Campaigns
The SYP campaigns on various issues which affect Scotland's young people. It 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 its campaign to achieve 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, MSYPs choose environmental protection and climate change as their next national campaign. The campaign was named "Pack it Up, Pack it In", and was formally launched in October 2019. In October 2020, it was decided by the organisation that the next national campaign will focus on a rights-based approach to the COVID-19 Pandemic recovery in Scotland. This campaign was titled 'Bounce Back'.Governance
The Board are responsible for the strategic direction of the organisation and are officially the charity's legal custodians. 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. As the organisation is youth-led the chair, vice-chair and trustees are young people. They are democratically elected during SYP's Annual General Meeting by the membership of that term. The Current Chair is Sophie Reid MSYP, and the current Vice-Chair is Mollie McGoran MSYP. The board of trustees consists of the Chair, Vice-Chair, and; Crisantos Ike MSYP, Abbie Wright MSYP, Emma Prach MSYP, Gavin Stewart MSYP, Ellie Craig MSYP, and Olivia Brown MSYP.History
The group has previously held meetings in the General Assembly Rooms (former temporary home of the Scottish Parliament) in Edinburgh) and also within the new Scottish Parliament building., most recently in 2017.Partner organisations
The Scottish Youth Parliament works in partnership with many other organisations, including: * The Scottish Government * The Scottish Parliament and its members * Scottish local authorities * UK Youth Parliament *Chairs
The Chair of SYP is elected, usually annually, by MSYPs. A normal term of service is twelve months, although some Chairs have served for longer periods of time for reasons such as a delay in the SYP elections, and some for shorter periods of time for reasons such as resignation. The Chair of SYP is a voluntary position and is unpaid. The Chair convenes and facilitates meetings of the Board and the full Scottish Youth Parliament. They are the primary ambassador of SYP to the public. There have, to date, been 20 Chairs of SYP since 2000.Chief Executive Officers
Alumni
Ross Greer, Green MSP for the West of Scotland and the youngest MSP ever elected to the Scottish Parliament (2016–present), is a former MSYP. Danielle Rowley, former Labour MP for Midlothian (2017–19), is a former MSYP.See also
* Aberdeen City Youth Council * Community youth development * Youth politics * Youth rights *References
External links
* {{Authority control Youth empowerment organizations 1999 establishments in Scotland Politics of Scotland Youth organisations based in Scotland Youth-led organizations Youth model government Political organisations based in the United Kingdom