Young Scots for Independence
The Young Scots for Independence (YSI), formerly known as the SNP Youth, is the official youth wing of the Scottish National Party (SNP) composed of SNP members aged between 16 and 30.
Young Scots for Independence | |
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Headquarters | Gordon Lamb House 3 Jackson's Entry Edinburgh EH8 8PJ |
Ideology | Scottish independence Scottish nationalism Social democracy |
Mother party | Scottish National Party |
International affiliation | European Free Alliance Youth |
Website | ysi.scot |
The YSI maintains autonomy from the SNP and as such is entitled to formulate its own policies and run its own campaigns.
The YSI is represented on the SNP National Executive Committee by the National Convener and is entitled to send delegates to party conferences as well as nominate members for internal positions within the party.
Objectives
The organisation has 4 main aims that are set out in its constitution, these are:
(b) the furtherance of all Scottish interests;
(c) to promote, co-operate and assist the Scottish National Party in its endeavours to realise independence for Scotland and the furtherance of Scottish interests; and
(d) to promote the political representation and interests of young people in Scotland.
History
The organisation was set up in the 1970s to campaign for Scottish Independence under the name of the Young Scottish Nationalists (YSN) before changing its name in 1996 to the Young Scots for Independence. For a period it was also known as the SNP Youth.
During the 2014 Independence Referendum Campaign the organisation took a short hiatus during the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum campaign working on projects such as Generation Yes. It subsequently relaunched and implemented significant reorganisation in 2015.
Many prominent members of the SNP have been involved with the YSI, including the current party leader and First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills John Swinney and Derek Mackay, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, the Economy and Fair work.
Regional Associations of the YSI
To ensure members from across Scotland can play an active part in the organisation the YSI has a regional level sharing the same boundaries of the Scottish Parliament regions for the election of 56 list MSP's. These are:
- Central Scotland
- Glasgow
- Highland's & Islands
- Lothian
- Mid-Scotland & Fife
- North East Scotland
- South of Scotland
- West of Scotland
Regional Associations are governed by the constitution of the organisation, the Scottish National Party and the organisations ‘Regional Association Rules’ and are organised by a Regional Executive Committee elected by the members of the respective regions.