Report to the People
Youth Events
Last week ended as it began, with visits to projects which help young people have their say on the issues which cause them concern.
On Monday, I attended the Inverclyde Regional Youth Summit. Part of the nation-wide Youth Summit, the young people had the chance to put their views on issues including homelessness, drugs, health and leisure.
Then, on Friday, I attended the opening of Strone Maukinhill Youth Project’s new building. This is a project which aims to represent the interests of young people by tackling the issues which matter to them and by building their self-confidence and social skills.
Both of these projects underline an important point: young people must have a voice if we are to tackle the issues which are important to them. Whether unemployment, education or public transport, there must be an opportunity for young people to have their say.
To return to the Youth Summit, this allowed more than twelve hundred young people from across Scotland to tell Government Ministers their views. And, as Ministers repeated afterwards, it is vital that they listen to these views.
The Deputy First Minister underlined that young people offer a perspective that no-one else can. Who better to tell us what it is like to be at school? Or what will stop young people from getting involved in drugs or smoking?
The days when children were seen and not heard, and were simply informed of decisions which had been taken on their behalf, are over. Young people need an informed and active role in determining the decisions which affect their lives and the Scottish Executive is committed to finding better ways of consulting young people about Government policies.
Indeed, from a purely pragmatic point of view, by properly consulting with young people over the policies the Parliament adopts, we stand a better chance of them being successful.
If our new Parliament is to be truly representative and remain a feature of our democracy, we need to ensure that young people are involved. If we alienate today’s youth, we alienate tomorrow’s citizen. By helping young people to follow public events, get involved and express their views, we build up healthy communities and a healthy democracy.
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