Youth voice important at council meetings, education chairman says

GIVING young people a greater voice at Shetland Islands Council meetings is something to “reflect on” after the success of inviting the isles’ two youth parliamentarians onto the education and families committee.

That is the view of the committee chairman George Smith, who was behind the move a couple of years ago to involve members of the Scottish Youth Parliament Jonathan Dorrat and Leighton Anderson.

At the committee’s latest meeting on Monday Smith said it was the pair’s last session before their MSYP terms end.

He said some of the most “perceptive questions” on the committee had come from the youngsters.

“It’s excellent to have that youth voice on the committee,” Smith said.

He added that how that voice could be extended to more council committees in the future was something to reflect on.

MSYP Anderson said attending the committee was one of the highlights during his time as a youth parliamentarian.

He hoped the committee would give the next MYSPs the same chance. “It’s been such a great experience,” Anderson said.

The national elections for the Scottish Youth Parliament are taking place this month.

Young people aged 14-25 can stand as a candidate, with elections taking place every two years.