A record turnout
Highest numbers yet vote in Scottish Youth Parliament elections
Edinburgh saw a strong turnout for the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) elections in September.
That’s when 5,019 young people across the capital took the time to vote in 11 new members to the SYP.
This was the highest number ever recorded for these elections, demonstrating clearly that 11 to 25-year-olds care about where they live and want to influence the decisions and policies being taken that will affect them.
For those not familiar with the SYP, it responds to policy consultations, runs campaigns and meets with members of the Scottish Parliament and local councillors to make sure that young people’s views are clearly heard.
John Bendo is one of this year’s successful candidates. Originally from Albania, he is a pupil at St Augustine’s RC High School.
John’s older brother David was tragically killed in a road accident when building works were taking place at a nearby school.
Losing him was John’s motivation to stand for election.
“David was hit by a lorry during his lunch break in February 2008,” he said.
“The pain of his loss will always be with me and my family and I want to do whatever I can so that nobody else has to go through what we have.
“I want to make schools and construction sites safer and propose measures such as a stop on all traffic coming in and out of schools for a certain length of time when the bell goes, as that is the time when pupils are rushing to get to class and not paying attention to traffic.
“I also think it’s important that young people are valued.
“We always get bad press and the media just seems to report the negative things.
“That affects children’s esteem and this needs to be turned around.”
Paul Sloan is another new member. A pupil at Firrhill High School, he believes that society needs to be more aware of issues faced by people with a disability. Paul is in a wheelchair as he has cerebral palsy.
“Until you are using a wheelchair or on crutches or facing any disability, it’s hard to understand how difficult day-to-day life can be for a disabled person,” he said.
“I want to work with the SYP so that disability awareness is on everyone’s radar and is a built in consideration to every decision made.”
Danielle Ward, 20, who lives in north Edinburgh, wanted to further the work she was already doing with the North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum.
She said: “I work with young people in my area, and do a lot of school and youth centre visits with the Forum, asking about the issues that affect them.
“I thought that by becoming a member of the SYP, I can become a voice that takes things further and hopefully makes a change in north Edinburgh, from basic things like getting the area cleaner, to updating the parks.”
If you want to know more about the Scottish Youth Parliament in Edinburgh, visit www.youngedinburgh.org or www.syp.org.uk