SYP Weekly Update 132
25th 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
- Many thanks!
- Arty?
- Young Scot Awards
- Last chance to nominate the stars of Scotland’s schools
- Still in the Red?
Policy
- Have your say on SYP’s policy and campaigning work!
General
- Welcome Abigail
- Help for Haiti
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.
Many thanks!
A big thank you to everyone getting their RSVPs in on time for the sitting, and for the whopping number of Award nominations. It’s set to be the biggest sitting we’ve had in years, and we canny wait!
To make sure you know what to expect have a look at the background information available by clicking here. You can also look at the background info on the Member’s Motions by clicking here, and if you can’t remember what the agenda is going to look like click here.
Well that’s a lot of clicking but you might as well be prepared. Looking forward to seeing you all again! SYP
Arty?
Feel like filling some blanks walls? The super cool Art Late evening (part of the Edinburgh Art Festival), are looking for 10 people aged 15 to 18 to form a committee to program and manage their 2010 after hours art event. This is an amazing opportunity for anyone interested in the arts, media, or in events planning, and is a rare opportunity to get involved in such a unique event.
The committee will have the opportunity to visit gallery sites across the city, visit artists’ studios, meet with artists and curators, and gain an insight into all aspects of running an arts event.
Art Late is the only event of this kind in Scotland and there is currently no similar art event for young people to be involved in, so to register your interest please contact Louise Donoghue, Development Manager on 07825 336 782 or email louise@edinburghartfestival.com by Friday 12 March.
Please note the project will start in late March/ early April with a commitment of 1 to 2 hours per week required, with the event to take place in August 2010. To read more about what Art Late is click here .
Young Scot Awards
So you’ve nominated people for the SYP Awards, but have you nominated them for a Young Scot Award? They’re looking for nominations of young people who deserve to be recognised for their amazingness! Be it as an inspiration to other young people, for a specific achievement, or for their efforts in improving their community or country. There’s 13 categories and still time to nominate before Friday, so go on get nominating! Just click here to nominate.
Last chance to nominate the stars of Scotland’s schools
There are just days left to nominate for this year’s Scottish Education Awards. Anyone can nominate, and it’s a great way for young people to tell Learning Teaching Scotland about the schools which are inspiring them, from great teachers to innovative and engaging lessons.
With 15 categories to choose from, achievement and success is recognised right across the board. This is a great way of making sure those schools and individuals who have such a positive influence in the lives of children and young people are recognised.
It’s easy to nominate, just visit the website by clicking here but don’t forget, all nominations have to be in by Friday 5 March!
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
Welcome Abigail
SYP welcomes our new intern Abigail Moriarty this week. Abby is currently doing a Parliamentary Affairs Internship here at the SYP, and is a recent graduate from Stirling University. She is also a youth worker and works with young people with additional support needs in her home town.
Thanks for joining us Abby, everyone at SYP is thrilled to have you with us for the next six weeks!
Help for Haiti
Unless you’ve had your head in the sand you will know all about the 7.0m earthquake which hit Haiti on the 12th of January this year. Our very own Danielle Rowley MSYP for Midlothian is hosting a fundraising gig in aid of the Haiti earthquake appeal.
With bands The Debuts, The Revenue, and The Roosa Mitchell Band who have supported acts such as Ocean Colour Scene and Hard-Fi in the past, the night's set to be a scorcher and all in aid of a good cause! Do you need a better excuse to get your party gear on and have a boogie? We think not!
Where: Dalkeith Miners Club – Midlothian
When: Sunday 14th March, exact time TBC
Cost: £4 on the door
In the meantime check out their music by clicking on the names below:
The Debut
The Roosa Mitchell Band
The Revenue
We’ll keep you posted with times as soon as we know...
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