TIME TO GET #IN CAMPAIGN Highlighted

16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS NOW A KEY PART OF SCOTLAND’S DEMOCRATIC PROCESS

The SNP has today highlighted and welcomed a campaign to by the Electoral Commission to promote voter registration for young people.

The campaign - Time to get #IN – aims to ensure 16 and 17 year olds (and 15 year olds who will be 16 on polling day 5 May 2016) are informed and able to register to vote in Scottish Parliamentary and local government elections.

The campaign is encouraging all schools and colleges across Scotland to hold a registration session during the week of 7-11 September.

Commenting, SNP Cunninghame South Candidate Ruth, who is also North Ayrshire Councils Youth Champion said: 

“I’m backing the Time to get #IN campaign by the Electoral Commission to encourage young people from across Scotland to get registered for next year’s elections. 

“In last year’s referendum 16, 17 and 18 year olds overwhelmingly grasped the opportunity to have their democratic voice heard, here in North Ayrshire the turnout was fantastic.

“Since then the Scottish Parliament passed The Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Act 2015 enabling 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland to vote at Scottish elections, including Scottish Parliamentary and local government elections. 

“Young people are now rightly considered a key part of the democratic process in Scotland – and the onus is on us all to ensure we make it is accessible and easy as possible to ensure the greatest number possible are registered to vote in May 2016.”

Stop and Search concerns raised at Police and Fire & Rescue Cmt

At our last NAC Police and Fire & Rescue committee on 12th February  I raised the issue of stop and search of young people, my primary concern was around whether or not young people could give informed consent to searches if they were not fully aware of their rights on the matter.  On the back of hearing that in Irvine only 1 in 4 searches were successful myself and colleagues on the committee were also keen to hear how these searches were monitored and scrutinised.  As the matter was subject to the Scottish Police Authority review we agreed to pick the matter up again once, their report was published. 

At committee on 4th June we were joined by Douglas Yates from the Scottish Police Authority who spoke briefly to their findings.  We also heard from Chief Superintendent Macdonald that officers in North Ayrshire had began work in our schools to inform young people of their rights and responsibilities around Stop and Search.  This work is to be applauded, we have nothing to fear from any citizens being fully aware of their rights.  I have asked the police to consider extending this to young people not currently engaged in our education system too.

It is very clear to me that operational policing matters are best left to Police officers and can see that Stop and Search is a useful tool in the fight against crime and goal of keeping us all safe.  However, I am firmly of the belief power should be open to scrutiny and challenge, I welcome the recommendations made by the SPA.

The Scottish Police Authority has published 12 recommendations aimed at improving the targeting, effectiveness, and transparency of the use of stop and search tactics by Police Scotland.

Publishing the results of its scrutiny review of stop and search, the SPA has acknowledged the contribution that stop and search makes to tackling violence and antisocial behaviour in Scotland.

However, it has highlighted a number of areas for improvement around targeting, proportionality, training, data gathering, transparency and consent.

Key recommendations include:

• improved data collection and analysis by Police Scotland, to make stronger the connection between intelligence, the threat of crime, and the stop and search activity undertaken,
• increased public reporting of stop and search data to enhance transparency and build public confidence,
• a shift towards informed consent in non-statutory stop and search to ensure the public are better informed of their rights, including the right to decline.

The review also highlights the need for wider policy consideration within the criminal justice system around the lack of statutory powers to search for alcohol, and the need for more research on the long-term impact of stop and search on particular groups and communities, especially younger people.

The review found that:

- Police Scotland annually invest approximately 250,000 hours of police officer time to stop and search;
- stop and search activity does contribute to detecting and preventing criminal and antisocial behaviour, but It is not always clearly set out, for officers or communities, where the objective of stop and search in an area is to deter crime or where it is to reduce crime;
- there is no evidence of the disproportionate targeting of minority ethnic communities in Scotland;
- there has been a substantial fall in the number of stop and searches carried out in Glasgow, offset nationally by considerable increases in volumes in command areas in the north and east of Scotland;
- those young people aged 15-19 years are most likely to be stopped, with 223 children aged 9 or under also recorded as having been stopped and searched;
- although there is no statutory search power for alcohol, the majority of searches are for alcohol and the majority of detections are for alcohol (12 times the recovery rate for weapons);
- while most officers were clear of the need to target activity on the right person, in the right place at the right time, some officers perceived pressure to conduct a certain number of searches, and;
- the extent to which stop and search contributes to falling violence is not clear, with areas such as Grampian and Strathclyde experiencing comparable falls in violent crime with very different rates of stop and search activity.

