Community / Two new MSYPs elected
TWO new members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) have been elected to represent Shetland.
Ava Williamson, 15, a pupil at Anderson High School in Lerwick, and Beenie-Ann Wood, also 15, of Brae High School, will represent Shetland at the Scottish Youth Parliament for the remainder of the current term of the parliament, which is expected to be around 12 months.
They were elected on Tuesday at the annual general meeting of local youth forum Shetland Youth Voice.
Six candidates all aged 14 to 17 years stood for election, which saw them present their manifestos and priorities, before votes were cast by young people on the Shetland youth voice executive committee.
MSYPs are aged 14 to 25 and represent every constituency of the Scottish Parliament and nine national voluntary organisations.
MSYPs are normally elected for a two year term but the Scottish Youth Parliament has agreed nationally to extend the current term of MSYPs for an additional year, until late 2026.
Williamson and Wood replace previous Shetland MSYPs Joe Smith and Bertie Summers, who stood down from their roles for employment and university respectively – which prompted the by-election.
The pair are part of the Shetland Youth Voice executive and work with other members to represent the views of young people throughout Shetland.
As MSYPs, they will also now represent those views nationally through the Scottish Youth Parliament.
The two newly-elected MSYPs have highlighted a number of key issues for young people in Shetland including transport, mental health services, fair work and the need to promote Shetland’s culture.
They will both take part in a range of induction training and activities with the Scottish Youth Parliament in the coming weeks, and have the opportunity to meet other MSYPs from across the country.
Sonny Thomason, election co-ordinator with Shetland Islands Council’s youth and employability service, said: “Ava and Beenie-Ann were both strong and experienced candidates, having both already served on the SYV [Shetland Youth Voice] committee and shown themselves to be very capable representatives of young people in Shetland.”
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