In November 2024, Hamish Nott MSYP and Daniela Onyewuenyi MSYP gave a speech to the First Minister and their Cabinet on ending gender-based violence at the Annual Cabinet Meeting with Children and Young People.
Reflecting on the events of the day, Daniela said:
It was a privilege to be able to present the reasons why we should invest and protect youth work to Cabinet Ministers. Our ‘asks’ places the importance on utilising the current system that’s in place and improving it for all young people across the nation, which enables not only the improvement of their person but also the community they live in. If successfully done, it also allows for strains to be taken out from other sectors.
You can read our speech below:
Hamish:
Good morning, members of the Cabinet. I’m Hamish Nott, the MSYP for Inverness and Nairn, and I am very pleased to have this opportunity to talk to you about the importance and value of protecting and investing in youth work. Youth work is a vital part of life for so many young people across Scotland, and its effects can be felt across every Government department – from helping with mental health to educational attainment, employability skills and reducing child poverty, a young person’s journey through youth work can be life-changing, which is why I’d like to tell you about mine.
Four years ago, I was diagnosed with Autism – although I had previously suspected it, I was scared and unsure how to move forward. Terrified of judgment from my classmates, I told no one other than my immediate family, hiding it even from some close family, for fear of misconceptions based on stereotypes. At the age of 16, this led to a huge loss of self-confidence and feelings of isolation from my peers. For as long as I can remember, I have had a passion for current affairs and a strong interest in politics, so when I heard about SYP in 2021, I eagerly stood for election and was privileged to be voted in.
The role has enabled me to access a wide range of opportunities, including chairing Highland’s Youth Parliament, working alongside local Councillors to represent the views and needs of young people, chairing interview panels for Youth Convener posts and speaking in the UKYP House of Commons debate. Each of these growth opportunities was made possible through youth work, and I know without them, I would not have the communication and teamwork skills, let alone the confidence, that I now possess. This confidence is such that today, in this room, I am now able to openly talk about my autism for the first time. My involvement in youth work has, without a doubt, changed my life.
This is only one example of how youth work has changed a life. Surveys for YouthLink Scotland found that 80% of young people felt a youth worker had had a positive impact on their lives and that 86% felt their mental health and wellbeing had improved because of youth work! These are not just figures; they show the vast power that youth work can have when available and funded. Thank you.
Daniela:
Good morning members of the Cabinet. I am Daniela Onyewuenyi, one of the MSYPs for Paisley and one of the trustees of the Scottish Youth Parliament. Like Hamish has already stated, I am grateful of having the opportunity, as a young person, to emphasise the importance of investing in Youth Work.
Due to our structure of our society, many things are intersectional, and Youth Work is not any different.
Investing in youth work goes beyond the sector, it will aide for the improvement of other areas that affect young people. There are many cases of what that may be, but one that not many people talk about, and is very particular to me is the sense of community youth work brings.
Having immigrated from Italy in 2016, the fact that I had to get used to a completely new environment is not something that came easy. However, I am a testament of how it allowed me to grow up into a young person with goals in life. It also, slowly but surely, eliminated feelings of ostracization that I had initially cultivated.
And this is what I believe investing in Youth Work will and can lead to. It is a tool of integration that uplifts the diverse cultures existing within Scotland. A future where everyone is bonded by their desire to create and live in a community of acceptance whilst subsequently working on their selves. Why eliminate a tool that not only is strong as its own entity, but can also alleviate the strain from other sectors such as education?
In July of this year, the Scottish Government requested a report from the Independent Review of CLD and the outcomes mirror heavily with what Youth Work does and has the scope to do. The ability to improve themselves both emotionally and intellectually, the area they live in, and the accessibility of the programme. It is great that work is beginning towards it, but it does not stop at collecting data that everyone is familiar with by now. It’s time for real tangible work.
That is why we have three clear priorities for you, the Scottish Government: to implement the recommendations of the recently published CLD report, to introduce a right to youth work and adopt a rights-based approach to youth work in line with the UNCRC and to commit to protecting the sector from financial cuts. By adopting these priorities, you can enhance the opportunities of future generations, empowering them to make meaningful contributions for years to come.
This is not solely a conversation about the present, but more about the legacy it can create and bring to our country.
