Welcome to #SYPlatform – the latest update on everything happening across SYP.
We’re only two months in, and 2026 has already seen MSYPs take the lead on a wide range of projects – from speaking on TV about key issues affecting young people today, to liaising with decision-makers in Parliament in the lead up to the Scottish Parliamentary election in May. Here’s what we’ve been up to in February, and stay tuned on social media to keep up with all #SYProjects.
We’ve been campaigning for the welfare of Glasgow!
Over the last few months, Rajsee Saraf (MSYP for Glasgow Pollok) and Adam Howie (MSYP for Glasgow Provan) have had several meetings with local stakeholders to help keep Molendinar Community Centre open – a venue located in Glasgow North East, one of the most economically deprived areas of the city.
This community centre hosts a low-cost local café, a gym, and a wide variety of educational opportunities, not to mention access to healthy food. It’s a safe space for young people in the area to gather and access services they could not otherwise afford, which is why both Rajsee and Adam are determined to support staff at Molendinar Community Centre to stay on track.
We’ve been looking into Education Reform
Over the last couple of years, we’ve been supporting children and young people to meaningfully participate in decisions being made around education reform in Scotland – we cannot hope for a more inclusive, accessible education system if they are not involved in conversations from the start. On that basis, Ella Quinn and Harvey Hare MSYPs have taken the lead in analysing data from SYP’s Education Reform Project, breaking down complex discussions into clear priorities.
Also on Education Reform, Sophie Kerrigan, Jordana Rae, and Ellie Craig MSYPs met with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, alongside other young people, to share key observations with the Scottish Government. For instance, Sophie raised the need for consistent mental health provision in schools, while Ellie spoke about the importance of involving young people in decisions around a potential social media ban for under-16s. Jordana, on the other hand, highlighted the importance of sports and volunteering opportunities.
We’ve spoken about inclusion in Parliament!
Earlier last month, Kristers Lukins MSYP was invited to the Scottish Parliament to deliver a very insightful reflection on inclusion. Kristers spoke about the importance of creating effective communication channels to ensure young people are not excluded from conversations about them.
“I’m grateful for my experience in the Scottish Youth Parliament, where I have met young people from many different backgrounds. Listening to their stories has widened my understanding and reminded me how diverse young people’s lives can be. Being involved in conversations is crucial. When communication works well, it becomes easier to share ideas. When it does not, some voices can remain quieter…,” Kristers said to senior civil servants.
We’ve talked about a social media ban on TV
SYP’s Chair, Ellie Craig MSYP, appeared on STV’s Scotland Tonight to discuss the impact of a proposed under-16s social media ban. Ellie did a cracking job highlighting how critical young people’s voices are in this discussion, and that no decisions can or should be made about young people without young people. You can watch Ellie’s interview here.
We’ve invited to Parliament again to talk about voting and accessibility
Eilidh Morrison, MSYP for RNIB (Haggeye), co-facilitated a discussion workshop alongside Jeremy Balfour MSP, where participants discussed the barriers disabled people face in voting and taking part in democratic processes. They also explored examples of good practice and developed potential solutions. After the workshop, Eilidh shared the key discussion points and changes participants want to see in the Debating Chamber.