 

  

OpeNAyrshire Birthday Bash, LGBT History month

With founding members Sian & Josh

On Saturday I was honoured to attend OpeNAyrshire's first birthday party.  

OpeNAyrshire are North Ayrshire's first LGBT youth group.  Set up last year with support from North Ayrshire Council Youth Workers they meet weekly and provide a safe, friendly supportive, fun space for LGBT young people and their supporters.

The event was chaired ably with confidence and good humour by Josh McCormick who welcomed the audience which which included North Ayrshire Councils Provost Joan Sturgeon and Chief Executive Elma Murray.

Speakers from the group introduced us to a selection of short films they had picked.  The introductions and the films were inspirational, informative and pretty emotional.  Some of the younger speakers had never presented in public before, it's no mean feet standing in front of an audience and sharing, thoughts and feelings so frankly - very proud of you all!

Greater rights for our children and young people in care

It was wonderful to hear confirmation yesterday that all forms of care will be extended to the age of 21 with further support up to 26.  Well done to all who worked on the Children and Young Peoples bill, in particular the young care leavers who shared their experience.   

The Scottish government announcement means hundreds of Scotland’s most vulnerable young people are to be given greater rights to continuing their care placement into early adulthood from next year.   

Leaving home can be a challenging and lonely time for a young person.  This change recognises our children and young people in care should be given the same kind of support those living in a stable family home benefit from.  Continuing care when moving on to make their way in the world will substantially increase chances of a smooth transition to independent living and a successful adult life.

From April 2015, teenagers in residential, foster or kinship care who turn 16 will be entitled to remain looked after until the age of 21 under new provisions proposed for the Children and Young People Bill.

This increased support, to be funded by £5 million a year up to 2020, is in addition to the Scottish Government’s recent commitment to provide support up to the age of 26-years-old for care leavers to help them move into independent living.

New provisions to be introduced through the Children and Young People Bill include:

• The right to aftercare support available to all care leavers to be extended from those up to the age of 21 to those aged up to 26.
• All young people in care born after April 1999 to have the right to stay in foster, kinship or residential care until the age of 21.
• Amended legislation to ensure that those leaving care aged 16 will become eligible for aftercare immediately, closing a loophole due to the age limit being determined by school year terms rather than birthday.
• A Review Group to look at any further legislation needed to deliver overall ambitions and the way information on looked after young people is used to improve services.
• This package of measures also goes further than recent moves to extend foster care support in England.  

Straight Talking

On Monday night North Ayrshire Council held a "Straight Talking" event entitled "North Ayrshire, The Best place to grow up", the first aimed at our young people.  It was a really well attended, lively event and I was pleased to see so many take part and share their views and feeling that the exercise was worthwhile and one they would wish to repeat.  Next steps will be that the information from the workshops be gathered then the council will share with the involved groups what they said and most importantly what we did.  

I personally, feel there is even more we can do to make it as easy as possible for young folk to contribute and would like to see locality specific events for only young people but there is no doubt Monday was a worthwhile experience as one of our MYSPs commented on Twitter after #morelikethis

Trinity Church

I was lucky enough to get to see inside The Trinity church this morning.  It is lovely to see it coming along so well, my picture doesn't really do justice but the stained window really is beautiful.  My favourite thing was the roof though the slates are really smart looking, can't wait till all the scaffolding is down in October and we can all see it in it's full glory.

For more information on the restoration, including how young people are being included in the work visit Irvine Bay's website:  http://www.irvinebay.co.uk/our-changing-bay/31_trinity_church_irvine

Youth Legacy Ambassador

YLA Erin Mcauley collecting "Legacy Wishes" from Cllr Marie Burns and I

North Ayrshire "Rising Stars" praised in Scottish Parliament

Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament praising North Ayrshires rising stars:

"That the Parliament congratulates all of the winners at North Ayrshire’s Rising Stars Awards 2013; understands that the awards celebrate the many and varied ways in which young people help to enrich the lives of others and support their community; further understands that the awards also recognise young talent including artists, academics, sportsmen and sportswomen, as well as those who are considered to be assets to their local community, and considers that North Ayrshire’s Rising Stars Awards, which are now in their second year, offer a great opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution made by the young people of North Ayrshire, who it believes are a credit to themselves and their communities and who offer a positive example to others."


