Press Release
Nicole nominated for top young politician award
Shetland’s Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, Nicole Mouat, has been nominated for The Scottish Variety Awards Best Up and Coming Scottish Politician 2011, alongside five other MSYPs from throughout Scotland.
Elected as Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament for Shetland in December 2008, Nicole has represented the isles’ young folk at a local, national and international level.
Councillor Bill Manson, Spokesperson for Education, Children and Young People, said he was delighted to learn about the nomination.
“It is a just reward for the amount and quality of work Nicole has done. She has been an outstanding representative for Shetland’s young people and well deserves to win the final award.”
Tavish Scott MSP said: “I'm delighted Nicole has been nominated. It’s well deserved given the power of work she's been putting in representing Shetland in the Youth Parliament. Here's hoping she wins!”
Among other activities, the Lerwick lass has organised secondary school question and answer sessions with Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Tavish Scott MSP throughout Shetland. These are set to continue this year.
During late 2009 the Scottish Youth Parliament launched its ‘Picture the Change’ national consultation, in preparation for the Scottish Parliamentary elections this year. The aim was to make sure that young people were heard clearly in the SYP’s ‘youth manifesto’. Nicole and some friends toured Shetland and consulted with young people throughout the isles. They travelled over 172 miles by land and sea and took 4062 statements.
She has recently been working to increase media awareness of youth politics in Shetland, notably on BBC Radio Shetland, and in the magazines ii Shetland and Shetland Life. A column in the Shetland Times was launched in November 2010, celebrating the achievements and opportunities for young people in the islands.
Nicole was “thrilled and shocked” to have been nominated.
“After two years as an MSYP, it’s amazing to be recognised for all the work that’s been done nationally and locally,” she said. “I think it’s brilliant to have the opportunity to represent the young people of Shetland and give them the chance to be heard. It’s what the Scottish Youth Parliament is all about, showing that young people can make a difference even though they can’t vote.”
Nicole paid tribute to Shetland Islands Council Support Worker Martin Summers and Chair of Shetland Youth Voice Emily Shaw for the help they have given her.
Anyone can vote for Nicole via www.clyde1.com/sva and via the Scottish Sun website soon.
MSYPs are elected by young people in their local area or a national organisation in which they are involved. As an MSYP you have been democratically elected by young people to represent them and ensure their voice is listened to by local and national decision-makers. The three main ways in which MSYPs do this are:
- Consulting with young people in your local area or organisation
- Campaigning on issues which affect young people
- Representing young people’s views to individuals and organisations who make decisions which affect the lives of young people
See Nicole on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/YouthVoiceReps#p/a/u/0/klkjU6YfgCs.