Scottish Youth Parliament

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Scottish Youth Parliament Ltd.

Type Company limited by guarantee

Industry Youth empowerment/representation

Founded 1999

Headquarters Edinburgh, Scotland

Area served Scotland

Key people

Chair:

Grant Costello MSYP

Vice Chair:

Rae Cahill MSYP

Trustee Directors:

Emily Shaw MSYP

Keenan Alexander MSYP

Dariush Saheli MSYP

Andrew Deans MSYP

Jordan Linden MSYP

Website syp.org.uk

The Scottish Youth Parliament, also known as SYP, is a democratic, politically independent, inclusive, charity set up by a group of passionate youth workers as a national voice for young people in Scotland.

Its mission statement says, "Our vision is of a stronger, more inclusive Scotland that empowers young people by truly involving them in the decision making process". In more detail, the SYP lists its aims as offering young people in Scotland a collective national youth voice; making a difference in society by increasing young people's participation by promoting a positive image of young people; connecting the processes of policy making and development with young people; being an independent and youth-led organisation free from influence where young people can give their views to policy makers without hindrance, fear or barriers.

Since its inception the SYP has been committed to being an organisation which involves young people across the whole of Scotland[vague] and, holds its 3 annual meetings in various locations throughout the country; From the Shetland[1] and Orkney[2] islands to venues in the City of Edinburgh. The work of the SYP is centred around involving young people in the decision-making process, particularly in consulting with young people and campaigning for these views to be adopted by the relevant decision-makers.Contents [hide]

1 Structure

2 History

3 Partner organisations

4 Chairs

5 See also

6 References

7 External links

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Structure

Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) are elected for two year terms, must be aged 14–25, and are elected in one of two ways:

As a constituency representative (two for each Scottish Parliamentary Constituency to a total of 146 MSYPs)

As a representative of a national youth voluntary organisation such as the YWCA, LGBT Youth Scotland and Down's Syndrome Scotland (two for each organisation to a maximum of 54 MSYPs)

Constituency MSYP elections are organised by the local authority responsible for that area and it is the responsibility of the local authority to support their elected MSYPs. MSYP elections are organised by the relevant local authority and use either the STV or FPTP voting systems.[3] Voluntary Organisation MSYPs must be elected from an organisation that represents young people from the whole of Scotland and once more that organisation is responsible for supporting their MSYPs.

The SYP is youth-led, and holds internal elections annually to appoint a Board of Trustees, consisting of a Chair, Vice Chair and Three Trustee Directors. Also elected are 10 Subject Committee Conveners, who form the organisation's Conveners Group and select a further Trustee Director to join the Board. The Committee Convener takes on responsibility for co-ordinating the work of their Subject Committee and becomes the lead spokesperson on in that area. A Deputy Convener is also elected.

These two groups of board members & Conveners help to lead the organisation. Youth empowerment being a fundamental key to the organisation, no major decisions are taken by anyone over the age of 25.

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History

The Scottish Youth Parliament was launched on the 30th June 1999 in Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh,[4] one day before the first meeting of the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Youth Parliament has previously held Sittings in the General Assembly Rooms (former temporary home of the Scottish Parliament) in Edinburgh[5] and also within the new Scottish Parliament building.[6] It meets 3 times a year in different locations throughout Scotland.

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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, and the British Youth Council.

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Chairs This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2011)

Years of Office Name Constituency/Voluntary Organisation

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

2008-2008 Kieran Collins Edinburgh South

2009-2009 Sam Kerr LGBT Youth Scotland

2009–2011 Derek Couper Livingston

2011–Present Grant Costello East Kilbride

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