About the Scottish Youth Parliament
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the basis for our vision, mission and values.
Our Vision
Our vision for Scotland is a nation that values and practices the meaningful participation of its young people, supporting them to realise their full potential.
Our Mission
Our mission is to represent the voice of Scotland’s young people on issues affecting them, and to empower young people to champion and defend their rights.
Our Values
SYP is Youth-Led – We empower young people to take the lead in all aspects of our work.
SYP is Ambitious – We campaign for change to create a Scotland which young people are proud to grow up in.
SYP is Bold – We defend young people’s rights and champion the issues that are most important to them.
SYP is Inclusive – We create brave and safe spaces where young people of all backgrounds feel able to participate.
SYP is Politically Impartial – This value surrounds all of our work to ensure our work is evidence-based and that the issues important to young people can be discussed and openly debated.
Our Strategy 2025-30
About SYP
SYP is led by young people. Since we were established on 30th June 1999, the Scottish Youth Parliament has supported nearly two thousand democratically elected Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) to raise the voices of all of Scotland’s young people. MSYPs across Scotland make Scotland a better place for young people to grow up by consulting young people, campaigning for change, and holding decision-makers to account. Young people are involved in all major decisions at SYP, from our youth-led board to our policy-making processes, our communications to the design and delivery of our projects and programmes
SYP is representative. MSYPs are elected to represent young people in every community in Scotland. The diversity of our MSYPs reflects Scotland’s young people and enables us to ensure a broad range of views and experiences are included in our work. We work with young people where they are at, to create safe and exciting opportunities for young people to participate in decision-making processes that are accessible, inclusive and meaningful.
SYP is a youth work organisation. Our practice is embedded in youth work outcomes, and young people are at the heart of everything we do. Through our work, we empower young people to become confident individuals, successful learners, effective contributors, and responsible citizens. We are proud to work with each of Scotland’s Local Authorities, and National Voluntary Organisations who support MSYPs to make a difference for the young people they represent.
SYP centres children and young people’s rights. We are passionate about making young people aware of their rights, empowering them to claim their rights, and ensuring that local and national governments uphold their rights. SYP embodies Article 12 of the UNCRC, which states that young people have the right to express their views freely and have their opinions listened to in all matters affecting them.
SYP creates change. SYP has changed over the past 25 years, and so have Scotland’s wider policy, political and social landscapes.
