Inside News

Insidenews 

October 2024 

Email your news to InsideNews@westlothian.gov.uk 

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MODERN 

APPRENTICESHIP GRADUATES 

Well done to the recent group from Operational Services who have completed their Modern 

Apprenticeship Programme. Turn to page 5 to read about their experiences on the programme. 

Pictured are some of the successful Modern Apprentice cohort pictures alongside their mentors and Head of Operational Services, David Maule 

P2 

Supporting local people 

into employment 

Staff from the Economic Development Service 

have recently provided crucial support to local 

people facing redundancy. 

P8 

Join 16 days of Action 

to end gender-based 

violence. 

P12 

Case Study: Key Worker 

Carolann. 

Carolann has been a part of the team at Eliburn Day 

Centre for 13 years.

Chief Executive, Graham Hope looks ahead to a busy 

winter period for the council 

I hope all colleagues are in good health as we head 

into the last quarter of the year. 

I 

would like to thank everyone who has 

completed the council’s employee 

survey. Your views are extremely important 

to the council as we continuously look to 

build on strengths and implement 

improvements that will help continue to 

make this a great place to work. 

October marks the beginning of the winter 

period for the council and preparations are 

well underway for colleagues in Operational 

Services preparing our annual winter plan. 

With approximately 1,000km of roads and 

over 1,300km of footways across West 

Lothian, the crews in our roads department 

put in an incredible amount of work to keep 

West Lothian moving during periods of 

severe winter weather. 

I would encourage you to familiarise yourself 

with the council’s winter plan. You can find 

further details in this edition of Inside News. 

Finally, I pass on my congratulations to our 

recent graduates of our Apprenticeship 

programme. 

The council has always placed a great value 

in offering a comprehensive apprenticeship 

programme with the aim of helping people 

undertake valuable training and gain 

experience which will serve them well for 

the rest of their careers. 

Some of our newly graduated apprentices 

have shared their own personal experiences 

of their time in the programme in this 

edition. 

I hope you enjoy the latest Inside News. 

Graham Hope 

Chief Executive 

Supporting local people into employment 

Staff from the Economic 

Development Service have 

recently provided crucial 

support to local people 

facing redundancy. 

T 

he Access2Employment Team have worked 

with Skills Development Scotland to provide 

one-to-one 

support to Mitsubishi staff facing uncertainty in 

the coming weeks and months. 

Part of this offer saw the team direct those 

impacted towards their latest jobs fair where 

they brought together 30 local employers and 

additional support agencies. 

Over 200 local people attended the event at 

Howden Park Centre with advisers from 

Access2Employment and colleagues from 

Business Gateway on hand to assist attendees and 

help 

them navigate their next steps to securing 

employment. 

If you know anyone who has recently been made 

redundant or is facing uncertainty at their 

workplace then please urge them to get in touch 

with the Access2Employment Team by calling 0800 

032 9768 or they can complete an 

online referral form. 

WHITBURN 

& BLACKBURN 

BY-ELECTION 

THURSDAY 14 NOVEMBER 

A By-Election is to be held 

to elect a councillor for the 

Whitburn and Blackburn ward of 

West Lothian Council. 

MORE INFORMATION 

2 insidenews / Winter 2024 Email your news to InsideNews@westlothian.gov.uk or call 01506 282006

Soapbox Derby success for getaway car 

Staff from Inveralmond Community High School recently celebrated a 

second-place finish at the Castle Douglas Soapbox Derby while raising 

much needed funds for charity. 

T 

he Castle Douglas Soapbox Derby is an 

eagerly anticipated event, attracting 

creative and competitive teams from all over 

the U.K. This year, Roger McCluskey, David 

Collin and Jamie Steel formed a soapbox team 

achieving an impressive second-place finish, 

showcasing both ingenuity and skill while 

raising £1050 for Prostate Scotland. 

The team demonstrated excellent control 

and speed throughout the race, the soapbox 

was engineered for speed, stability and agility, 

which contributed to a second-place victory. 

Competition was fierce but friendly, with a 

variety of innovative and imaginative soapbox 

designs, from futuristic cars to whimsical 

creations and with teams helping each other 

with carry out repairs after each run. 

Teams were judged on speed, creativity, and 

overall performance, the ability to combine 

these elements effectively was key to securing a 

top position. 

