Conveners Group

The SYP has recently altered its organisational structure to give young people greater control over the SYP’s policy-making agenda, including the including SYP campaigns.

It is the intention of the organisation that the Conveners Group will be the main co-ordinating group, responsible for delivering the SYP’s objective: getting decision-makers to listen to young people!

The group will decide on how the SYP deals with all policy matters. It is made up of the 10 elected Subject Committee Conveners and supported by the SYP’s policy staff. It meets on a quarterly basis, as well as holding occasional online meetings. Meetings are facilitated by the SYP Vice Chair, who acts as a non-voting member. The Group also elects a Trustee Director to represent it on the SYP’s Board.

Conveners

The individual Subject Committee Conveners may act as a media spokesperson on issues covered by their Committee, represent the SYP at conferences and events as well as co-ordinating the work of their Committee as required and directed by the Conveners Group.

Subject Committees

In session 2009-2010 Subject Committees will work on a reactive basis, getting together to work on issues identified by the Conveners Group.

In practice, this means that every Subject Committee won’t always meet at Sittings (only when required) and everyone will be concentrating on our central Being Young is not a Crime campaign.

By working in this way we get the maximum benefit for the organisation and the young people of Scotland.

For more information about individual Subject Committees, please click here.

Current Membership

As of February 2010, the members of the Conveners Group are:

• Laura Gorman MSYP (Dundee West) – Culture & Media
• David Leitch MSYP (Livingston) – Education & Lifelong Learning
• Vacancy – Enterprise, Employment & Training
• Jamie O’Neill MSYP (Glasgow Anniesland) - Equalities
• Kris Sinclair MSYP (Paisley South) – External Affairs and Conveners Group representative to the SYP Board
• Fiona Beaton MSYP (Girl Guiding Scotland) – Health & Wellbeing
• Barry Thomson MSYP (Aberdeen North) – Justice
• Julie Lennox MSYP (Glasgow Springburn) – Social Justice
• Chimuka Nyamutale MSYP (Airdrie & Shotts) – Sport & Leisure
• Josh Kane MSYP (Coatbridge & Chryston) – Transport, Environment & Rural Affairs
• Liam Beattie MSYP (Roxburgh & Berwickshire) – SYP Vice Chair (non-voting member)

For more information, or to contact any of the Conveners Group, please get in touch with Rob Gowans at rob.g@scottishyouthparliament.org.uk