Council Approves Full-Time Young Person’s Post

Highland Councillors have agreed to create a full-time paid post for a young person to represent the interests of young people and liaise with Council Services.

Based within the Council, the young person’s representative would be connected to the Highland Youth Voice, the Highland youth parliament, be aged over 18, and would be in post for one year.

The post holder, appointed under the Youth Recruitment Scheme, would:-

• help with the co-ordination and communication with other young people;
• offer a consistent link for members and officials to informally seek their views;
• attend formal structures of the Council where appropriate.

The request for the appointment was made at the conclusion of a presentation to a special meeting of the council in Gairloch by Youth Voice representatives, Christopher Outen, Millburn Academy, Paul MacDonald and Jennifer Baird, both Nairn Academy.

Convener Councillor Alison Magee said:  “The Council has been at the forefront in Scotland in involving young people in policy and decision-making and we are delighted to accede to the request from Youth Voice for a full-time young representative.”

Councillor Andy Anderson, Chairman of the Education Culture and Sport Committee, said:  “Highland Youth Voice is to be congratulated on all they have achieved.  It is such an important link with our young people and this is a logical widening of their remit.”

Each Council Service is to nominate an officer to liaise with the youth representative and youth work staff in the Education Culture and Sport Service.

The Council already supports young people’s involvement through the Highland Youth Voice, the democratically elected youth parliament for 14-18 year-olds; Area Youth Forums; and Pupil Councils in all schools.

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