Hamish Shankland has 

been appointed as the 

new Headteacher of 

Inveralmond Community 

High School. 

M 

r Shankland had been in the position of Acting Headteacher at 

the school since August 2023. 

Prior to taking up the Acting Headteacher post at Inveralmond, he 

was Depute Headteacher in Whitburn Academy for 6 years, as well as 

holding an Acting Headteacher position in Armadale Academy. 

Mr Shankland said: “ I am delighted to be in the position to continue 

my work at Inveralmond Community High School on a permanent 

basis. I consider it a privilege to work with the community, and be 

part of the next chapter for the school. I would like to pay tribute 

to my colleagues and the wider community who made me feel 

welcome and provided excellent support during my time as Acting 

Head Teacher. 

“My vision for the school is that we continue to support our 

young people to embody our school values of Respect, Kindness 

and Honesty; and that each one leaves us knowing they can make 

the world a better place. As a school we will continue to strive for 

excellence, aiming to enable every young person to achieve to the 

best of their ability, connect to the world around them, and thrive 

now and in the future.” 

“I now look forward to building on the work we have started here 

and am excited about what we can achieve for our pupils and wider 

school community.” 

Well done to everyone at Howden St Andrew’s 

Primary School and Nursery Class following 

a very positive visit from Education Scotland 

inspectors 

T 

he inspection team spent time in the school in June 2024 and 

published their findings earlier this month. During their visit, they 

talked to parents/carers and children, and worked closely with the 

headteacher and staff. 

Headteacher Laura Caulfield said: “We are very pleased with the 

outcome of this inspection. I would like to thank all of our staff from our 

teachers to wider school support staff who work so hard to deliver for our 

children. This report also reflects very well on our pupils who we are so 

lucky to work with on a daily basis. We can take many positives from this 

experience and we will look to work on specific areas to ensure our young 

people are provided with the best possible learning experience.” 


A Year of Progress: Our Journey in 

Protecting Local Ecology and Biodiversity 

As the year draws to a close, the Ecology and Biodiversity Team is 

excited to share some of the key projects they’ve been working on 

Protecting Our Waterways 

With Forth Rivers Trust (FRT) Trust we’ve 

been controlling Invasive Non-Native 

Species along the rivers Almond and Avon; 

mapping species and training community 

groups to control plant spread. FRT also 

shored up eroding banks with living native 

willow, created ponds and planted native 

wildflowers to enhance habitats. Involving 

the local community has been key to this 

work - boosting knowledge and skills to 

promote a shared sense of environmental 

stewardship. 

Monitoring Meadows 

Buglife are monitoring our wildflower 

meadows for the next four years, to help 

inform management of these crucial habitats 

for pollinators. Community involvement is an 

essential aspect of this project, with training 

for local people to help us identify and record 

pollinators. We had 3 great workshops this 

year - look out for more next summer. 

Replanting Blackmoss 

Nature Park 

We aim to restore the park’s natural 

ecosystem by protecting the bog from 

invasive conifer growth and reintroducing 

native species back to the woodland. 

Following the removal of non-native 

conifer trees, this year the Tree & 

Woodland Team and the Ranger Service 

helped us to replant native broadleaf trees 

with the local community. 

Enhancing Whitburn Town Walk 

New planting has created a richer, more 

engaging natural environment along this 

recently upgraded active travel route. 

In a joint effort with the Parks and 

Woodland team, schools and local 

volunteers, over 600 trees and 1,000 

native wildflowers have been planted 

along the Walk. 

Restoring Great Crested Newt 

Habitats 

In Pumpherston, we’ve been restoring 

habitats for the Great Crested Newt, a 

species facing decline and protected 

by law. With Edinburgh and Lothians 

Greenspace Trust, we’ve removed 

encroaching scrub plants over existing 

ponds, created new ponds suitable for 

breeding and enriched the habitat with 

additional planting. 

Tackling Blue-Green Algae at 

Beecraigs Loch 

Blue-green algae is an indicator of 

excessive nutrients in water bodies and 

can be harmful to pets and people. 

As the loch has had a problem with this, 

we conducted a nutrient survey to identify 

the root causes and are working on plans 

to reduce nutrient levels in the water. 

REMEMBER, REMEMBER KEEP 

YOURSELF SAFE ON 5TH 

NOVEMBER 

The West Lothian Community Safety Partnership is working to ensure that everyone 

can enjoy a safe bonfire period this November. 

