Press Release
Scottish Youth Parliament National Sitting
Last weekend, Nicole Mouat, MSYP and Emily Shaw, Chairperson of Shetland Youth Voice, attended the Scottish Youth Parliament sitting at the Howden Park Centre in Livingston.
The girls arrived at the centre where the Scottish Youth Parliament was welcomed by the SYP Chair, Derek Couper, as well as Tam Baillie, the Children and Young Person’s commissioner for Scotland, and a representative from West Lothian’s Council. The member’s motions followed the introductions, creating interesting debate. Topics discussed included the Trident Nuclear Missile System, the need for more bereavement and loss support for Young People in Scotland as well as the issue of prioritising funding for Youth projects within local organisations and the need for a panic button on all web pages to improve internet safety for Young People. All 4 motions passed and after a short break, the Scottish Youth Parliament was spilt into groups of around 10-15 MSYPs and guests.
Each group was to decide on 5 issues discussed in member’s motions over the course of the previous year that they would want to be in this years SYP manifesto. There were 10 groups and by the end of the session (entitled myManifesto) 50 issues had been decided on. Nicole and Emily’s group prioritised issues such as coroner’s inquests for Scots who have died abroad, more Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual education in schools as well as compulsory political, citizenship and democracy education in schools.
In the evening the MSYPs were treated to a silent disco which was enjoyed immensely by everyone.
Sunday was the SYP Annual General Meeting and the elections to the Board and for the Subject Committee Conveners took place. Nicole chose to become part of the Transport, Environment and Rural Issues Subject Committee, and both girls felt that some of the issues discussed in this first meeting were extremely relevant to Shetland. After subject committee meetings, the sitting came to an end.
Councillor Bill Manson said “The Scottish Youth Parliament is an important organisation. Our local MSYP plays an important role to act as the representative for young Shetlanders at a national level. I look forward to seeing the work around the organisations new manifesto in the coming months.”
Nicole and Emily said “We enjoyed this sitting immensely and gained a lot from it. As usual, the debates that took place over the course of the weekend have given us ideas to bring back to Shetland.”
Since returning from their last sitting in Coatbridge that took place in March, the girls have made presentations to secondary pupils at the Anderson High School and plan to have many more of these assemblies in schools across Shetland. They are also in the process of planning a street stall to promote Shetland Youth Voice and the Scottish Youth Parliament, to take place in July.
For more information please contact Nicole Mouat MSYP on nicole.mouat.msyp@sypmail.org.uk or Emily Shaw chairperson of Shetland Youth Voice on shawemily@hotmail.co.uk
Alternatively check out the Shetland Youth Voice facebook page www.facebook.com/shetlandyouthvoice