The Scottish Youth Parliament is a politically-independent organisation which aims to represent the young people of Scotland. The SYP is made up of around 166 democratically-elected young people aged from 14–25 across Scotland. Representatives are known as Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament. 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, The Scouts, 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 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. 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 was elected chair, Josh Kennedy MSYP was elected Vice Chair, Sarah Quinn MSYP, Bailey-Lee Robb MSYP, Caitie Dundas MSYP and Emily Harle MSYP were elected trustees and Liam Fowley MSYP 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, one day before the first meeting of the Scottish Parliament. The group has previously held meetings in the General Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh and also within the new Scottish Parliament building., and the Scottish Parliament itself.
The Scottish Youth Parliament is a company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in Scotland No: SC227548 and a charity registered in Scotland No: SC032662 and is governed by a board of Trustees elected directly by the Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament.