If you encounter an unregistered bonfire that is already alight please contact the 

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) on 999. 

Illegal or any other suspicious activity can be reported to Police Scotland by calling 101 

or alternatively contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. 

On finding bonfires under construction but not yet lit or combustibles suspected of 

being used for bonfire purposes, NETS/Land Services or Roads should be contacted 

through the West Lothian Council Contact Centre on 01506 280000. 

4 insidenews / Winter August 2024 Email your news to InsideNews@westlothian.gov.uk or call 01506 282006

Modern Apprenticeships 

(MAs) are for people who 

have left school and are 

mostly aged between 16- 

19 years of age and live in 

the West Lothian area. 

Apprentices across the council receive 

practical and theory learning, with all 

apprentices completing college work which 

is combined with on-the-job training with 

experienced staff. Apprentices work across a 

variety of roles including roads, horticulture, 

fleet mechanic, electricians, plumbers, 

joiners, plasterers and roofers. 

The council also employs Modern 

Apprentices in office- based roles such as 

Accounting, Customer Service, the Advice 

Shop/Financial Inclusion and Planning 

Services. 

Meet some of our Modern 

Apprenticeship Graduates 

Connor Dickson 

Trade: Horticulture 

School: James Young High School. 

What attracted you to applying to the apprenticeship programme? 

I was attracted to the programme as this as a career progression for me. I was 

previously on a seasonal contract doing garden maintenance. 

What have you enjoyed whilst completing the programme? 

I have had a lot of new experiences, going to different places and enjoyed attending 

College. 

What advice would you give to anyone completing their apprenticeship or 

considering applying for one? 

I would advise anyone completing their apprenticeship to work hard and for anyone 

considering applying, to enjoy the experience. 

Cerys Graham 

Trade: Learning and Development 

School: Bathgate Academy 


At the time I was working on a council employability scheme and was on placement within 

the learning and development team. I was able to see the many benefits apprenticeships 

can offer from expanding my qualifications, gaining work experience to building essential 

core skills. I loved the idea of earning whilst you learn and was very fortunate that an 

apprenticeship came up during this time in something I was so interested to be a part of. 

What have you enjoyed while completing the programme? 

I am so grateful as it has taught me a lot I’ve had the chance to get a wide range of 

different experience which includes - coordinating other apprenticeships, promoting 

apprenticeships, developing council employees through training courses and other 

upskilling opportunities and have truly felt I have made a difference. 



I would advise all apprentices to work hard, don’t be afraid to ask questions and take on 

board every aspect of your apprenticeship. Remember it’s your apprenticeship and your 

future so enjoy it and make the most out of it! 



It was a good job opportunity to gain a qualification through the council. 

What have you enjoyed whilst completing the programme: 

Enjoyed every part of the apprenticeship, it was a good experience. It was good to do the different 

placements. 



Stick at it and if someone asks about it’s a good opportunity and it’s worth taking the chance. I would 

advise anyone completing their apprenticeship to work hard and for anyone considering applying, 

to enjoy the experience. 

Ryan McDougall 

Trade: Roads Maintenance 

School: Whitburn Academy 


I was attracted to the programme as I was keen to learn the trade. 


I have enjoyed meeting new people and getting more and more involved in the role. 

What advice would you give to anyone completing their apprenticeship 

or considering applying for one? 

I would advise anyone completing their apprenticeship to work hard and for anyone 

considering applying, to enjoy the experience. 

Ryan Scott 

Trade: Horticulture 

School: Whitburn Academy 


My brother completed an apprenticeship in Roads and highly recommended it. 


Working with different people and the training opportunities I have had. 

What advice would you give to anyone completing their apprenticeship 

or considering applying for one? 

Go for it, you won’t regret it. The apprenticeship is a really good experience. 

Andrew Cormack 

Trade: Roads Maintenance 

School: St Margaret’s Academy 

An additional congratulations to Alister Gerrard who completed 

his Roads Maintenance apprenticeship. 

A special mention for Michael Hare who successfully completed 

his apprenticeship in Horticulture. Sadly, Michael passed away 

before receiving recognition for his achievements, Michael’s 

work ethic and enthusiasm for his apprenticeship mirrored his 

ability as an apprentice and he is missed by his colleagues and 

friends within the council. 


