Headteacher Fiona Stewart
added: “All the staff and pupils at East Calder
Primary are very excited to get into our
amazing brand-new school.
“It will allow us to enhance the learning
experiences we can offer our children for many
years to come.”
Colleagues from across council services
worked with development partner Hub South
East on the project with Morrison Construction
as the lead contractor.
Works to demolish the previous school
building and complete the remaining external
works are ongoing.
The £18.3 million facility was required as
the current school building is not suitable for
the future delivery of high-quality education
due to a number of issues including suitability,
accessibility and sustainability. Due to rising
construction costs, a fixed price was agreed to
remove additional financial risks.
View video tour
Construction
underway at the
new Hawkhill
Primary School
Work is underway to build a new nursery and
primary school in Winchburgh.
T
he £16 million Hawkhill Primary School is due to
open in August 2025. The new school is required
to meet a significant increase in demand for school and
nursery places in the area, which is a Core Development
Area within West Lothian.
Winchburgh Developments Ltd. will fully fund the
construction of the eight-classroom school with
80-place early-learning pre-school facility, sports
pitches, landscaping and car-parking.
We’re thrilled to share this success story from the
West Lothian Jobs Fund (WLJF) programme, which
offers six-month paid work experience placements
within a West Lothian Council Service.
T
his fantastic initiative not only
provides valuable job experience
but also includes a £500 training grant
to help young people achieve their
career goals.
Aaron is a shining example of
what can be achieved through this
programme. Aaron was placed with the
Street Lighting team within Operation
Services, where he shadowed
experienced workers and received
ongoing support and guidance from
his mentor Graeme Marshall, Street
Lighting Officer.
During his placement, Aaron
received comprehensive support from
the team and his Employment Adviser.
The training grant he received as part
of the programme was used to invest
in an electrician’s toolkit, crucial for
his continuing journey to becoming
an electrician. Additionally, Aaron also
received funding for Driving Lessons as
part of his training grant.
We are delighted to announce
that Aaron recently aced a four-stage
interview process, including the SECTT
and an aptitude test and has been
offered a Modern Apprenticeship role
within West Lothian Council starting in
August.
Email your news to InsideNews@westlothian.gov.uk or call 01506 282006
insidenews / August 2024 7

A
fter months of rehearsals it
was time for three members
of the Central Education Service to
go onstage for the Livingston
Players production of Oliver at
Howden Park Centre in May.
They performed to five sell out
audiences and one of the main
stars of the show Laura Archibald
as Nancy.
The reviews of the show were
excellent and although they were
all extremely tired they can’t wait
to get back to perform in the next
show which will be Shrek in May of
2025.
Open space investment
Well done to Open Space Officers who have delivered a brand-new
play area at Holmes Park in Broxburn.
T
he new play area was delivered following a
public consultation within Broxburn &
Uphall with local residents selecting Holmes Park
to be the site of the new play area. Due to its
natural location joining onto the Shale Trail and
other nearby public sports facilities, helps create a
rich network of active public space throughout the
area.
The design of the open area was completed
in-house by Open Space Officer, Wiktoria Cook
(pictured front, left with local nursery children)
with a focus on creating a flexible public space with
play, as opposed to simply a prescriptive play area
focused on equipment.
The aim of the design is a space where all
park users from child, to teenager, to family, to
an elderly person feel welcome to participate in
the social and physical health benefits of public
open space. Such a space can used by more
people, at all different times of the day, in turn
promoting safety and a community-rooted sense
of place. Wiktoria said: “The play area aims to
accommodate all types of play across age groups
– not only physical and motor skills play but
also social, explorative and creative. With most
play areas traditionally geared towards younger
children, there was a specific desire to ensure the
space was welcoming to teenagers, especially
teenage girls with research indicating they can
feel excluded by traditional play areas and multigames
spaces.”
The project at Holmes Park is part of the
council’s agreed capital investment programme
with £2million to be invested in the development
of play areas and sports facilities over the next two
years. The council is working on the development
of 28 play areas over the next two years (2023/24 &
2024/25).
Laura Archibald – Nancy, Allyson Coleman
- Governor/Ensemble and Louise Young –
Ensemble.
The next Livingston Players show
will be a youth production for ages
9-17 of Bugsy Malone at Howden Park
Centre from Wednesday 4 – Saturday
7 September.
Congratulations to…
Kim Archibald from Procurement Services
and Matthew Fraser from Finance &
Property Services who welcomed their son,
Lochlyn Alexander Fraser into the world on 7
July weighing 7.6lb.
Caitlin Hirst from the Chief Executive’s Office who recently
got engaged to her partner Justin during a trip to Iona and
Mull. Congratulations to the happy couple and let the wedding
planning commence!
