MSYP spotlight on Orkney Youth Forum

As part of Youth Work Week we asked Orkney's MSYPs - Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament - for a few words about Orkney Youth Forum and the benefits for young people of getting involved.

Nymeria Drayak MSYP:

I have been a member of the Orkney Youth Forum for around three years now and I have loved every moment.

Being a part of the Forum has encouraged me to challenge myself and learn more about how to achieve my objectives. It’s led me to become a better person and be more empowered to believe in myself, while also helping make positive changes for young people in Orkney.

In early October, I attended a training day with the Orkney Youth Forum, looking at how to best engage and support young people. One thing that I have taken away from the training is how much communication with young people, and their support workers, shapes and impacts how and what we do. As a result, I’m reflecting more on how I communicate, so I can better support people to use their voices.

An example is the work I've done as an MSYP creating and setting up a mental health campaign, including an information pack about the campaign that will be given to all the MSYPs at the upcoming SYP sitting. This is to help the other MSYPs consider how they can help once the campaign has been fully set up and ready to go. 

Iain Pretswell MSYP:   

During August I went into KGS, with Richard Smith from the Council’s Youth Services team, to deliver talks about ‘youth voice’ - that basically means the opinions, attitudes and actions of young people as they work to represent the views and concerns of their peers and make positive change. I hope this leads to more young people coming on board to platforms like the Orkney Youth Forum and lending their energy and talents to improving the lives of young people in Orkney. 

If you are interested in sharing the issues that affect you as a young person or in joining the Orkney Youth Forum, please contact them via their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OrkneyYouthForum/  or email youthforumorkney@gmail.com  - or contact Richard Smith from the Council's Community Learning and Development and Employability service on richard.smith@orkney.gov.uk   

Nymeria and Ian are pictured here with Councillor Gwenda Shearer who Chairs the Education, Leisure and Housing Committee.