Applications from young people wishing to stand in the Scottish Youth Parliament’s 2023 elections are now being sought.
Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP), also known as MSYPs, are aged between 14 and 25 and are democratically elected every two years – two each for every Scottish Parliament constituency.
In East Dunbartonshire, two constituencies – Strathkelvin & Bearsden and Clydebank & Milngavie – will be contested with candidates having a chance to represent other young people in their local community. Two East Dunbartonshire candidates will be elected to represent Strathkelvin & Bearsden and one East Dunbartonshire candidate will be elected to represent Clydebank & Milngavie.
Prospective candidates have until Friday 1 September to register their interest in standing to become an MSYP. They will then receive training to help develop their skills over the summer before they launch their election campaigns in the autumn.
Across Scotland, young people will then cast their ballots to choose who they want to represent them for the next two years between Monday 6 - Sunday 19 November.
Across Scotland, young people will then cast their ballots to choose who they want to represent them for the next two years between Monday 6 - Sunday 19 November.
Throughout their current term, MSYPs in East Dunbartonshire have played a full part in the life of the SYP:
- In early 2023, they hosted the SYP’s pop-up event which ran alongside the virtual sitting of the Youth Parliament. They took part in training and discussed the SYP’s Right to Food campaign which was one of their key campaigning issues.
- They are involved in national groups such as the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) review panel, SQA learner panel, SYP Human Rights & Equalities, SYP Mental Health Investigation Team, Net Zero Energy and Transport (NZET) parliament committee, UNCRC Residential and Women’s Empowerment Group.
- They are subject committee members of Human Rights and Equalities, Transport, Environment & Rural Affairs and East Dunbartonshire Council Education Committee. Each committee takes a responsibility for a specific area of policy. Within their committees MSYPs have carried out consultation work and engaged with the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Government, charities and other organisations.
- MSYPs continue to campaign for stronger restrictions on advertising and the distribution of vapes/e-cigarettes in order to reduce the negative impact on young people’s health and the environment.
MSYPs have aligned their focus to address the SYP’s four key campaigning issues:
- Drug misuse as a public health concern
- The climate emergency
- The right to food
- Educational attainment.
Mollie McGoran MSYP, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament said,
We’re excited to launch our elections for people aged 14 to 25 across the country to stand to become MSYPs, ahead of our 25th anniversary as the democratically elected voice of Scotland’s young people in 2024.
“This is a chance to join a uniquely youth-led organisation to campaign for change on the important issues that young people care about. As well as giving a voice to children and young people, MSYPs will also build their confidence and learn new skills all whilst having fun and making friends along the way.”
Leader of East Dunbartonshire Council, Gordan Low added, “It is vitally important that we hear the voices of young people and that we empower them to stand up and have their say about the things that matter to them.
“The Scottish Youth Parliament plays an important role in decision making at the highest level so it is right that we cast the net far and wide in East Dunbartonshire to encourage as many young people as possible to come forward to find out how they can get involved.”
Since 1999, MSYPs have successfully campaigned for change for Scotland’s children and young people in their mission to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up.
Previous campaign successes have included free bus travel, protecting young people’s rights by campaigning to bring the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law, and calling for 16 and 17 years old to be able to vote in all Scottish elections.
Young people interested in standing for election to SYP can find out more and register online at Scottish Youth Parliament [opens in a new window] or contact Amy O’Donnell, National Elections Coordinator on 0141 777 3082 or amy.odonnell@eastdunbarton.gov.uk
All candidates will receive regular support and training.
