Buckie High student celebrates election to Scottish Youth Parliament
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A BUCKIE Community High School (BCHS) student has been elected to the Scottish Youth Parliament.
The election, which ran in Moray from January 15-26, was open for all young people aged 12 to 26.
Isla Palmer from BCHS, as well as Ben Stewart from Forres, and a student at Stirling University, were elected and became Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) this year.
The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) is the democratically elected voice of Scotland’s young people. Around 160,14–25-year old’s are elected every two years to represent every part of Scotland and campaign for positive change.
Moray Council’s Youth Work Team support the two MSYPs to engage with young people in Moray and take forward issues and views to local and national decision makers.
Education, youth work and antisocial behaviour were the focal points of Isla Palmer's campaign.
She said: “I’ve seen first-hand the young people that have gotten lost through the education system and the people not getting recognition for their hard work and commitment within the community.
"I want to make a better and brighter future for everyone. It’s important that each person feels valid and gets the guidance and help they’re deserving of.”
Ben Stewart, who has been a community councillor since he turned 16, focused his campaign on rights, education, poverty and income inequality.
He commented: “I want to be an MSYP as I’m deeply passionate about being a representative of young people.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to enact positive change and can enable me to bring issues that’re important to young people to the surface and allow them to be tackled head-on.”
The chairwoman of Moray Council’s education, communities and leisure services committee, Councillor Kathleen Robertson, said: “Congratulations to both Isla and Ben for this amazing achievement.
"It’s great to see the young people of Moray getting involved in the Scottish Youth Parliament and striving to make a difference in the community.”
The Scottish Youth Parliament’s vision for Scotland is to be a nation that actively listens to and values meaningful participation of young people. They are a youth-led charity representing all young people aged 12 to 25 in Scotland and aim to give young people a national platform to discuss the issues that are important to them, and campaign for change.
More information on the Scottish Youth Parliament can be found at https://syp.org.uk/about-syp/
