The next Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) elections take place Tuesday 9th November – Sunday 21st November, and young people across Scotland are encouraged to get involved.
The SYP is designed to be the democratically elected voice of Scotland’s young people, with elections held every 2 years. Young people aged 14 – 25 years old can stand as candidates and become elected Members of the SYP (MSYP), helping create positive change in their communities.
Young people can stand for election as MSYPs in 2 ways:
- as one of 2 MSYPs in their Local Constituency
- through a number of voluntary organisations that have representative MSYPs
The votes of young people give MSYPs their democratic mandate to represent the views of Scotland’s young people. In the last elections (held in 2019), over 70,000 votes were cast. MSYPs can have a crucial role to play in Scottish public life, from representing young people across the country to running impactful campaigns. Successful previous campaigns include:
- Right Here, Right Now, which was fundamental in incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots Law
- All Aboard, which recommended free bus travel for young people, which is being introduced later this year
Previous MSYPs have described it as “a life changing experience”. Elected members have the opportunity to improve the lives of Scotland’s young people, learn new skills, and meet other inspiring young people.
The SYP is committed to ensuring young people can realise their right to be heard, and believe that young people’s voices matter.
The deadline for expressions of interest in standing as a MSYP is Wednesday 30th June.
To register your interest, please visit the dedicated registration page.
Alternatively, for further information (including a series of resources on becoming a MSYP and the election process), visit the SYP website.
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