Members’ Business: Kenneth Gibson: Congratulations to CHAP on 25 Years of Serving the Community

That the Parliament congratulates the Ayrshire-based charity, Community Housing Advocacy Project (CHAP) on marking 25 years of service; recognises that the organisation began with volunteers offering free housing advocacy and, since becoming a registered charity in 2000, has expanded to provide professional advice and support in welfare rights, debt management and the delivery of educational sessions on homelessness awareness and financial literacy in secondary schools and colleges, alongside outreach services across Ayrshire; notes that CHAP has retained Type III accreditation under the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers since 2009, reflecting, it believes, its commitment to quality and consistency; acknowledges that the charity achieved a total of £10.4 million in financial gains for its clients between August 2021 and July 2025, helping to alleviate poverty for 1,230 individuals; commends the organisation for its independence and its commitment to offering all services free of charge, despite the ongoing challenges of sustaining operations in an environment marked by reliance on short-term, non-recurring external funding; understands with concern that few charities achieve such longevity without the security of long-term core funding; believes that advice and advocacy services, such as CHAP’s, save public funds while building resilience and stability in communities, contributing to both national and local strategies, and welcomes greater priority being given to safeguarding and financially supporting CHAP and similar organisations, so that they can continue to thrive and deliver value for money in Cunninghame North and across Scotland. Further details available for S6M-19003