Faith Sindick | Reporter

At every SYP Sitting, the MSYP’s debate on new members motions that will either be passed or not passed. A members motion is a formal proposal put to a committee, in SYP the MSYP’s look at what is one way of the biggest problem facing young people in their constituency and create motions to tackle the problem. With the next SYP Sitting happening on the 3rd and 4th of March in North Ayrshire, the new members motions have been finalised. After performing 200 consultations across East Kilbride I have found that these are the top 5 members motion that the youth agreed with in East Kilbride:

1..‘The Scottish Youth Parliament believes that it should be mandatory for local or central government to subsidise the cost of UCAS applications for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.’ – This  motion is presented by Sarah Quinn MSYP, Airdrie and Shotts, and Chris Costello MSYP, Airdrie and Shotts. UCAS application is the only way of applying to university, it costs £24 for multiple courses and applications and for less privilege families it can be hard.

2. ‘The Scottish Youth Parliament believes that Religious Education and school assemblies in non-denominational secondary schools should include material from a variety of different belief systems in order to help promote and teach pupils about these and their cultural traditions.’ This members motion was presented by Lucy Penman MSYP, Kirkcaldy. After conducting a survey in her constituency  Lucy Penman MSYP said ‘I surveyed in my constituency, 63% are in favour of religious figures coming into school if they were from a variety of religions’ and this pushes her to put forward the motion.

3. ‘The Scottish Youth Parliament believes that there should be a greater awareness that children and young people growing up in Scotland’s care system are at a greater risk of poor mental health outcomes than the wider population. The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland should work with relevant organisations to ensure that the needs of these young people are being met with accessible, sustainable and high quality mental health services’. This members motion was presented by Helen Johnston MSYP, WhoCares? Scotland, and Ryan McShane MSYP, WhoCares? Scotland. WhoCares? Scotland are local groups of young people all over Scotland who have experienced care. In Scotland 45% of young people who have been in care have a diagnosable mental illness and are 20 times more likely to die before the they reach the age 25.  By having better mental health services these young people have a better chance of leading a more healthy life.

4.‘The Scottish Youth Parliament supports the work of organisations like “Abused Men in Scotland” (AMIS); and believes that there should be increased assistance to male victims of domestic abuse.’ – This motion is presented by Huw Sherrard MSYP, Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, and Kai Green MSYP, Ayr. ‘Around 40% of domestic abuse victims will face higher than average societal stigma’ although domestic abuse is largely associated with women, these particular victims are men and the only organisation to solely support them within Scotland is Abused Men In Scotland, which although working endlessly to provide help for male victims, struggle to provide some resources to ensure victims can escape abusive relationships safely.

5.‘The Scottish Youth Parliament believes that Scotland’s railways should be affordable and accessible to all of Scotland’s young people; and urges the Scottish Government and ScotRail to extend the application of the 16 – 25 fare discount railcard to all active travel hours, including peak times.’ – This motion is presented by  Jack Dudgeon MSYP, Eastwood, and Josh Kennedy MSYP, Renfrewshire North. It’s been found that railcards not applying at peak times is incredibly inconvenient for young people and the SYP believes that there should be a discount for all young people ages 16-25 at all times.

As MSYP of East Kilbride I will be attending the next sitting and will ensure to debate extensively an these top 5 issues.

 

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