The first phase of work is being undertaken by artist and stone mason David F Wilson. 

Work on West Lothian Covid memorial underway 

Construction of a new memorial garden in Livingston to remember those lost in the Covid 

pandemic is underway. 

The garden for local residents is located at 

Almondvale Park in Livingston town centre, 

beside West Lothian Civic Centre. 

Scottish art and design studio Bespoke 

Atelier have worked extensively with West 

Lothian groups and communities to generate 

ideas. 

The finished design includes a includes 

a feature wall made of recycled stone and 

striking sculptural centre piece called ‘The 

Ribbon’ with artistic renderings of plants and 

flowers that symbolise remembering those 

who passed away as a result of the virus. 

Construction is hoped to be complete by the 

end of November 2024. 

Public Arts Officer Camille Archer has taken 

a leading role in helping to deliver the project 

in West Lothian. 

She said: “It has been incredibly touching 

to speak with members of the public who 

have been contributing their own items to 

be incorporated in the design of the garden. 

With work well underway, I am sure that 

the new memorial garden will provide a 

space for people to come and reflect on 

their experiences and as well on cherished 

memories of those lost during the pandemic.” 

West Lothian Winter plan approved 

Staff in Operational Services have been hard at work preparing 

West Lothian for the winter period. 

Winter 

2024/25 

A minimum of 30,000 tonnes of salt will be 

available to treat West Lothian’s network of 

which consists of around 1,000km of roads 

and over 1,300km of footways. 

Two dedicated crews will be in place to 

help replenish over 2,000 grit bins across 

the council area during the winter period. A 

total of 25 self-help points where residents 

can collect salt supplies will also continue. 

The winter plan covers the priority system 

which we use to treat roads and footways 

during winter conditions, with the primary 

carriageway routes being treated 24 hours 

per day as required. 

Interim Head of Operational Services 

David Maule said: “Our Winter Service Plan 

aims to ensure we take all reasonable steps 

to help cope with the impact of winter 

weather. 

“We do not have the resources to treat all 

the roads and footways at once, so we have 

adopted a priority system, which ensures 

key roads are treated 24 hours a day as 

required. 

“Local residents can help, if they are able, 

by clearing residential roads and paths 

outside their properties if they wish using 

salt from their nearest grit bin or one of our 

25 self-help points. 

“Please take time to familiarise yourself 

with the councils winter plan and we’ll do 

our best to keep everyone moving over the 

winter period.” 

Read more our preparations 

for the winter 


Join 16 days of Action to end gender-based violence. 

Did you know, there were 2,433 

incidents of domestic abuse recorded 

to Police Scotland in West Lothian in 

2023/24? 

T 

he West Lothian Gender based violence 

committee is a partnership of services 

from across the council, as well as other 

multi- agency partners working together to 

improve outcomes for all and help reduce these 

shocking statistics. 

Whilst work is carried out an ongoing 

basis, each year the group looks to engage 

West Lothian in the annual 16 days of action 

campaign to raise awareness about genderbased 

violence, and challenge it. 

You are invited to join in the local campaign and 

work towards reducing and changing these 

statistics so that West Lothian is a safer place for 

1 in 4 women will experience 

domestic abuse in their lifetime, and 

1 in 5 children will be exposed to 

domestic abuse. 

everyone to live. 

Senior Manager of Children and Justice 

Services, Pauline Cochrane chairs the West 

Lothian Gender based violence committee and 

she advised: 

“The Committee partners are working 

collectively to eradicate all forms of genderbased 

violence within our community, including 

the underlying attitudes and inequalities that 

perpetuate it. Gender Based Violence damages 

health and wellbeing, limits freedoms and 

potential and is one of the most distressing and 

fundamental violations of human rights. 

“We all have a responsibility to work 

together to raise awareness and change 

these devastating statistics and I would like to 

encourage all colleagues to take time to support 

the campaign starting on the 25 November. 

There will be lots of opportunities for you 

and your team to help play a role in ensuring 

women and girls in West Lothian are equally 

safe at home, at work and in the community, so 

please join us.” 

A march and rally will take place on the first 

day of the campaign, Monday 25 November. 

The march will start at West Lothian College 

before finishing outside West Lothian Civic 

Centre where you will get to hear important 

messages from individuals involved in the 

campaign. All are welcome to attend and 

further details will be shared prior to the event. 

