SYP Weekly Update 131
18th February 2010
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
- Final Call For Sitting Registration
- YUKA: Haven't applied yet? Go for it there's still time!
- Still in the Red?
Policy
- Have your say on SYP’s policy and campaigning work!
UK and International
- BBC Blast Youth Panel 2010
- Chance To Be Chancellor
General
- Hot Stuff
- Members Motion Media Coverage
NOTE: Some of the opportunities mentioned in the Weekly Update may apply only to Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs). Please email francesca.l@syp.org.uk for guidance.
final call for sitting Registration
Have you told your support worker you’re coming to the March Sitting and what your workshop preferences are?! If not, why not??!! You'd better get your skates on or miss out, we need your RSVP by tomorrow!
Yes that is tomorrow, Friday the 19th of February 2010. Any Local Authorities or Voluntary Organisations who fail to submit their fully completed forms by this date will not be permitted to attend. Ouch! Chop, chop if you're lagging behind!
SYP Awards
And if you haven't nominated yet for the SYP Awards there's still time!
There’s six categories to choose from and it couldn’t be easier to fill it in quickly and easily. You will also need to get these in by tomorrow too! Just click here to nominate . Good luck!
YUKA: Haven't applied yet? Go for it, there's still time...
Sadly we've had a low number of applications for the Young Ambassadors project. However, the good news is we've extended the selection process for a little bit longer! So if you were thinking about applying, but never quite made it to the application, here's your chance. You have until midnight, Sunday 21st February, and times running out, hop to it...
Want to apply? Or Missing the point? Just click here to find out all the info you need on YUKA and appyling.
Still in the Red?
As part of their ‘Still in the Red’ campaign, NUS Scotland have asked the Scottish Youth Parliament to assist them in producing cases studies of young people who have faced financial hardship as a result of their studies. If you, or someone you know, has experienced hardship as a student and would be interested in telling us your story, please get in touch with Steven (steven.k@syp.org.uk) to find out more.
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Have your say on SYP’s policy and campaigning work!
Last year, SYP made a number of changes to the way we operate, which are now firmly a part of what we do. However, at that stage, there wasn’t time to fully review specific issues or look deeply into how we can best involve MSYPs in the policy and campaigning work we do. It was agreed leave the rest of these issues until a time that they could be given the attention they deserve.
That time is now! A number of MSYPs have given opinions in the past year about things like the role and structure of groups within the SYP (e.g. Subject Committees, the Conveners Group) and how we consult with young people to form policy and towards the next Youth Manifesto. We’re running a consultation which is open to any MSYP that wants to take part. These views will be gathered together and presented to the Conveners Group at their next meeting in April where any decisions will be made.
We want to hear your thoughts on things like how well the SYP provides opportunities to MSYPs to raise issues you care about, whether there’s anything missing from the policy & campaigning work we do, and whether there’s anything we don’t need to do.
In an SYP first the consultation will take place online through Google Docs. This lets you read and add to other people’s comments and should let us get a really good discussion going! If you’d like to take part, click here, for all the background info you need to take part, and for the burning consultation questions click here! If you have any queries get in touch with Rob Gowans on 0131 313 2488 or rob.g@syp.org.uk
BBC Blast Youth Panel 2010
BBC Blast is on the hunt for 10 vocal young people aged 13-19 to join their nationwide Youth Panel. They are looking for people who are creative, motivated, full of fresh ideas and crucially, not afraid to speak up and represent the voices of other young people from their region of the UK.
As a regional Youth Panel member you would attend a number of face to face meetings as well as interact via e-mail with the Blast central team and other BBC departments to help shape their competitions, website and projects. As well as providing vital feedback and creative input on all things Blast, this could also be a fantastic stepping-stone to other opportunities and is an excellent chance to meet industry professionals within the BBC.
Not heard of BBC Blast before?
BBC Blast is a platform for young creative’s (13-19) to get involved in innovative projects, creative placements, take part in free workshops, enter competitions and share their ideas with other like minded people, and work with big named talent. Watch the Blast trailer by clicking here to get a better idea of what they do.
Intrigued?
2009’s Youth Panel helped programme the Future Film Festival, and got involved in the development of the new Blast website, and even got to see live TV in action as audience members for the BBC Switch 5:19 show.
Ilaria, Scotland Ambassador 2009 talks about being on the youth panel last year:
“I think the Blast Youth Panel has been amazing. I've learnt so much and it's given me a greater appreciation of all things creative. It's great to know we've had an input into different aspects of Blast and have in some way helped to shape it.”
Jack, East Midlands Ambassador says:
“Blast has given me the ability to talk to and meet loads of pretty important people within the BBC that I would have never met had I not been involved. I've also met loads of very creative people along the way!”
We think it’s a cracking opportunity for all you young creative’s out there! If you’re interested in applying check out the website by clicking here for more information. Deadlines for applications is Sunday 21st February.
P.S- Sorry for the late notification, but there's still time if you're interested
Chance to be Chancellor
With Budget 2010 just around the corner the Citizenship Foundation, in partnership with Aviva, has launched the ‘Chance to be Chancellor’ competition 2010 to challenge young people (14-19) to take on the role of the Chancellor and deliver their vision for the future of the economy.
As Chancellor, competition entrants will need to look at the main areas of concern for the government. Each of these areas has a number of different ideas (or policies) to improve life in the UK. Entrants will decide which policies should be prioritised and given money from their overall budget. Each idea has been allocated points, based on how expensive it would be to carry out – and they only have twenty points to spend, so remember you can’t choose them all!
If they feel that something is missing from the Budget, and have their own ideas for public spending, students have the chance to produce their own policy and price it between 1 to 4 points. As Chancellor it is their job to spend the country’s money wisely and justify their choices to the nation with a Budget speech between 500-1000 words.
To find out more on how to enter check out the website by clicking here.
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Hot Stuff!
A big well done to our very own Claire Ewing MSYP for Dunfermline West at achieving status as one of Scotland’s most eligible women! The youngest on the Scotland on Sunday hit list, you should be well chuffed with yourself, as are we!
Described as a “A woman going places…She's not even in her 20s, but already she spends most of her week dealing with councillors, MSPS and the concerns of Scottish youth. She set up the Fife Youth Forum when she was still at school” Pretty awesome Claire!
And as for dream date’s she’d rather spend some time at the peaceful East Neuk, and for all you single lads she definitely isn’t after any couch potato! Well done Claire, a big SYP air-pat-on-the-back is winging its way to you. Read the full news article by clicking here.
Members Motion Media Coverage
Andrew Deans, MSYP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, popped up this week in The Press & Journal paper about putting forth his Members Motion at the up and coming sitting in March. The motion supports a ban of the highly disputed Mosquito device; a device which omits a high pitched noise and can only be heard by young people, designed to stop youngsters congregating in public areas. If his motion is passed it will be presented to the Scottish Government’s petitions committee.
The motion is currently already supported by Liberty; the human rights organisation, and also the Scottish branch of the National Autistic Society, and has recently been debated in The House of Commons at Question Time last week, however it was described as "very helpful" in dispersing groups of young people! Hmm, what do you think? Facebook us please!
Get yourself prepared for the Members Motions by thinking about the following topics set to be discussed:
“Compulsory political education should be provided in all schools in Scotland" (Rowena Carlton MSYP), “Exam leave should be given for prelims in all schools in Scotland” (Rebbecca Garnett MSYP), “Young carers in Scotland should be shown that they are appreciated members of society and should be offered more support inside and outside of education” (Jodie Campbell MSYP), and “Mosquito devices should be banned” (Andrew Deans MSYP).
To read the full Press & Journal article click here.
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