The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) was established in 1999 to provide opportunities for young people, including those from marginalised communities, to influence the UK parliamentary process. The Scottish Youth Parliament has been coordinating UKYP in Scotland for over 20 years, in partnership with organisations in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
UKYP is made up of over 300 young people aged 11 – 18, who are elected to represent the views of the young people in their communities. Scotland’s 16 UKYP Representatives are elected from within the SYP membership every two years to represent each of Scotland’s eight regions.
Like at SYP, UKYP enables young people to get involved in policy-making and campaigning, alongside peers across the UK. As well as meeting online regularly, the UK Youth Parliament meets twice a year, at the annual UKYP conference and the UKYP Sitting at the House of Commons in London.
A Youth Steering Group works with and advises on the UK Youth Parliament. Scotland is represented on this group by Tamsin Gold MSYP.
This year, for the first time, the UKYP programme is coordinated by the National Youth Agency (NYA), with funding from the UK Government Department of Culture, Media and Sport. You can read more about the UK Youth Parliament on the NYA website here.
If you have any questions about UKYP in Scotland, please contact our Participation and Programmes team at engagement@syp.org.uk.