More information 

Ogilvie teacher’s 

trip of a lifetime 

Ogilvie School Campus teacher, Alex Finlay 

has a truly memorable summer spending 

part of her break volunteering in Namibia. 

A 

lex and her husband volunteered at the 

Naankuse Foundation Wildlife Sanctuary. 

The sanctuary started in 2007, and ever since 

orphaned, injured and human-habituated 

animals having sought out the solace of the 

sanctuary ever since. Whenever possible their 

goal is to release animals back into the wild - 

only those too ill, abused or habituated 

remaining at the sanctuary. 

Recounting on her time in Namibia, Alex said: 

“Tracking rhinos and giraffe, feeding carnivores 

and exercising baboons and cheetahs are some 

of the highlights of volunteering at the The 

Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary, I spent two weeks 

there this summer with my husband Graeme. 

“We had never done anything like this before, 

but we wanted to visit southern Africa, ride out 

across the Savanah and “safari”. After a bit of 

research, we decided volunteering would allow 

us to get more involved with the animals we 

wanted to see, and help with their protection 

and conservation. 

“We booked our trip through The Mighty 

Roar and after an induction and being issued 

with uniforms, all we had to do was show up 

each day to be allocated our tasks. Over the 

fortnight we met so many wonderful people 

who were knowledgeable and passionate 

about conservation. We spent many hours 

driving, riding and walking in the bush, and 

got close to stunning wildlife on the reserve. 

The whole trip far exceeded my expectations. 

I would recommend volunteering as a great 

way to visit a new country, and to make a 

contribution in a way that suits your interests. 

You don’t necessarily need to have specialist 

skills.” 

You can find out more about the Naankuse 

Foundation Wildlife Sanctuary via their 

website. Click here for more on The Mighty 

Roar. 

8 insidenews / Winter 2024 

Email your news to InsideNews@westlothian.gov.uk or call 01506 282006

West Lothian sweeps up third 

spot in spring clean 

The Cleaner Communities team routinely clean up, collect and 

manage the mountains of litter, and also work with local volunteers to 

collect bags of litter that are filled as a result of community litter picks. 

The Anti-Poverty Service undertook 

a week of activity during national, 

Challenge Poverty Week holding 

a total of 27 engagement session. 

These were a mixture of virtual 

and in person events designed to 

challenge perceptions on poverty 

and make people aware of vital 

support services available to them 

if required. 

T 

hanks to the combined efforts of the 

Cleaner Communities team and local 

volunteers, over 1,280 tonnes of litter was lifted 

from West Lothian’s streets and parks last year. 

Schools, businesses and local volunteers received 

support from the team as West Lothian was 

ranked third in Scotland for participation in the 

Keep Scotland Beautiful annual Spring Clean 

campaign earlier this year. 

In West Lothian alone, there were 285 events 

registered, which saw 2323 Volunteers take part 

including the involvement of 36 schools and 19 

local businesses during the Spring Clean. 

Bankton Primary School was one of the schools 

who took part in the Spring Clean with pupils 

playing an active role in keeping their community 

clean all year round. 

Staff from the council’s Cleaner Communities 

Team recently visited the school to thank pupils 

for their hard work and demonstrated how to use 

some of the machinery they deploy in their daily 

work to tackle litter across West Lothian. 

What’s on this 

festive season 

Starry Nights @ Beecraigs Country Park 

December 6-23 

Linlithgow Museum 

This December, the spectacular Starry 

Nights 22nd experience Nov will - 31st transform 

Dec 2024 

Beecraigs Country Park into a glittering 

Christmas wonderland. This magical 

illuminated event, running from 

December 6 to 23, is an unforgettable 

evening of festive entertainment and 

Christmas-themed joy for all the family. 

There’s so much to do, with Singing 

Trees, a By Fairy Sam Den, Stuart Candy Fraser, Cane Reece Lane, 

McInroy 

& 

Christmas Campfire Pete in Sneddon 

the forest with 

marshmallows, 01506 340700the Snowball Blizzard, 

and www.howdenparkcentre.co.uk 

the mischievous Grinch. 

Linlithgow Museum brings to life the rich 

history of the ancient and Royal Burgh of 

Linlithgow for locals and visitors alike. 

