New Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament Terri Smith MSYP has joined the board of Young Scot. She’ll sit alongside 17 year old Abbie Wilson, who joined the board last year and has now become the youngest Vice Chair in Young Scot’s history!
Abbie was elected to the post at the charity’s annual general meeting held in Edinburgh late last month (Tuesday 28th June 2016). It is believed that Abbie is also one of the youngest official office bearers on any board in Scotland.
As the new Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, Terri Smith MSYP also joins the Young Scot board. Terri is an MSYP for Edinburgh North & Leith, an #iwill Ambassador and a former member of the Police Scotland Youth Advisory Panel. Terri works with other young people, implementing personal youth development programmes, in Edinburgh, and volunteers as a peer mentor.
Terri said: “I am delighted to become a Young Scot board member as it is an opportunity to represent Scotland’s most vulnerable and disenfranchised young people. Ensuring young people’s voices are heard in the third sector is vital and I will relish the opportunity to do so as part of Young Scot.”
Abbie, who is from Livingston, was a Youth Commissioner on the Scottish Government appointed Commission for Smoking Prevention. She also sat on the judging panel for the 2014 Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards and was Youth Legacy Ambassador during the Commonwealth Games. Last year Abbie received a Saltire Summit Award for her volunteering work and is a Youth Leader for St Andrew’s First Aid.
Abbie said, “I am delighted to be the Vice Chair of such an incredible organisation which engages with so many young people on a daily basis. It speaks volumes for Young Scot that the future of the organisation is shaped by Young Scot’s such as myself and Terri and I believe that more charities should follow in their footsteps by appointing young people as trustees.”
Dame Sue Bruce, the former Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council, was returned as Chair to oversee the strategic direction and operation of Young Scot.
She said: “Young Scot is a stronger organisation thanks to the contribution of young people like Abbie and Terri to its governance and strategic direction. We are delighted to have their experience and insight available to the Board, especially as we look to implement Young Scot’s strategy for 2016 to 2019.”
Young Scot established a model of appointing young people aged under 26 to its Board several years ago.
Following the 2016 AGM the Young Scot board members are:
· Sue Bruce (Chair) – Independent
· Jim Sweeney (Vice Chair) Chief Executive, YouthLink Scotland
· Abbie Wilson (Vice Chair) Independent
· Brenda Scott (Company Secretary) Partner, Brodies Solicitors
· Carol Downie Chief Executive of the Gannochy Trust
· Colin Sneddon Retail Markets Small Firms and Contact Division, FCA
· Bob Payne Independent
· Terri Smith Chair, Scottish Youth Parliament
· Mary Cuthbert Independent
· Simon Wall Director, Storm ID
· Steve Langmead Director, Progress Business Solutions
· Robin Parker Public Affairs Manager, WWF Scotland
· Scott McGlinchey, CEO of Exception
· Hugh Scott Youth Work Manager, Inverclyde Council
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