David Sharpe and Dean McCrudden for their promotions in IT
Services. Best of luck in your new roles!
Welcome to…
Scott Anderson who has recently started the role of Waste
Service Manager in Operational Services.
Fred Davidson who joins the Procurement team in the role of
Procurement Officer. In his role, he will be working with Finance
& Property Services, Housing Customer and Building Services
and Operational Services.
There’s plenty of new starts in IT Services! Welcome to Hemza
Chaker (Security Specialist) Chris Monk, Anthony Murray.
Congratulations also to Watson Bell who now takes up a
permanent position with IT.
Happy retirement to…
Best wishes to Lynn Henderson on her retirement.
8 insidenews / August 2024

Officers from the Economic Development Service have been working with The Broxburn
& Uphall Town Management Group to support organisations and businesses to provide
easily access to life saving defibrations. The management group brings together community
representatives and elected members to facilitate improvements for the area.
Pictured are Tourism and Town Centre Officer, Stewart Ness (left of photo) with members of the
Broxburn & Uphall Town Management Group and local business reps
Julie Whitelaw has
been confirmed as the
permanent Head of
Housing Customer and
Building Services.
J
ulie had been in the
position as Interim Head
of Housing Customer and
Building Services since
January 2022.
Prior to this she was the
Head of Corporate Services for
nine years.
Julie initially joined the
council in 1996 as a solicitor in
Legal Services.
She said: “I am delighted to be
able to continue in the role.
“Housing Customer and
Building Services covers a vast
range of services delivered by
the council and I look forward
to continuing to work with
colleagues across the service
to deliver for our customers.”
David Maule
is the new Interim
Head of Operational
Services.
D
avid takes the role following extensive experience within
the council across different service areas. David joined
West Lothian Council in 2002.
He previously held the role of Corporate Finance Manager
before taking the position as the council’s Corporate
Transformation Manager.
David said: “Operational Services is a universal service
delivering for all residents of West Lothian. I look forward
to working with staff right across the service to ensure we
continue to deliver the best services we can for the public.”
David takes over from Jim Jack, who recently retired
following a long career in local government.
The West
Lothian Way
COMMUNICATION CUSTOMER GOVERNANCE
The West Lothian Way is the council’s communications guidelines. It is our guide to communicating
within and on behalf of West Lothian Council and sets the standards we want to achieve.
C
onsistency is of the utmost
importance when we are working
with our customers, both internally and
externally.
All staff should follow the West Lothian
Way.
The goal of The West Lothian Way is
to provide an exceptional standard of
professional practice in support of the
council.
We maintain a suite of professional
standards guidance to support and quality
assure our work, to make the best standard.
The West Lothian Way provides practical
guidance to staff on the standards required
and gives us a comprehensive baseline
for governance, customer service and
communication standards.
The West Lothian Way is available on the
Intranet. Please scan the QR code or visit:
www.intranet.westlothian.
gov.uk/westlothianway
Email your news to InsideNews@westlothian.gov.uk or call 01506 282006
insidenews / August 2024 9

Thank you to election staff
Delivering an election count is a
massive undertaking.
I
n total, well over 600 people worked to facilitate the UK
General Election in West Lothian with many of those
involved being West Lothian Council employees.
Preparations began as soon as the General Election was called
with a core election team of council staff beginning the process of
recruiting and training polling staff.
Staff from Building Services played a key role in the
construction of both polling stations and the setting up of the
count hall at West Lothian College.
There were close to two hundred polling stations where over
440 team members began work before 7am on the day of the
election to enable voting right up until polls closed at 10pm.
Colleagues from Building Services and Operational Services
then undertook the huge logistical operation of securely
transporting the hundreds of ballot boxes to the Election Count
venue.
The counting of votes again required the support of many council
staff who took up numerous administrative roles to ensure the
process went smoothly.
Chief Executive Graham Hope is the Returning Officer for West
Lothian.
He said: “Delivering an election is a massive undertaking and would
simply not be possible without a significant team effort. Many
council employees took up roles throughout the process and I want
to say a massive thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly from
the outset right up until the final votes were counted.”
Olympic Success for Finlay
It has been a summer to remember for Community Planning Development
Officer Finlay Brown who has enjoyed the once in a lifetime experience of
being involved in the Olympic Games in Paris.
Finlay served as a Match Official for World Rugby
during the Rugby 7s competition, held at the
Stade de France. He was part of a 23-member
referee team representing 17 countries either
refereeing in the middle or acting as an assistant
referee (touch judge) in the women’s 7s
competition.
His journey toward Paris 2024 began back in
December 2017 as like the teams, the referees
also compete for selection, aiming to make the
final cut to officiate at the Olympics.