Upcoming events and exhibitions 

include a Christmas Bauble Workshop, 

Festive Fright Night and the Presents 

from the Past exhibition. There is a lot to 

see and do. Follow their Facebook page 

or visit their website to keep up to date 

with news and events. Opening times – Friday and Saturday (10am to 4pm) and Sunday (1pm to 

4pm). Linlithgow Partnership Centre, 93 High Street. 

By Sam Stuart Fraser, Reece 

McInroy & Pete Sneddon 

oor aladdin 

29th Nov - 

29th Dec 

2024 

01506 639000 

www.reconnectregal.com 

22nd Nov - 31st Dec 2024 

By Sam Stuart Fraser, Reece McInroy 

& 

Pete Sneddon 

01506 340700 

www.howdenparkcentre.co.uk 

By 

oo 

29th No 

29th De 

2024 

01506 6390 

www.reco 


Civic Centre 

Hub now available for staff 

A room on the first floor of the Civic Centre has 

been turned into the council’s first Wellness Hub. 

T 

he Hub is intended to support 

employee wellbeing by providing a 

private space for quiet time, relaxation and 

stress relief. The comfortable environment 

of the wellness room will be conducive to 

private or sensitive discussion, prayer, 

mindfulness practices or simply moments of 

solitude in a safe space. 

The Wellness Hub is located within the 

first left room, central stairway on the first 

floor of the Civic Centre. 

Use of the room will be available on 

a whenever free / vacant basis. Staff are 

invited to visit the wellness room during an 

open-door day on Wednesday 30 October 

where colleagues will be on hand to answer 

any questions around the use of the room. 

The NHS Lothian Charity Trust provided a 

donation of £500 towards the completion of 

the project. 

Equality and Diversity Officer, Pamela 

Roccio said: “We continue to look to ensure 

we promote an inclusive and supportive 

workplace culture where people have 

confidence that their safety and wellbeing 

is a priority. I’d like to thank Facilities 

Management Colleagues for their work to 

deliver the Wellbeing Hub and I would also 

like to thank the NHS Lothian Charitable 

Trust for its kind donation.” 

Dawn is in the running 

for top award 

Good luck to Community Regeneration Officer Dawn Roden who is 

up for ‘Achiever of the Year’ at the annual Jog Scotland Awards 

She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled and delighted to be a 

nominee for this award. When I started on my running 

journey with Livingston Parkrun, achieving a 5k run 

without stopping felt like an pipe dream. Fast forward 

a few years and I’m running half marathon distances 

regularly and training for an ultra-marathon. Never in 

my wildest dreams did I expect to be recognised for my 

running achievements, its mind blowing. 

“Truth be told, it’s all about the people. Surround 

yourself with great people and great things will happen, 

it’s as simple as that! Taking part in Parkrun and joining 

Longridge Jog Scotland has changed my life.” 

Lesley Henderson has been 

confirmed as the Head of 

Corporate Services 

Lesley was in the position of 

Interim Head of Corporate 

Services since January 2022. 

Prior to this she was in the role 

of HR and Support Services 

Manager for eight years. 

New guidance has been 

developed to support 

transgender and 

transitioning employees 

in the workplace. 

The council wants all staff to feel included and to be able to fulfil their potential without 

fear of discrimination. This includes colleagues whose gender identity doesn’t match the 

gender they were assigned at birth and who may identify as trans (or transgender). 

The Supporting Transgender People in the Workplace Guidance provides information 

for all staff to increase awareness of gender identity matters and information to assist 

managers in taking a person-centred approach to supporting any employee who is 

transitioning, recognising that each person’s experience is different. 


James Young High School secures 

Gold UNICEF Award 

Pupils and staff at the James Young High School (JYHS) have successfully 

achieved the UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting School Award. 

It’s been a golden year for pupils and 

staff at St Joseph’s Primary School 

in Linlithgow as they have secured a 

number of significant awards. 

After achieving the Silver ‘Rights Aware’ 

Award in March 2023, JYHS set its sights 

on securing the successfully achieving this 

accolade after a visit from UNICEF assessors 

in June 2024. The assessors toured the 

school, met with groups of pupils and staff 

and studied evidence of a wide range of 

activities throughout the school year. 

