Dumfries and Galloway Youth Council and Scottish Youth Parliament Sign Up Open
Friday, 01 September 2023 14:38
Dumfries and Galloway Youth Council (DGYC) and Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) Elections are now OPEN for young people to register their interest in standing as a candidate!
The Youth Council is a youth-led organisation made up of 35 young people from across our region and it is their role to represent the voices of young people on a local, regional, and national level to decision makers. The Youth Council was established in 2019 and this is the third full-scale elections cycle.
There are three types of representatives on the Youth Council:
- Ward Youth Councillors: this role is about representing the views of young people who live, work or study in each Ward area to local decision makers. There are two Ward Youth Councillors for each of the region’s 12 Ward areas.
- Nominated Youth Councillors: this role is about representing the views of young people who have minority identities from across our region to local decision makers – there’s a Nominated Youth Councillor role for Young Carers, Care Experienced Young People, Young People with Additional Support Needs and Disabilities, Ethnic Minority Young People, Young People from Gypsy Traveller communities, Young Parents and LGBT young people.
- Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament: this role is about representing the views of young people to national decision makers through the Scottish Youth Parliament. There are four seats available across the region broken into two for each constituency Galloway and west Dumfries and Dumfriesshire.
Any young person in S1 or above can become a Ward or Nominated Youth Council Member. Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament must be aged 14+ at the time of the elections in November 2023. The sign-up link is below:
https://linktr.ee/DGYouthCouncil
Being a member of the Dumfries and Galloway Youth Council is an incredible opportunity for young people who are interested in being instrumental in making sure that young people’s voices are represented and heard in decision making. Serving a two-year term, DGYC members advocate on behalf of their peers. As well as ensuring that these voices are heard, it is an invaluable experience which can assist the development of a young person’s confidence, communication, and leadership skills.
The current membership has benefited from regular meetings and support, training days residentials and representing young people in various guises. Members of Dumfries and Galloway Youth Council have been key players creating opportunities for young people across the region.
Information and training sessions will be available for young people to attend upon registering their interest as will assistance to run their campaign should they decide to become a candidate.
Councillor Ian Blake, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Communities Committee said: “I would encourage any young person within the age range to put themselves forward to become part of Dumfries and Galloway’s next regional Youth Council. Our Council is in full support of the Youth Council and are impressed with their vision and dedication so far ensuring our region is a better place for young people to live, learn and work. We are committed to collaborating with the Youth Council and are excited to see how it further develops during this next term.”
Councillor Jackie McCamon, Vice-Chair of Communities Committee added: “The Youth Council have achieved so much since being established in 2019 and as a Council, we are excited to launch the third full-scale elections process for young people. Elected Members want to hear from young people in our local communities and the Youth Council provides a unique link to young people and an opportunity to listen and act upon what young people have to say.”
Dumfries and Galloway Youth Council’s Chair and Vice-Chair, Finlay Anderson, MSYP for Galloway and West Dumfries and Cloe Allison, Ward Youth Councillor for Stranraer and the Rhins said; “The Youth Council isn’t just about what you as a Member can do for young people, it’s also about what you can get out of being involved in a youth-led organisation – we have both had amazing opportunities as individuals and part of the organisation that we wouldn’t have had the chance to do had we not decided to become a candidate at the last elections sign up! If you think it’s important for young people to be included when decisions are made that affect us, then sign up today!”.
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