Scottish Youth Parliament

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

Scottish Youth Parliament Ltd.
Formation1999
TypeCompany limited by guarantee
Location
FieldsYouth empowerment
representation
Chair
Jack Dudgeon
Websitesyp.org.uk

The SYP is made up of around 166 democratically elected young people aged from 14–25 across Scotland.[1] Representatives are known as Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs). Every constituency area elects two MSYPs to represent the views and opinions of the young people of the area. In addition, some MSYPs also represent Voluntary Organisations such as The Boys Brigade, Scouts Scotland, LGBT Youth Scotland and Haggeye.

The SYP meets three times a year, with each of their annual sittings being held in a different Scottish local authority.

The four core values of the SYP are rights, democracy, inclusion and political impartiality.

The SYP campaigns on various issues which 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 aged 16 and 17 could vote in the Referendum on Scottish Independence in 2014. SYP has campaigned on a range of issues: from their campaign on Equal Marriage – Love Equally - to their Young Carers Campaign – Care. Fair. Share. SYP's 2017-18 campaign - Right Here Right Now - centred on improving the protection of young people's rights in Scotland, and was successful in securing a commitment from the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) would be incorporated into Scots Law. The Scottish Youth Parliament's 2018–2019 campaign was "All Aboard", which sought to improve young people's experiences of public transport in Scotland. At the July 2019 Sitting of the Scottish Youth Parliament they choose environmental protection and climate change as their next national campaign, which will be formally launched in October 2019.

The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees made up of a Chair, Vice Chair, four Trustees and a Convenors Trustee. The roles of Chair, Vice Chair and the four trustees are elected roles voted by MSYPs at the annual AGM (generally in late June/early July). The Convenors Trustee is a convenor of one of the subject committees and is voted on by fellow convenors at the AGM. All the members of the board are MSYPs over the age of 16.

At the 2019 AGM, held at Alva Academy in Clackmannanshire, Jack Dudgeon MSYP (MSYP for Eastwood) was elected chair, Josh Kennedy MSYP (MSYP for Renfrewshire North & West) was elected Vice Chair, Sarah Quinn MSYP (MSYP for Airdrie & Shotts), Bailey-Lee Robb MSYP (MSYP for Cowdenbeath), Caitie Dundas MSYP (MSYP for Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch) and Emily Harle MSYP (MSYP for Glasgow Kelvin) were elected trustees and Liam Fowley MSYP (MSYP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley and Convener of Education and Lifelong Learning Committee) was elected Conveners Trustee.

The Charity is Supported by a Staff Team of 10.

The Current Chief Executive Officer and Company general secretary is Ben Mckendrick. The current Deputy Chief Executive Officer is Jamie Dunlop.

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] and the Scottish Parliament itself.

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, Welsh Youth Parliament, 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[5] 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
2018–2019 Suki Wan Glasgow Shettleston
2019–Present Jack Dudgeon Eastwood

[6]

Chief Executive Officers
Years of Office Name Time Served
2002–2003 Alan Gemmell 11 Months
2003–2004 Stephen Bermingham 9 Months
2004–2006 Derek Millar 1 Year, 11 Months
2006–2008 Kelly Chambers 1 Year, 5 Months
2008–2010 Ann Brown 2 Years, 5 Months
Sept 2010-June 2011 Interim CEO 7 Months
2011–2015 Hamira Khan 4 Years, 1 Month
2015 – Incumbent Ben McKendrick 5 Years, 1 Months

[7]

Governance

The Scottish Youth Parliament is a company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in Scotland No: SC227548[8] and a charity registered in Scotland No: SC032662[9] and is governed by a board of Trustees elected directly by the Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament.

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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. Dyke, Peter (3 January 2008). "Big Brother: Meet the contestants". Dailystar.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  6. "Board Members". Scottish Youth Parliament. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  7. "Board Members". Scottish Youth Parliament. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  8. "SCOTTISH YOUTH PARLIAMENT - Overview (free company information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  9. "OSCR | Charity Details". www.oscr.org.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
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