Scottish Youth Parliament

Scottish Youth Parliament Ltd.
Formation 1999
Type Company limited by guarantee
Location
Area served
Scotland
Fields Youth empowerment
representation
Chair
 Suki Wan
Vice Chair
 Jack Dudgeon
Website syp.org.uk

The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) is a politically-independent organisation that aims to represent the young people of Scotland.

The SYP is made up of around 150 young people aged from 14–25 across Scotland.[1] Representatives are known as Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs). Every constituency area can elect two MSYPs to represent the views and opinions of young people. In addition some MSYPs also attend representing Voluntary Organisations. The SYP meets three times a year.

The SYP campaign on various issues that affect Scotland's young people. The Youth Parliament has been an advocate for Votes at 16 since its inception in 1999 and has campaigned for it ever since. Notably ensuring that Young People could vote aged 16 and 17 in the Referendum on Scottish Independence. The Scottish Youth Parliament have campaigned on a range of issues from their campaign on Equal Marriage – LoveEqually to their Young Carers Campaign – Care. Fair. Share. The Scottish Youth Parliament's current campaign is "Right Here, Right Now", which focuses on the rights of young people, and was chosen at the 63rd SYP sitting in June 2017 by MSYPs in Vale of Leven, West Dunbartonshire. MSYPs voted in June 2018 by MSYPs at their sitting in Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway for their next campaign to be about public transport.

History

The Scottish Youth Parliament was launched on 30 June 1999 at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh,[2] one day before the first meeting of the Scottish Parliament.

The group has previously held meetings in the General Assembly Rooms (former temporary home of the Scottish Parliament) in Edinburgh[3] and also within the new Scottish Parliament building.[4]

Partner organisations

The Scottish Youth Parliament works with many other organisations, including Scottish Government, Oxfam Scotland, CIVICUS, Scottish Local Authorities, UK Youth Parliament, Funky Dragon, Northern Ireland Youth Forum, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People, YouthLink Scotland, Highland Youth Voice, and the British Youth Council.

Chairs

Years of Office Name Constituency/Voluntary Organization
2000–2001 Steven Jack STUC Youth Committee
2001–2002 Katrina Greig Hamilton North and Bellshill
2002–2004 Steven Kidd Motherwell and Wishaw
2004–2005 Paul Kane Glasgow Springburn
2005–2007 Rajiv Joshi Glasgow Govan
2007–2008 John Loughton Edinburgh North and Leith
2008 Kieran Collins Edinburgh South
2009 Sam Kerr LGBT Youth Scotland
2009–2011 Derek Couper Livingston
2011–2013 Grant Costello East Kilbride
2013–2014 Kyle Thornton Glasgow Southside
2014–2015 Louise Cameron Moray
2015–2016 Jordan Linden Uddingston and Bellshill
2016 Katie Burke North East Fife
2016–2017 Terri Smith Edinburgh Northern and Leith
2017–2018 Amy Lee Fraioli Rutherglen
2018–present Suki Wan Glasgow Shettleston

[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Holyrood welcomes back Scottish Youth Parliament" (Press release). Scottish Parliament. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "Parliamentary Business : Scottish Parliament" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. 14 August 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Photocall and public meeting: Scottish Youth Parliament meeting in Scottish Parliament chamber for first time" (Press release). Scottish Parliament. 23 August 2002. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  4. ↑ "Youth Parliament To Sit at Holyrood" (Press release). Scottish Parliament. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "Board Members". Scottish Youth Parliament. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
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