First Minister and Cabinet hold talks with youth reps

On Tuesday afternoon, young people briefed ministers on their campaigns for the year and delivered speeches and demonstrations meant to show that it isn't just up to young people to grow into leaders who make changes in the future; it's up to the current leadership to take the concerns of the future seriously and work together.

Ellie Craig MSYP, Chair of SYP, said that many issues young people are passionate about will require "cultural change," which must start now.

"The decision-makers at the top level, the First Minister and the Cabinet have a place to try and address the culture and attitudes that persist within the issues that we are campaigning for, and we need them to set the example for the rest of Scotland."

The Children's Parliament and SYP each have three key campaigns this year.

For the Children's Parliament, these are bullying and mental health in schools, climate crisis education and concerns about the rise in vaping among young people.

Members commented on the lack of education about climate change, saying, "If we knew more about it, we wouldn’t worry as much and could help."

Others spoke about how young people who struggle with mental health or are being bullied are left to feel like they don't exist. They identified bullying as a major contributor to mental health problems.

Members of the Children's Parliament left their meetings on Tuesday with a sense of validation.

"If we’re listened to and taken seriously it makes us feel like our rights are real," one member said.

Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament and Children's Parliament briefed Scottish Government ministers on key issues that they are campaigning for this year. (Image: Scottish Government)  

SYP is campaigning for better investment in youth work services, ending gender-based violence, and increasing mental health education and training for students and staff.

Martha Dickie, MSYP for Girlguiding Scotland, spoke to ministers about how the government can help to end gender-based violence by considering how legislation impacts people of all genders, but especially women and young girls.

"Gender-based violence is a very broad term that includes any identity," she said but added that everyone has a role in addressing the underlying causes.

This extends to the culture of peer pressure that might cause men and young boys to behave abusively and find ways to encourage positive relationships from a young age.

One way to do this is to increase the availability of youth work projects, which Hamish Nott, MSYP for Inverness and Nairn, said are instrumental to building young people's skills and confidence. 

"Whether it's kicking a ball around on Friday night or speaking to Cabinet members, youth work is anything that builds social skills that you keep with you for the rest of your life. 

"They can't really teach you those in schools, so youth work gives you the kind of informal environment to learn important life skills."

Ellie Craig MSYP, centre, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said that Tuesday's meetings gave young people a chance to demonstrate their commitment to change. (Image: Scottish Government)

The final SYP campaign initiative is implementing mental health education and training for students and teachers. 

Sophie Kerrigan, MSYP for Stirling, said this doesn't mean turning every student and staff member into a qualified expert. Instead, it's about providing a baseline understanding of mental health and positive coping strategies and having people who students trust be capable of helping when they are needed the most.

"In my speech to ministers, I talked about Covid. I was 12 when Covid happened, and I'm 17 now, but I still see the effects of it. I still see people around me not being able to socialise, not being able to talk to people, and not having that base of skills. 

"I think we moved on from Covid too soon; we haven't talked enough about how young people have dealt with it."

By helping everyone who comes into contact with young people in their work better understand good mental health practices, Sophie said it becomes more likely that someone a young person already trusts will be able to help them.

Following the sessions, First Minister John Swinney said he hopes the meetings demonstrate a commitment to making sure young people's "voices are heard, valued and taken seriously at all levels of government."

“Scotland is the only country to hold an annual Cabinet meeting with children and young people.

“Today, my Cabinet engaged in discussions with representatives from the Children’s Parliament and the Scottish Youth Parliament, on the issues that are important to their peers from across all of Scotland.

"These annual meetings are an important and valued way for children and young people have a chance to contribute and have their say on the decisions that affect them.”