SYP Weekly Update 119
12th November 2009
Find out more about what's happening in the SYP in our weekly updates, click on the section title to take you to more information for each of the articles...
List
Events
- Take part in Brian's Big Debate
- TEDx
- Fundraising for SYP
Communications
UK and International
Policy
General
- Movember to Remember
- Seen & Heard Awards 2009
- Introducing Scottish Womens' Aid
- ‘How u feelin?’
- International Youth Arts Festival
FYI
NOTE: Some of the opportunities mentioned in the Weekly Update may apply only to Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs). Please email rob.g@scottishyouthparliament.org.uk for guidance.
Take part in Brian's Big Debate
BBC Scotland's Political Editor, Brian Taylor, is chairing another debate on Friday the 20th November, with his weekly live radio show Brian's Big Debate. Those of you who were at the June Sitting will remember Brian facilitating an excellent discussion, and we’re sure this one will be no different. To mark this year’s Children in Need Appeal day Brian will be joined by special guests including SYP Derek Couper discussing issues that affect Young People, along with the week's big news stories.
Are YOU free to be part of the debating audience on Friday the 20th at 12:30 at BBC Scotland in Glasgow?
Yes? - contact Rob at rob.g@scottishyouthparliament.org.uk by Tuesday 17th November noting your interest. Please be prepared to submit a topical news question on any relevant youth issue or news story from that week by the 19th. Questions should be very brief and to the point - the more concise the question the more chance of your question being chosen. There are limited spaces available so hop to it and let us know if you’re up for it.
TEDx
Scotland is the home of a great deal of good ideas, where models of social and economic innovation have been pioneered throughout its history. In these tough financial times, its more important than ever to make the most of people’s time, skills and passion when money is tight – sometimes this can produce much more than a scheme dripping with cash ever could!
Learning how to make the most of social capital and assets can generate massive ‘real’ economy wealth, reducing the dependency on money and financial investment, is important today more than ever - we need to maximise the value of all available resources.
TED is a small non-profit organisation devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment and Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader and now it’s coming to Scotland for the first time!
TEDx Edinburgh will be taking place on Thursday 26th November from 3 – 6pm in Edinburgh. The programme will consist of a mixture of videos from TED.com and short talks from local speakers. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading sustainably and without having to cost a fortune, the event is free, public and streamed live online without money exchanging hands. It is produced and delivered using mainly freely available technologies or sponsored services which have been made available at no cost. It aims to be run with a low carbon footprint and minimal economic and environmental impact.
If you’d like to go along to the event you can register online by clicking here. For more info live check out the event website at www.tedxedinburgh.com, or get in touch with TEDx on 07967 553426 or tedxedin@googlemail.com
Fundraising for SYP
Our new Fundraising Intern Katie Fowler is looking at how the organisation can diversify our funding and we're looking for your input! Katie's put together a short survey (10 questions) which we'd like all MSYPs to fill in by this coming Monday (16th November) at the latest. You can access the survey here.
Back to List Watch this space! There are no communications opportunities this week.
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The Wave
On Saturday 5th December, ahead of the crucial UN climate summit in Copenhagen, thousands of people from across Scotland, from all walks of life, will flow through the streets of Glasgow to demonstrate their support for a safe climate future for all. The Wave is organised by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland.
Join The Wave - Scotland’s biggest ever demonstration in support of action on climate change! They want the UK Government to Share Scotland’s Ambition, Protect the Poorest and Act Fair & Fast. Click here to find out the key messages the Coalition wants to put across.
The organisers are looking for people to come along to the event – click here to sign up. If you want to get even more involved, they’re also looking for volunteers to:
- Invite 10 - simply invite 10 friends to come to The Wave and ask each of them to ask another 10
- Make sure everyone in your workplace/ class knows about The Wave
- Volunteer to be a Community Mobiliser in your area
- Join 'The Wave Scotland' Facebook group
- Organise a bus and fill it!
- Come along on the day and take part in the march - and bring all your family and friends!
- Volunteer to be a steward on the day
If you are able and willing to help out with any of these tasks please get in touch with Sarah Watson on 0141 285 8875 or sawatson@oxfam.org.uk. For more info check out www.the-wave.org.uk/scotland
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Watch this space! There are no policy opportunities this week.
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Movember to Remember
SYP loves moustaches!
Like these? Wait and see what we’ve grow in a few weeks time! A number of us gents at SYP are putting down our razors for one month in aid of Movember to help raise awareness and funds for men’s health – specifically prostate cancer.
What many people don’t appreciate is that one man dies every hour of prostate cancer in the UK, more than 35,000 men will be diagnosed this year and that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. Facts like these have convinced us that we should get involved and I am hoping that you will support us.
So what can you do to help, I hear you ask?
To donate to our Mo appeal, all you need to do is click this link http://uk.movember.com/mospace/421542/ and donate online using your credit card, debit card or PayPal account.
To find out more about Movember and the amazing work they’ve been doing in partnership with The Prostate Cancer Charity check out website http://uk.movember.com
Seen & Heard Awards 2009
BT, in partnership with the UK Youth Parliament, organise the Seen and Heard Awards as part of the Better World Campaign, which aims to provide young people with the skills and opportunities to effect real social change.
They're looking for inspiring young people from around the world. Young people who've made a real difference to their own lives and the lives of others. Young people who make their voices heard about the issues that matter.
