The Highland Youth Parliament (HYP), the elected parliament for young people in the Highlands, has voted in a new Interim Chair and Vice-Chair.
Hamish Nott from Millburn, Inverness is the new Interim Chair and Jean Don from Thurso is the Interim Vice-Chair.
Supported by High Life Highland’s Youth Development team, they will hold the positions until the HYP elections in October.
The HYP has over 100 elected members through schools and youth forums across the area and is a key way for young people to have a voice and engage in decision-making processes that affect their lives.
Hamish, who is also a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament for Inverness and Nairn, said: “I am looking forward to working with members of the HYP to ensure the views of young people across Highland are heard and well represented.
“Following a challenging two years for us all, it is exciting to be in a position to help drive forward the changes identified by young people that will ensure positive progress in the areas that are at the heart of our concerns.”
Jean, who is also a member of Caithness Youth Council and Thurso Youth Council said: “I am ecstatic to be able to make sure that young people’s voices can be heard and their mental health is supported; including making sure they feel supported, have freedom and have the necessary rights.
“I myself have been through hardship; more than anyone should ever have. I am part of Caithness Youth Council and Thurso Youth Council which has definitely brought my spirit up and made people believe in the rights of young minds and make sure our voices are heard.
“These issues need to be addressed more than it is rather than young people struggling to understand how they feel. My one wish is for young minds to have equality in this world rather than have our mental health labelled as ‘teenage hormones’.
“Even so, ‘teenage hormones’ are still mental health and still should be treated equally. I hope that one day young people’s mental and emotional issues will be treated equally to every other age group around the world.”
To find out more, visit www.highlifehighland.com/youth/highland-youth-parliament
