Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) and the Children’s Parliament (MCPs) will today take part in the Annual Cabinet Meeting with Children and Young People.
The meeting, also known as Cabinet Takeover, gives children and young people the opportunity to bring the issues most important to them directly to the First Minister and their Cabinet. It follows the Executive Takeover in June, when Members met some of the most senior civil servants in Scotland, including the Permanent Secretary.
Today’s event will take place at St Andrew’s House, the Scottish Government headquarters in Edinburgh, where MSYPs and MCPs will share the space and feed their views to decision makers.
Children’s Parliament has worked with a diverse range of children from across Scotland throughout the Cabinet process. The Members of Children’s Parliament presenting the calls to action come from Aberdeen, East Lothian, Perth & Kinross and Dundee.
Both SYP and the Children’s Parliament will be speaking to Ministers about three different topics identified as important to children and young people. Members of the Children’s Parliament will raise the matter of bullying and mental health in schools, calling on the government to prioritise preventing bullying and supporting children with poor mental health in schools by ensuring dignity is at the heart of every school in Scotland.
MCPs in attendance at the meeting will also speak about climate crisis education, which many children are worried about and want to learn more about the environment and have a meaningful say on their future. They will also talk about the need to tackle the rise in vaping, which is often seen by children as a ‘healthy’, ‘cool’ alternative to smoking. The government needs to reduce access to vaping and increase their understanding of its harmful impact.
Scottish Youth Parliament Members are bringing their three national campaigns to the attention of Ministers. On youth work, MSYPs want every young person to have a right to access youth work in their community but also see investment in the workforce to encourage more people to enter the sector as a recognised career path.
Ahead of the 16 Days of Activism, as part of SYP’s campaign to end gender-based violence Members want to see an improvement in education and understanding of micro-aggressions to create healthier school environments. Additionally, young people want legislation to end gender-based violence to have a particular focus on misogyny as a hate crime.
On mental health, MSYPs in the Campaign Planning Group are calling for every adult who works with young people to receive mandatory mental health training and for education to be incorporated into the curriculum focusing on stress management, signposting and ending stigma.
Ellie Craig MSYP, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said:
The Annual Cabinet Meeting with Children and Young People is a space where MSYPs and MCPs can raise the issues that Scotland’s children and young people have told us matter most to them. With the UNCRC act now in force, it is important now more than ever that decision makers at the top of government are setting a strong example of meaningful participation. I am excited to see what collaborative work happens after this meeting to help get us closer to making Scotland the best place in the world to grow up.
Ellie Craig MSYP
Ahead of the meeting, First Minister John Swinney MSP said:
Scotland is the only country to hold an annual Cabinet meeting with children and young people – which demonstrates our commitment to ensuring their voices are heard, valued and taken seriously at all levels of government. Today, my Cabinet will engage in discussions with representatives from the Children’s Parliament and the Scottish Youth Parliament, on the issues that are important to their peers from across all of Scotland. These annual meetings are an important and valued way for children and young people have a chance to contribute and have their say on the decisions that affect them.
John Swinney MSP
A Member of Children’s Parliament, which works with children across the county up to the age of 14, said:
If we’re listened to and taken seriously it makes us feel like our rights are real.
Member of Children’s Parliament, aged 14
Cathy McCulloch, Director of the Children’s Parliament said:
This year marks the first cabinet meeting with children and young people since the incorporation of children’s human rights into Scots law, a Call to Action that Members of Children’s Parliament and Members of Scottish Youth Parliament called for over many years. I am encouraged that we are working with Scottish Government colleagues who recognise the additional support and child friendly considerations effective engagement with children requires. Children have strong opinions on their opportunities and challenges and whether it is at Cabinet or in their local community, children have the right, as valuable and equal citizens in Scotland, to have their views listened to, taken seriously and acted upon. I look forward to hearing the Scottish Government commitments and actions to progress the children’s ideas.
Cathy McCulloch, Director