One of the key elements of the award is 

ensuring pupils know their rights as defined 

by the United Nations Convention on the 

Rights of the Child. This was achieved by 

a range of assemblies, poster displays, an 

‘Article of the Week’ in the daily bulletin and 

lessons in Personal and Social Education. 

Students come to understand that their 

rights exist automatically from birth, cannot 

be taken away and do not depend on 

upholding responsibilities. 

The assessors described JYHS as ‘a school 

with inclusion at its heart’ and praised the 

integrated i-Aspire approach which provides 

nurture and support to pupils with a range 

of additional needs, and the school’s ‘JYHS 

Cares’ promise focusing on the values of 

Compassion, Aspiration, Respect, Equality 

and Success. 

Headteacher Tricia Gallagher, said: “I am 

so proud to be the Headteacher of a school 

where Children’s Rights are embedded 

within all that we do. I can’t thank the staff, 

pupils and parents/carers enough for their 

dedication and work which has taken us to 

this amazing point in our history.” 

In session 2023/2024 the school achieved: 

• GOLD Reading school’s status 

• GOLD Rights Respecting School award 

• GOLD Sports award re-accreditation 

In more good news, St Joseph’s was also 

successfully reaccredited with an Eco Flag which 

recognised the school’s creative approaches to 

outdoor learning, Eco enterprise projects and the 

schools planning programme which saw us provide 

fresh food and vegetables for a local foodbank. 

Headteacher, Ann Smith said: “We may be a 

small school but together we are very powerful! 

We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful 

school community who helped us achieve all of 

this alongside our dedicated staff and of course our 

amazing pupils.” 

Congratulations to… 

Calum Salven, Housing 

Investment Officer who got 

married recently. Wishing 

Calum and Rachel all the best 

for the future! 

A group of staff from Knightsridge Primary School who 

participated in the Moonwalk, raising awareness and money 

for breast cancer charities. 

Joanne Kerr, Elizabeth Ramsay, 

Craig Potter and Aisha Mackay 

completed the Full Moon, walking 

26.2 miles around Edinburgh 

overnight. Ali Glidden (KEYC) did 

the Half Moon, walking 13.1 miles. 

They completed the challenge 

in memory of their colleague 

Caroline Forrester. 

Heather Read (Advanced Pupil Support 

Worker at Ogilvie school campus) who 

ran a half marathon at the Edinburgh 

Marathon in May this year. Heather’s son 

was recently diagnosed with diabetes so 

she ran to raise funds for diabetes UK. 

Heather raised £768 and has already started training for next 

year’s Edinburgh marathon. Well done Heather and best of luck 

for the full marathon! 

Welcome to… 

Nicola Greenhorn, Team Manager, who has joined from the 

Performance & Change Team. Lisa Gilfeather, Customer 

Facilities Assistant. Iryna Andreichuk, Customer Facilities 

Assistant. Lindsay Banks, Customer Service Officer. 

Elizabeth Ferguson, Customer Facilities Assistant. Ailsa 

Abraham, Customer Services. Susan Erskine, Customer Services. 

Happy retirement to… 

After 21 years of service to West Lothian Council Mrs Sue Andison has retired from teaching. She 

has been a greatly valued member of staff at Pumpherston and Uphall Station Community Primary 

School since the new building opened, and prior to this as a teacher in the old Pumpherston 

School. The school held a special assembly for her last day and while everyone is very sorry to see 

Mrs Andison go, we wish her all the very best for this exciting new chapter in her life. 


Case Study 

Key Worker Carolann 

has been a part of the 

team at Eliburn Day 

Centre for 13 years. 

Eliburn Day Support Service 

provides a valuable support 

service for adults with profound 

learning disabilities and complex 

physical and health care needs. 

Every day, Carolann and her colleagues 

at Eliburn support and empower service 

users to achieve their potential, be as 

independent as possible, alongside 

develop new skills and have meaningful 

opportunities. This is achieved in a personcentred 

way involving individuals, parents/ 

carers and any professionals involved in 

supporting people within their day to day 

life. 

A personal connection inspired Carolann 

to give up a career in hairdressing and 

pursue a career in social care. While 

completing an HNC at West Lothian 

College, she went on placement at Eliburn 

Day Service and has never looked back. 

Carolann said: “I initially wanted to look 

at working in the Criminal Justice sector 

however after my first day on placement 

at Eliburn I soon changed my mind and 

I’ve been here ever since. We work on a 

one-to-one basis or in small groups with 

individuals with a wide range of complex 

needs offering positive opportunities to 

engage in. 

