Board Elections 09 - Candidates for Vice Chair

Below are listed the candidates for Vice Chair together with their candidate statements. The election will be held on Sunday 14nd June at the SYP AGM in Edinburgh.

Liam Beattie (Roxburgh & Berwickshire)

liam.beattie.msyp@sypmail.org.uk

I have sat on the sidelines of the Scottish Youth Parliament for the past two years and I have watched this organisation grow from strength to strength. I feel that I now have the initiative and determination to make sure this organisation keeps growing and keeps listening and campaigning on behalf of the young people of Scotland.

I believe the most fundamental responsibilities for the Vice Chair are to support the Chair of the SYP in day to day duties in Rosebery House to Government meetings in Holyrood. I believe it is key that the Vice Chair is there to assist the Chair at all times and to stand in for the Chair when needs be. I also believe it is fundamental to work well alongside the General Manager and other members of staff to form a good working relationship for the year in office. Listening to the views and needs of the membership is also key, as you are only elected if the membership votes for you. This meaning that the membership is putting their trust in you to represent them both at national level and at a local level.

I feel I can do this by making sure the organisation keeps moving and adapts to the needs of young people in Scotland. I want to listen to every young person from Lerwick to Langholm and from Stranraer to Stonehaven I want to make sure young people can have their say on how they feel their national youth parliament should represent them.

I feel that with being involved with so many different aspects of SYP this has given me an insight into the ethos of this organisation. I have a real passion for the rights of young people and that we are both listened to by decision makers and that we are acted upon.
I have represented the SYP at a local, national and international level throughout my last term and I want to build upon the success I have had locally and take this to a national level.

These are ever changing times for young people in Scotland and we need to stay one head of the game as the national youth voice for Scotland. We cannot simply make decisions about what young people believe if we do not know what the opinion of the majority of young people in Scotland is.

I have built a very good working relationship with decision makers from all levels from Brussels to Newtown St Boswells. I believe it is vital we engage with all decision makers as they are the ones making decisions of our behalf. Without good engagement they will not know or understand the needs of young people in Scotland.

I also feel I have very good media skills, which I have gained through being a Media Representative for Scotland in UKYP and using local media. I have used television, internet, newspapers and radio to publicise the work of SYP. I believe this is something that is vital for an organisation to make sure that there is a healthy media interest in the organisation.

I believe I have consistently demonstrated that I am well placed to face the challenges of this role.

Marc Dickson (Hamilton North & Bellshill)

marc.dickson.msyp@sypmail.org.uk

I’ve been a member of the SYP for almost five years now and in that time I have managed to grow as a person into the successful young man that is before you now. Voting me as Vice Chair is voting for one of your own as Vice Chair, because, as those that know me will tell you, I’m not the type who will keep the membership uninformed, I’m not the type to keep secrets about anything, if I cant tell you something I guarantee there will be a good reason given for why. If I’m elected as Vice Chair I know that I will be able to take the SYP to newer and greater heights so I’m asking for you to vote for me on the 14th of June because I don’t think I’m the best person for the job, I KNOW I’m the best person for the job!

I feel that I am the best person for the role of Vice Chair because I am confident in myself and my ability to lead the SYP in a successful direction if elected. I’m outgoing, charismatic, energetic and fun. I want to take the SYP on to newer and greater heights than we’ve ever been to before because I know that we can do it as a group, as a TEAM!!!

As Vice Chair of my local youth forum, I feel that this role has prepared me for becoming chair of the SYP in a way that I firmly believe that I am ready for this responsibility. I have been involved with many different projects locally with my youth council and nationally with the SYP, I played a major role in the production of the Social Justice DVD “Finding Your Place”, where I displayed some of the different skills I have, such as the ability to work in a team with the other MSYPs to create what I feel is a very successful piece of work. Utilising my leadership skills to be the Director for scenes, determining how they were shot, from which angle and other ways. I also feel that I showed my creativity and ingenuity when editing the footage to bring together the final piece, which received a standing ovation at the last AGM in Stirling.

I have proved time and time again that I am dependable for all types of things, from filming the CIVICUS Youth Assembly and creating a DVD about that, to going to meeting in the SYP office for the Procedures Group and other things too. I feel that over my years in the SYP I have developed as a person, as an MSYP and as a human being, standing for Vice Chair is the next logical step for me and I hope that you will all believe in me as much as I believe in myself for this role.