The journey took him from refereeing at
various 7s tournaments in the United Kingdom,
to touring as part of the World Rugby Sevens
Series Referee Squad in 2021.
Finlay said: “Being part of the whole Olympic
experience was undoubtedly the main highlight!
It was incredible to work and immerse ourselves
in the atmosphere of the Olympics throughout
Paris, attend the opening ceremony, and watch
a few other Olympic sports with colleagues,
friends, and family.
“On the field, there were several highlights, but
the most significant for me was being a small
part of the largest Women’s Rugby Competition
to date. Paris 2024 showcased sevens rugby to
the world, with 240,000 people packing into
the Stade De France over three days to watch
the women’s competition. The opportunity to
give the best 7s players in the world a platform
to display their skills to a global audience was
phenomenal. On a personal note, refereeing
my first match between France and Japan,
especially in front of 70,000 people at the Stade
De France, was an unforgettable experience,
made even more special by having my closest
friends and family in the stands. Another
highlight was being selected as an assistant
referee for the Gold Medal match between New
Zealand and Canada. It was a huge honour to be
trusted as part of the match official team for such
a momentous occasion.”
10 insidenews / August 2024

Exams success across West Lothian
The hard work by pupils and education staff across West Lothian has been rewarded with another set of excellent
Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) National Qualifications and Awards results.
R
esults from pupils across West Lothian’s
11 secondary schools have continued to
improve across a number of key indicators on
the Scottish Credit and Qualifications
Framework (SCQF).
Initial analysis showed that the number of
West Lothian pupils in S5 and S6 achieving one
or more Level 6 qualification, which includes
Highers, has increased across West Lothian.
Also, both the number of S5 pupils achieving
Higher Maths and those achieving five or more
Level 6 qualifications, such as Highers, saw
rises this year.
Pupils across the local authority have
the opportunity to undertake a wide range
of courses either in their own schools or in
conjunction with partners through the West
Lothian Campus and at West Lothian College.
As well as National Qualifications, pupils
have achieved National Progression Awards,
HNCs, Skills for Work courses and Foundation
Apprenticeships among others.
West Lothian Council Depute Chief
Executive, Dr Elaine Cook said: “Well done to
all of our pupils who have received their exam
results.
“Our analysis has indicated continued
improvement in in West Lothian which is
extremely pleasing to see. This is a wonderful
reflection on the dedication, commitment and
quality of our teaching staff across our local
schools. I thank each and every member of
staff for their efforts in supporting our young
people throughout this academic year and
I hope they take great pride in seeing the
successful results of our students.”
Weddings @
Let Linlithgow Burgh Halls deliver for your special day
Located in the heart of Linlithgow, this unique, historic venue – is the perfect choice for a truly romantic Scottish
wedding. This award winning venue boasts two stylish function rooms, a stunning roof terrace, an art gallery and
lush gardens. Whatever you want from your wedding day, we will tailor it to your own personal needs.
01506 282720 | burgh.halls@westlothian.gov.uk | www.linlithgowburghhalls.co.uk
Email your news to InsideNews@westlothian.gov.uk or call 01506 282006
insidenews / August 2024 11

The council looks forward to celebrating Black
History Month 2024 in October and along with
community partners are currently developing a
range of activities to mark this event.
This year’s theme for Black History Month
is “Reclaiming Narratives.” This marks a
significant shift towards recognising and
correcting the narratives of Black history and
culture.
Look out for events happening during the
month of October which will be promoted on
the council’s Equality and Diversity pages.
West Lothian Community
Race Forum aims to promote
and enhance understanding
and awareness of race and
race equality.
Over the years, the forum has organised a number of events and been involved in consultations
with the council and other partners such as the Police and NHS.
The Forum is keen to welcome new members and are looking for people from across West
Lothian who have an interest in promoting race equality and want to get together to share ideas
and experiences.
Membership of the forum is on a voluntary basis and meets every couple of months in the
evening. If you would like any more information or would like to join, please get in touch by
emailing communityraceforum@hotmail.com or come along to any of the meetings.
More information can also find more information on the Forums Facebook Page
HR Update – Equality and Diversity Activity
Faith Forum
West Lothian Faith Group was set up
through West Lothian Council in 2011
to promote inter-faith working in West
Lothian, providing a forum for faith
communities to get together and share
ideas and experiences, and promote interfaith
dialogue in West Lothian.
Membership of the group is open to faith
leaders from across West Lothian as well as
people from all faith communities. To date
the group have been involved in a number
of really positive initiatives, most notably
the publication of the West Lothian Faith
Handbook which was really well received and
recognised as a valuable educational resource
for inter-faith dialogue in West Lothian.
