Scotland’s Young People Consult to Change Their Picture

Date: 12th July 2010
Category: Respect for the views of the child

The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) has just launched its biggest EVER youth consultation 'Picture the Change' and over the next 3 months are seeking to engage with a whopping 15,000 young people on the issues most important to them to create a brand new youth manifesto.

The whole point of the Scottish Youth Parliament is to connect young people with decision-makers. In simple terms, tell politicians what young people think. So it's massively important to SYP that when they're talking to politicians they're telling them the right things (i.e. what Scotland's young people are passionate about), so that's why every four years they're committed to producing a 'manifesto' in the run up to the Scottish Parliament elections.

'Picture the Change' is made up from ideas and statements produced by young people for young people. Having everything from detention of asylum-seeking children to hospital admission policies raised, and now they have those ideas they need to check they've got the picture right so they can do something about it!

In addition to this for the first time ever, SYP will be using the results of their consultation to help Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People work out what goes into his work plan. Based on the results of the consultation, the Commissioner will work with children and young people to create a list of priorities which will be voted on during the month of November - through their Right Blether, the Commissioner will then work on whatever children and young people decide is important.

To take part in the survey please visit the website.

Or if you work with young people download a manifesto pack; including session plans, promotional materials, additional information on 'Picture the Change' and how to support it in your community.