Orkney’s two new MSYP’s will be flying the flag for inclusion, education, poverty, housing and the environment

Orkney’s two new MSYP’s put inclusion, education, poverty, housing and environmental issues high on their agendas moving forward for the next two years.

New Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament were named today across Scotland, including those who will fly the flag for Orkney – Kaydence Drayak and Zachary Shiner.

There was no election in Orkney this year, as Kaydence and Zachary were uncontested however, Cheryl Rafferty, OIC Community Learning and Development Team Leader – Youth Services, who assists the young people through the process, said Orkney has two representatives to be proud of.

“It’s been a challenging time for many, especially some of our young people, but we have two new MSYP’s who engaged very well in the process and I am entirely confident that they will be excellent representatives for Orkney and their peers.

“The SYP provides a national platform for young people to discuss issues important to them and affect the change they wish to see and through its members has been hugely influential in helping secure votes for 16-year-olds in Scotland for example, and has also been a key voice in the campaign for equal marriage through its Love Equally campaign. The All Aboard campaign focuses on improving public transport services for Scotland’s young people, calling for reduced fares, increased accessibility for disabled passengers, and higher bus standards.

“We will continue to support Kaydence and Zachary through the process and assist where we can in regards to the new and exciting challenges that lie ahead.”

Zachary, 17, from Stromness, attends the Academy and has always been interested in politics, despite no proactive investment in it.

He said: “What I like about the Youth Parliament system is that it gives an outlet for change for young people interested in not only politics, but simply improving quality of life for their county and country. I thought that becoming an MSYP would be a really interesting learning experience; something that could help prepare me for the world of work, as well as having a positive impact on my community. The process of me becoming an MSYP has only been possible thanks to Cheryl and the youth work team and Andy who is Chair of the Youth Forum, who have been lifesaving in making my transition to MSYP significantly less stressful. Thank you guys so much.”

Zachary is looking forward to the challenges ahead. “I'd like to help with inclusion efforts within Orkney, as we have a vibrant LGBTQ community. I also want to, if possible, promote the growth of more trees. Orkney's landmass is less than one per cent forest, and there are many species that could adapt and thrive even within Orkney's windy conditions.

“I think the issues of diversity and inclusion are pretty prevalent. As well as the issues involving public housing. I've heard many horror stories about the endless waiting lists for accommodation, and the illogical requirements and general frustrating bureaucracy.”

Orkney has much to be proud of, he added. “I often end up taking the scenery for granted. You can see Ward Hill from so far away! We have such beautiful scenery and variety to our environment, with beaches, cliffs, hills, valleys, plateaus, huge pluses for young people. I also think our education, overall, is quite good. Uniforms are very minimal, allowing for more self-expression, and we have a highly diverse set of courses, helped by the presence of Orkney College, which provides many specialist courses for undergraduates and younger students from the secondary schools.”

Although Zachary feels the pandemic has had a detrimental impact on young learners. “The learning experience through the pandemic has exacerbated the stress felt by young people, and I think that additional study support would benefit a lot of students, as well as additional exam preparation. The 2020 exam results were a colossal failure on the part of the SQA, and the 2021 exams were full of mixed messages and contradicting statements.”

There’s no question there remains work to be done and the Orkney Youth Forum can help with that.

“I think the Forum presents some really good opportunities for young people to express their views and the views of their peers in an organised setting that can promote tangible change. The Forum has also been super supportive of me in all things MSYP. I can definitely see myself using my experience in the Youth Forum in a professional setting, as it really promotes organising and presenting ideas, as well as backing up arguments you may put forward. I think it prompts you to hone skills you'll use a lot in the professional world.”

Kaydence, also 17, attends the Open University and became interested in politics when she realised how much the decisions being made by other people about her life mattered.

“I joined the Youth Forum in 2019 and I joined because I was looking for opportunities to have my voice heard and to meet other young people who wanted to improve Orkney and make a difference. I have learned many new skills, and I have had opportunities to have my voice heard.

“I decided to stand because I want to continue to make Orkney a better and more accessible place for young people. And I have been very grateful to have this experience and the support of the Community Learning and Development team. Ultimately every young person's future is dependent upon the quality and accessibility of their education. As a big sister to siblings with multiple disabilities I also see how education is not accessible enough to those with additional needs.

“There are many areas in life that are not equally accessible to those with disabilities, such as parks. They can be made accessible, but they aren't at the moment and I want to speak up for young people with disabilities and have that changed so they can live life as fully as others can. Poverty affects many in Orkney, and that needs to be addressed. Children with disabilities in poverty are particularly disadvantaged, as the NHS does not provide all the equipment they need. I also want to help young people have their voices heard individually, I want young people to be able to access advocacy.”

She believes that housing and poverty are two of the main issues facing young people in the county.

“I think there are more issues but dealing with those two would go a long way to improving Orkney for young people. The pandemic has made young people anxious about the future, there has been a lot of opportunities for young people that have been restricted or cut off altogether. And young people are worried about how to achieve and take their place as adults when there is so much uncertainty. One of the things we can do is invest in ensuring digital inclusion for everyone, this means we need to improve access to high quality internet. For those of us living in the most remote parts of Orkney, the internet is a vital link to education, employment, and socialising.”

Again, Orkney has much to be thankful for as Kaydence continued: “I think that it is really positive that there is a strong sense of community, lots of beautiful outdoor spaces which are really valuable for mental health.

“I am looking forward to getting started as I have been really looking forward to starting my role as MSYP, at the same time it is also nerve wracking because I really want to make sure that I do a good job and actually make positive change for young people.” 

Gwenda Shearer, Chair of the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, said: “I am delighted to warmly welcome Orkney’s two new MSYPs – Kaydence Drayak and Zachary Shiner. As we continue to live through the pandemic, never has it been more important for our young people to take a stand and ensure their voices are heard on the political stage.

“On that note, as a result of the widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in Orkney, it has not been possible to announce and celebrate the appointments in the usual way in the Council chamber. We have become virtual once more in a bid to keep everyone as safe as possible.

“I encourage them to use their voices to challenge and question not just the wider political arena, but also ourselves as Councillors representing the people of Orkney, including all young folk. We have a duty to listen and take all views on board. Good luck and enjoy the challenges which lie ahead.”