The member is right to identify that we have committed to do that in the programme for government, and it will be a key theme of the year of young people.
It is important that young people have the opportunity—and the right—to influence the decisions that are made about their lives from day to day. From 10 January 2018, eligible children who are aged 12 to 15 will be empowered by having largely the same rights as their older peers and parents under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. That will be of particular benefit to looked-after children and young carers.
It is perhaps unsurprising that education also emerged as a key theme. Raising standards in education is key to giving young people a platform to succeed not just at school or in education but in life. The year of young people provides a prime opportunity for Scotland to lead the way internationally in its approach to giving young people a voice in their education, and we will include provisions to that end in the forthcoming education bill.
Young people also identified health and wellbeing as a priority theme, with mental health highlighted as a key issue. The Scottish Government has a 10-year strategy to improve access to mental health services that is backed by an additional £150 million over five years. It is also committed to preventative and early intervention approaches, and it is investing in children’s and young people’s health and wellbeing, which we know makes a big difference to their risk of developing mental health problems.
Last week, we announced the establishment of a youth commission on child and adolescent mental health services. Young Scot and the Scottish Association for Mental Health are receiving funding to recruit young people who have experience of mental health services to be young commissioners, who will do their own research, identify issues and speak to experts, policy makers and service providers about solutions.
Sportscotland, active partners and young sports ambassadors are all embracing the year and planning activity to help young people to have active lives, which is an important aspect of health and wellbeing. We look forward to a great year of sport in 2018—in particular, the European championships, which will take place here in Scotland in August.
It might surprise some folk in the chamber to hear that young people chose enterprise and regeneration as a key theme. That probably says something about us and our perceptions of what motivates and interests young people. Why would young people not want a stake in their economic future? Why would they not want to use their curiosity, creativity and innate ability to challenge, find solutions and influence our economy and their communities?
Earlier this year, I visited Kinlochleven high school and heard about the flourishing social enterprise—the beautifully named Kinlochlovin’—which has at its heart health and wellbeing, social inclusion and social justice. Just last month, Kinlochlovin’ won the highly acclaimed dragons glen prize from Lochaber Chamber of Commerce, so it is a pretty healthy business.
We need to nurture enterprise, celebrate success and give young people a voice and a say in their communities. Let us use the year of young people to better understand young people’s interests and give them a platform from which to succeed. We can all agree that a desirable outcome for 2018 and beyond would be to have our young people emerge into adulthood with a strong sense of who they are and an understanding that their talents are appreciated and their creativity will be encouraged and not curtailed.
There is evidence from the Scottish household survey that people who engage in cultural activity in earlier years are more likely than those who do not to participate in and attend cultural activities as adults and to report better health and greater life satisfaction. Scotland’s year of young people provides an opportunity to ensure that more young people can participate in culture and shape the future of the arts in Scotland. In line with our commitment to co-production, young people will have a meaningful role in the development of the new cultural strategy for Scotland.
Perhaps the single most important theme that young people identified, from which so much else follows, is equality and discrimination. Currently, too many young people do not feel equal or fairly treated. We know that equality of opportunity is denied to some because of poverty or because of their gender, sexual orientation and identity, disability or minority ethnic background—or because they are somehow different. We must change that. Difference must be recognised as a strength, not a deficit, and we must encourage our young people to embrace and value difference and diversity.
There is a key role and responsibility for Government in that regard. On Sunday, we marked and celebrated international human rights day. As the First Minister said, we have come a long way in Scotland and have achieved much, but there is more—much more—that we need to do. That is how we will approach this fundamental issue in 2018. We will build on the good work that is under way and we will face up to the challenges and, no doubt, some uncomfortable truths along the way.
The year of young people provides a space in which to generate intergenerational dialogue, break down barriers between age groups and ensure mutual respect and understanding. Crucially, it provides a space for parents and families to be recognised for their key role in young people’s lives. They are the most important resource and players in young people’s lives, and they shape the adults that our young people become. We need to value their contribution, celebrate their achievements and ensure that they feel supported, empowered and enabled.
At the launch of the year of young people, last month, the First Minister announced a busy and exciting events programme with 60 new or enhanced events across Scotland, all of which have been co-designed with young people. The programme is supported by a £1.2 million events fund, which is administered by VisitScotland.
With young people at its heart, the nationwide programme spans the country, from a youth festival in Shetland to a science takeover at Helix park, which is the home of the magnificent Kelpies, and, in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland’s biggest youth festival, at which more than 40,000 visitors are expected over a weekend.
Young people have the opportunity to apply for funding to run their own events and activities throughout the year, developing skills and engaging their local communities. The create 18 fund is still open for a second round—it closes in January—so members should encourage young people from their local areas to apply.
No doubt, members will have noticed that I am very excited about Scotland’s year of young people and the possibilities that it offers for our young people. In 2018, we have the chance to show that Scotland is a dynamic, welcoming, open and inclusive country. Perhaps the biggest opportunity and challenge is to explore that for ourselves and, vitally, to demonstrate those values to young people. The year of young people gives us a unique year-long opportunity to reset our relationship with our young people, change their perceptions and show that we believe in them and value the contribution that they make now and will make in the future.
There will be little point in the year of young people if we get to next December, put away the toolkits and pack away the activities with no fundamental shifts to point to or to take forward. Changing attitudes is perhaps the single biggest ambition that we can have for 2018. We can do that by celebrating young people’s achievements, holding events that put them front and centre and giving them platforms on which to succeed. We must put young people, their voices and their views at the heart of that activity. By pausing to listen to how young people perceive the world and how they are perceived by others, we can seek to create a better future for current and subsequent generations. That would make a fine legacy from Scotland’s year of young people.
I move,
That the Parliament recognises that 2018 has been designated as Scotland’s Year of Young People; notes that it will provide an opportunity to showcase the achievements and talents of all young people in Scotland and to ensure that their views are heard and acted on; welcomes that the themes for the year have been designed and agreed by young people themselves, and agrees that the Parliament has a key role to play in celebrating the contribution that Scotland’s young people make to society and their communities.
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