“Every day starts with meeting people 

as they come in the morning and working 

with them to plan their day, meeting 

individual outcomes through a range of 

activities and experiences that help people 

develop as individuals and connect with 

others. We could be supporting service 

users to engage in sensory activities, 

communication work or regular essential 

exercise or engaging in meaningful 

local community events. For example, 

we established a knitting session and 

individuals have contributed to the 

making of hats for new born babies at St 

John’s Hospital. We also look to give back 

Every day is different in 

this role but I really wouldn’t 

change it for the world. 

to those who have helped us and recently 

service users were supported to raise over 

£2,000 for the Cash4Kids appeal. Most 

recently some of the younger people at 

Eliburn are being supported to take part in 

the Duke of Edinburgh Award. 

“Like many teams across the council, 

we have had to adapt the way we work in 

recent years but this has led to us working 

closer than ever before with teams across 

social policy, education and health to 

share our resources and knowledge to 

more imaginatively support service users. 

“Every day is different in this role but I 

really wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve 

found myself doing things I never thought 

I was capable of and I’m very fortunate to 

be part of such a great team at Eliburn. I 

find it extremely rewarding to know that 

I, along with my colleagues can make a 

real difference to the life of an individual 

and provide respite for their families. For 

anyone considering pursuing a similar 

career, I would thoroughly recommend it.” 


Nourish @ Craigswood 

now open 

We are thrilled to announce the grand 

opening of ‘Nourish,’ our brand-new 

coffee bar at Xcite Craigswood! 

Xcite CEO Ben Lamb joined customers and the Xcite 

Craigswood team to celebrate the launch of this exciting 

new space on Thursday 19 September. 

One of our favourite features is the addition of 

gallery wall, showcasing modern artwork created 

by the talented students from the neighbouring 

Beatlie School. 

Nourish @ Xcite Craigswood is now open daily from 10am - 3.30pm, 

serving a delicious variety of hot and cold drinks, fruit smoothies, 

and light bites – all with a focus on supporting Scottish suppliers. 

Menu 

Kick-Start Your 

Fitness Journey 

with Xcite! 

Experience Padel Tennis at Xcite 

Bathgate! 

Our brand-new indoor Padel tennis court has been a huge hit 

with players of all ages! 

If you haven’t tried Padel yet, now’s the perfect time to 

discover why it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the 

world! Plus, no need to worry about the weather — our fully 

enclosed, state-of-the-art court ensures you can play in 

comfort all year round. 

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or completely new to the 

game, Padel is fun, accessible, and a fantastic way to stay 

active. Bring some friends and give it a go! 

Session Details: 

Price: £20 for members, £22 for non-members 

Duration: 1-hour session for up to 4 players 

Book a session via the Xcite WLL App or online at 

westlothianleisure.com 

Ready to get active? Join Xcite today and take advantage of all the 

amazing benefits of our great value memberships! With venues across 

West Lothian, you can enjoy access to: 

Seven state-of-the-art gyms 

Over 300 live fitness classes every week, including Aqua classes 

1-2-1 sessions and expert advice from our gym instructors 

Swimming, sauna, and steam rooms 

Selected memberships also include access to golf at Balbardie Park 

(Xcite Bathgate) & Polkemmet Golf Course, plus racquet sports like 

badminton, tennis and pickleball! 

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 More info 

range of facilities. 

Get Your Child Active with 

Xcite Academy Coaching! 

Get the latest 

information right at 

your fingertips! 

View activities, make 

bookings and stay up 

to date with the latest 

news on the WLL Xcite 

App now. 

Download today from 

the App Store or Google 

Play. 

We have exciting new availability in our 

Xcite Academy kids coaching courses! From 

golf and football to gymnastics, badminton, 

and our award-winning Learn to Swim 

programme, our coaching courses are a 

fantastic way to keep your kids active, build 

confidence, and make new friends. 

With expert coaching and a fun, supportive 

environment, children of all skill levels can 

develop essential physical and social skills 

while having a great time! Visit the link 

below to explore our latest availability 

and give your child a head start in fitness, 

friendship, and fun! 

More info 

Keep in 

touch... 

www.westlothianleisure.com 

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

Inside News

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