A new column from our Uist MSYP, Samantha Jordan

Hello Islanders!

I’m so excited to say that I have been voted into the role of depute lead of the Creative Communications Team (CCT) in the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP)! The CCT is a group of 10 MSYPs who create youth-led media content. They help the SYP develop an engaging online presence, targeting Scotland’s young people in captivating and accessible ways. We had our first meeting on the 20th of August and it was a huge success. We have decided some cool new projects that we will be working on, one of which I will be leading!

Now I know this issue of Am Pàipear is coming out in September, however I am writing this column in August, just after exam results and as young people are going back to school. I just wanted to say that if you got the results you wanted, well done!! If you didn’t, I want you to know that results aren’t everything – there is always another way! I left school with awful results and look at me now: a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament and writing in a newspaper, which has always been a dream of mine! And it may not happen right away but I promise, if you put in the work, you will find a way to do what you put your mind to! I also want to wish all the young people who are returning back to school this year the best of luck – I really hope you enjoy it.

At the start of September I will be moving to Glasgow for a month to start my CalMac journey. I’m as equally excited as I am nervous. It’s only for a month or so, but I’m quite excited to be in the big city for a while!

I want to reassure my constituents that while I’m away, I will be doing all I can to make sure that I’m still keeping in touch and updating the young people of the Western Isles. One of the ways I will be doing this is by attending the September sitting for SYP, where there will be awards for categories such as: MSYP of the Year, One to watch, Human Rights Defender, Voluntary Organisation Champion and many others. I genuinely can’t wait to see everyone again. That’s one of the things I love best about SYP, I’ve made so many forever friends that I miss so much – and I only saw them in July!

I recently put forward a member’s motion on getting actually affordable air travel for young people, and I am so excited to say that it passed the Conveners Panel. Now the members of SYP will vote on prioritising all members’ motions passed, and there’s a lot, into a top 10. If my motion is in the final top 10, it will be debated and voted on in September. If my motion doesn’t make it through to the top 10, I will start a campaign on the matter instead, because the issue is so important to us young people. I’m praying it gets through to debates but I want to assure you that if it doesn’t, I will do everything I can to campaign for affordable air travel for young people.

This members motion is so important because it means that young people will have better connections to the mainland, helping to reduce isolation, improving mental health and ensuring that we don’t miss out because of our location. It matters to each and every young person, whether they can already afford the flights or not. If we work together, everyone can have the best opportunities.
I’m asking every young person who reads this to keep themselves involved and updated. When Alannah Logue and I (your MSYPs for the Western Isles) put out consultations, fill them out – work with us, so that we can help you!

If you have any ideas or want to share your opinion on this topic, good or bad, then get in touch with me on my Instagram (Sam4syp) or send me an email (Samantha.jordan.msyp@sypmail.org.uk). Getting in touch is such a big help to us! This members motion is so important, especially now that Loganair are excluding Benbecula – Glasgow flights from their new island discount scheme.

If you’d like to support me and this motion/campaign, share my social media posts at Sam4syp!
Okay, I think that’s everything for this month!
Sincerely, Sam!