Young people have been placed at the heart of policymaking by two charities, and have devised a political debate
Young Scots are being given the opportunity to hold Scotland's first minister to account.
Children and young people will have the opportunity to scrutinise Nicola Sturgeon, as First Minister’s Question Time (FMQT) is taken out of Holyrood.
First Minister’s Question Time Next Generation will be recorded in Glasgow on Wednesday, 12 September, with 100 children and young people in attendance.
The debate will be broadcast on STV’s flagship current affairs programme, Scotland Tonight, the following day.
The Year of Young People (YOYP) 2018 aims to put eight to 26 year olds at the heart of policymaking and the decisions that impact on them – and provide a real opportunity to hold adult decision-makers, including the first minister, to account.
The project, funded by Scottish Government as part of YOYP 2018, builds on the current participation work of national charities, Children in Scotland and the national agency for youth work, YouthLink Scotland.
The question time event is part of a wider body of work by the two charities with the aim of putting children and young people at the heart of policymaking and the decisions that impact on them, nationally and locally.
FMQT Next Generation has been designed and delivered in partnership with a design team of 19 children and young people.
They have been involved in decision-making at all stages of the project, from the venue to project visuals through to selecting the questions that will be put to the first minister.
Design team member Josh, 13, said: “I wanted to get involved because I wanted to make sure that not just my voice, but my generation’s voice, was not just being heard but being listened to and taken into consideration. As the decisions being made will not affect the decision-makers in the long run, they will affect us.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “In this Year of Young People, and through this dedicated question time, I hope to offer a platform for children and young people to bring those opinions directly to me. I'm looking forward to a varied and insightful discussion on the day, on the matters that are affecting these young people and their lives.”
Jim Sweeney MBE, chief executive of YouthLink Scotland, added: “Young people involved in this project have been really passionate and clear about the need for them to have their voice heard. We want to engage with all political parties and institutions at all levels to increase children’s participation in those decisions that will affect their future.
“We’re all excited for the event in September, and pleased Nicola Sturgeon has agreed to kickstart this. We hope it will be the first of many that will see young people involved and taken seriously in Scottish politics.”
Children and young people can apply to be part of the audience by emailing [email protected]