The group are keen to invite new members
along – both faith leaders and individuals from
all faith communities to connect together and
look at how faiths can support each other and
the community, increase understanding of the
positive role that faith communities play in
society and foster understanding, cooperation
and friendship between faith communities.
The next meeting of the Faith Group is
being held as part of Black History Month and
will focus on the connection between faith
and ethnicity in supporting communities.
This is being held on 8 October at 2pm in
Livingston Village Kirk.
Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity is about recognising
neurological differences in people and
respecting these differences in the same way
as other human variations such as race and
gender.
In order to support our neurodivergent
workforce the council has developed a new
Neurodiversity e-learning module to raise
awareness of some of the most common
neurological differences, the potential
challenges they pose and also the strengths
they enhance.
All employees, particularly managers,
are encouraged to complete the e-learning
module to learn about how to support
neurodivergent people in the work place
and create a more neurodiverse inclusive
workforce. The module can be accessed at
MyLearning.
Integrated Impact
assessments
The Integrated Impact Assessment process
assists the council to carry out it’s equality
duty to assess the effect of its proposals
on people in terms of equality and socio
economic disadvantage. New legislation
requires the council to conduct a broader
assessment to include consideration of
human rights and children’s rights. A new
Impact Assessment Template and Guidance
can be found on Mytoolkit and officers
conducting IIAs should ensure that they are
using the up to date template.
Information on opportunities to attend
training in conducting Integrated Impact
Assessments can be obtained by contacting
the council’s Equality Officer at pamela.
roccio@westlothian.gov.uk
Wellness room
Coming soon! A room on the first floor of
the Civic Centre is being prepared as the
council’s first Wellness Room.
The wellness room is intended to support
employee wellbeing by providing a private
space for quiet time, relaxation and
stress relief. The comfortable aconducive
to private or sensitive discussion,
prayer, mindfulness practices or simply
moments of solitude in a safe space. More
information on using the room will be
available soon.
Equality Monitoring
Don’t forget to tell the council about you.
You can update your equality monitoring
information: marital status; religion;
ethnic origin; transgender status; sexual
orientation; disability status; and carer
status on MyHR at any time.
Providing this information will help
the council to best meet the needs of our
diverse workforce. The information held
is kept strictly confidential and can only
be accessed by your line manager and HR
Officers.
Follow the steps below to add or update
your personal profile information:
Log in to MyHR;
Click on the View Profile tab on the left
of the page (the little face);
Click on Sensitive Information;
Add or change your information as
appropriate at any time.
My Learning
12 insidenews / August 2024

Fitting in a regular workout regime can be tricky around a busy work
and family life. Xcite operate nine venues across West Lothian providing
you with access to gyms, fitness classes, and sporting facilities,
plus swimming pools, 9-hole golf courses, and much more…
Join Xcite!
We are delighted to offer West Lothian Council employees a special corporate membership,
saving you 20% on the price of a full monthly membership - with all of the benefits! For £29.95
per month and no joining fee, you can access our huge range of facilities.
Our gyms have state-of-the-art
Technogym equipment, and by using the
Technogym app, you can interact with the
equipment to track your workouts, modify
them, or get top tips on how to maximise
your time in the gym. You’ll have access
to almost 500 weekly fitness classes,
five swimming pools, and our 9-hole golf
course in Bathgate — plus 8-day advance
booking!
Visit any one of our sites to sign up – don’t
forget to bring along your Council ID card as
proof of employment.
More than just a
membership...
If membership isn’t for you, we have pay-asyou-go
options and bookable activities to
suit all tastes!
Xcite Bathgate has a state-of-the-art
Trackman 4 golf simulator so you can
practice your swing, no matter the weather!
This venue has also recently launched the
first indoor Padel tennis court in West
Lothian. Padel is a brilliant, social racquet
sport, similar to tennis but played on a
smaller, enclosed court and in doubles.
Why not have your next team meeting on the
Padel court?
For group sports, you can hire our 3G
football pitches for 5-a-side teams or our
various sports halls for netball, basketball,
badminton, and even Pickleball enthusiasts!
Support your local charitable
trust
Every penny spent at an Xcite venue is
reinvested, with all surplus income used
to provide facilities and programmes that
benefit West Lothian communities. We’re
passionate about fostering healthy lifestyle
choices and our overarching vision is “a West
Lothian where everyone can live a healthier,
happier, longer life.”
We look forward to welcoming you soon.
Keep in
touch...
Inside News is your staff magazine.
We want to hear about staff achievements (in and out of work), and news from all
services. Email your news to InsideNews@westlothian.gov.uk or call 01506 282006
insidenews / August 2024 13