Whether it was contributing to a magazine, defending the rights of young carers, or giving a voice to children on the streets – if you or someone you know has used their speaking and listening skills to achieve something positive, Seen and Heard want to hear about it!
If you're successful, you'll get the chance to tell your story through the 2009 Seen and Heard report – a publication which will be seen by young people, UK MPs and other decision makers around the world. Winners in the UK will also be invited to attend a national Seen and Heard awards ceremony, and have the chance to meet other young people like them.
Entering the awards is easy. If you're a young person, just tell us a little about what you have achieved by answering the questions on our entry form. You can also nominate a young person or group using the same downloadable form. To nominate an adult or organisation that has helped you to be Seen and Heard, simply follow the instructions on the website. Click here to apply.
Find out more about the awards and read stories from last year's winners by visiting the Better World website by clicking here or by emailing seenandheard@bt.com
The closing date for entries is Friday 20th November 2009, so get those nominations in today...
Introducing Scottish Womens' Aid
With the forthcoming 20th anniversary of the UNCRC, and the commitment within SYP Manifesto that ‘Domestic abuse is completely unacceptable and community services should do more to prevent it.’, Scottish Women’s Aid are keen to introduce themselves to MSYPs and tell you a bit about their work.
Scottish Women’s Aid is the leading organisation in Scotland working towards the prevention of domestic abuse. They play a vital role in campaigning and lobbying for effective responses to domestic abuse.
Domestic and dating abuse is when one partner uses coercion, intimidation and fear to control their partner or ex partner in an intimate relationship. Children and young people living in a household with domestic abuse are directly affected by it. Most men are not abusive, but abuse is most often perpetrated by men, and it is mostly women who are the victims. Both domestic abuse and dating abuse can happen in same sex relationships and to men too.
Recent research published by the NSPCC suggests that as many as a third of teenage girls had suffered unwanted sexual acts in a relationship, and a quarter had experience physical violence. You can read the full report by clicking here.
Scottish Women's Aid work hard to ensure the voices of children and young people affected by domestic abuse are heard. The 2005 Listen Louder Campaign was instrumental in securing £6million for specialist services for children and young people affected by domestic abuse, and more recently, children and young people played a key role in the development of the National Domestic Abuse Delivery Plan, which aims to improve outcomes for children and young people affected by domestic abuse.
They are currently asking young people about their thoughts on Scotland’s shared approach to domestic abuse as well as how we raise awareness of dating abuse. Your voice matters to them, and they know many young people would like to know more about this issue which effects up to 1 in 4 children, young people and women in Scotland.
Scottish Women’s Aid are keen to run a session with MSYPs , so if you would like to find out more about domestic and dating abuse, and to talk about how we can work together to prevent it, please get in touch with Marie Macfarlane on 0131 313 2488 or marie.m@scottishyouthparliament.org.uk
For more info about Scottish Women’s Aid, head over to their website at www.scottishwomensaid.org.uk
‘How u feelin?’
Marvin Humes, from popband JLS, is helping to launch the ‘How u feelin?’ campaign that raises awareness of ChildLine’s new online service. He says: “I’m really proud to support ChildLine and to help launch its great new website that lets children express their feelings and get help for their problems. Everyone has bad days, even popstars. When I’m touring with JLS it can get stressful and I miss my family, but talking to my bandmates about it makes me feel better”.
The new website provides information and advice on issues that affect children and young people. It has fun things like games, videos and tools so you can get creative with expressing yourself. We especially like its ‘daily moodtracker’ to help young people express how they are feeling. If you're feel worried or upset, you can even email or post a message on the site or even request one to one support with a counsellor online.
As ever, young people can continue to call ChildLine on 0800 1111, but now they can receive more information and support via the website www.childline.org.uk.
Pass it on, it’s a wonderful new service and as ever ChildLine is there to get problems of your chest no matter how small.
International Youth Arts Festival
After an incredibly successful launch year in 2009 the International Youth Arts Festival will be back in July 2010 with an even bigger programme showcasing the highest quality youth arts. This years programme will showcase the very best in youth theatre, dance, music, visual arts, site specific work, mixed media, carnival, film and a variety of other art forms from around the world.
The festival is created and produced by young people, giving young people opportunities not only as performers, but as event managers, producers, creators and innovators.
Applications to participate in IYAF 2010 are now open! They are currently searching for the highest quality youth arts work to fit into their programme for 2010. Guidelines and application forms are available at www.iyafestival.org.uk
Applications are open to any art form involving young people (i.e. up to 26). These may involve young people as performers, creators and artists or as producers and event managers. IYAF is also happy to receive applications for adult work which is specifically targeted at young people.
Back to List Welcome Francesca!
This week, the SYP’s staff team got a little bit larger as we welcomed Francesca Logan to the team. Francesca is our new Communications Assistant and will be responsible for keeping MSYPs up to date with loads of articles at www.syp.org.uk and building up our Bebo, Twitter and brand new Facebook pages. Fran is also spending time at Weekly Update Boot Camp before taking over as editor in the next few weeks!
Francesca joins us from ProjectScotland where she volunteered with their marketing department. She’s fitted into the team really quickly and is looking forward to meeting MSYPs for the first time over the next few months!
Francesca can be reached at francesca.l@scottishyouthparliament.org.uk if you’ve got any great ideas for communications-related things the SYP could be doing, or if you just want to introduce yourself – be nice!
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