NORTH EAST FIFE
North East Fife is a diverse and beautiful constituency, taking in Levenmouth, the Howe of Fife, the East Neuk, the royal burgh of Cupar and communities on the south banks of the Tay. It is home to Leuchars Army and former RAF base. St Andrews is the home of golf. It is also home to St Andrews University, Scotland’s oldest university, established in 1413.
The university is the area’s major employer. My constituency’s other industries include tourism, farming, agriculture and our vital fishing communities. One area that combines a number of these is the growth in distilleries in the constituency that are providing both produce and visitor attractions. Our whisky distilleries and North East Fife’s increasing number of gin distilleries, such as Eden Mill, Pilgrim’s, Darnley’s of Kingsbarns and Lundin Links.
I am delighted to see that the reinstatement of the Levenmouth railway is now moving forward. This will see one of the local communities that is most poorly served by public transport properly connected to the central belt of Scotland. I commend the work of the members of the Levenmouth Rail Campaign for their efforts in this regard.
CONSTITUENCY CONCERNS
Me and my casework team have dealt with over 20,000 constituency cases since January 2020 and continue to support constituents across a range of local and national issues and personal concerns.
People are at the heart of all the Communities and are very engaged with local issues, such as the removal of services, including cash points and post offices, access to Banks and local amenities.
Rural poverty, geographic isolation, travel links, caring responsibilities, health and wellbeing, cost of living, education and environmental issues are concerns brought to me.
Lack of affordable housing in North East Fife also continues to be very challenging.
USEFUL CONTACTS
Fife Council
For Homeless Emergencies call 0800 028 6231
For Housing Information/Advice is 03451 55 00 33
Adult Protection is 01383 602200
Social Work is 03451 55 15 03 and their Out of hours emergency number is 03451 55 00 99
Free 24-hour Fife Covid Community Helpline is on 0800 952 0330
Health & Wellbeing Advice
NHS Inform: 0800 028 2816
NHS24: Call 111
Breathing Space: 0800 83 85 87/ https://breathingspace.scot/
Scottish Association for Mental Health: 0344 800 0550/ info@samh.org.uk
Samaritans Scotland Helpline: 116 123/ jo@samaritans.org
The Well - Fife Health and Social Care Partnership
St Andrews Well
NEF Community Hub St. David's Centre, 47 Albany Park, St Andrews, KY16 8BP
every Tuesday 10am to 12noon
Community Voice
19 Crossgate, Cupar, KY15 5HA
every Wednesday 1pm to 3pm
Leven Well
Cupar Well
Forth Street Hall, Forth Street, Leven, KY8 4PF
every Wednesday 10am to 12noon
Silverline
24hr helpline for older people - 0800 4708090
Fife Women's Aid
0808 802 5555 - fifewomensaid.org.uk
Welfare Advice & Support
Universal credit: www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-universal-credit
Employment Support Allowance (ESA): www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/how-to-claim
Fife Citizens Advice
Employment Rights Advice
www.acas.org.uk/ 0300 123 1100
Relay UK: 18001 0300 123 11000
Foreign Travel Advice
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
UK Consular Assistance Team: 020 7008 1500
https://www.gov.uk/going-and-being-abroad/british-nationals-overseas