The motion has received cross party support of MSPs from all over the country who clearly recognise what an asset our young people are to us here in North Ayrshire.

Irvine Riverside Tidy

Pleasure to have taken part in the tidy organised by Irvine Action on Saturday.  

The weather stayed dry and everyone was in good spirits working away.  As with the Kilbirnie tidy the evening before our young people were very well represented making up a big proportion of the volunteers.

Before and after pictures, lots of rubbish lifted and some extra volunteers joining as the tidy progressed.

A good morning's work!

Children Experiencing Domestic Abuse Recovery Project - CEDAR

This afternoon at a launch in Cunninghame house CEDAR in North Ayrshire was introduced to a wide range of practitioners and community partners from the area.  

The Cedar project is a therapeutic 12 week group work programme for children and young people aged 4-16 who have experienced domestic abuse.  Mothers have the opportunity to attend a women's group to support their children.  It aims to support children in learning how to manage their emotions and actions in response to domestic abuse.  National evaluations have demonstrated that CEDAR improves children's physical and mental health, their performance at school and their family relationships.

Referrals are made directly to CEDAR and taken over the phone on 01505 682216, no forms to fill in.  Mums can also refer themselves and their children, the group leaders are happy to have an informal chat  and provide information about other services if CEDAR isn't the best programme for you and your family.  More information online at http://cedarnetwork.org.uk/

Community Voices piece for the Irvine Herald - Scottish Independence

Our local paper here is running a new feature "Community Voices" and each week will give space to a guest writer to contribute their thoughts on a subject close to their heart.  This month the topic is Scottish Independence.  Here are the words I wrote on voting YES:

On the 18^th of September 2014 we will be asked whether we wish to restore political independence to our country. 

My personal position on the constitution of Scotland is not complicated.  Scotland is a nation and a nation should govern itself.  I want to live in a fairer and more prosperous country.   I believe that with the wealth of resources we have and full control over spending we can achieve a better standard of living for all our citizens.  The simple truth is that the people living and working here are best placed to make decisions about how things run here. 

Yes, Scotland should be an Independent country.

There’s been a narrative in the past that we’re too wee, too poor, and too stupid to govern ourselves.  Of nearly 200 independent countries in the world, around half are smaller than Scotland.  Seven of the ten wealthiest countries in the OECD have populations of less than 10 million, including 4 that are very similar to or smaller than Scotland.  Scotland contributes 9.6% of UK taxes and receives 9.3% of UK spending.  Not even the staunchest defenders of the Westminster government attempt to peddle the myth we can’t afford our independence anymore. 

Now that the economic argument has been conceded by even the UK prime minister, supporters of the status quos must explain how, with all we have in natural and human resources, with many other countries our size doing so well why we aren’t doing better?  20% of our children in Scotland are living in poverty.  How can you say the “UK is OK”?  Westminster isn’t working for Scotland, with the recent debate on the Bedroom Tax 90% of Scottish MPs voted against it but still it is imposed.  I wonder if our referendum was asking us to form this union rather than restore our independence, how many of us would vote to be governed by a parliament where our voice goes unheard on such important matters as welfare or defence?  

An Independent Scotland has never meant isolation or separatism to me, independence is a natural state of affairs.  When we encourage independence in our young people it is because we know in our hearts that it is best for them to be able to stand on their own two feet.  To take responsibility for themselves and their decisions and, most importantly, exercise their right to make the choices that are best for them.  Anything less than full autonomy feels undignified.  Why on earth wouldn’t we want to take full responsibility for the decisions that affect all of us? 

My eldest daughter was born in 1996 and in 2014 she will be joining with young folk all over the country in voting for the first time in our historic referendum.  It’s an exciting time politically and only right that 16 and 17 year olds will take part in determining the future of our nation.   For them, the devolved Scottish parliament has always had responsibility for many of the areas that affect their lives.   And it’s this control that has allowed us to make different choices here in Scotland, choices that reflect our values and wishes for our society.  Unlike in England, we can retain and protect our NHS ensuring it is run in the interest of patients and not profit and provide free personal care for our older people.  College and University are an opportunity accessible to all with ability not only those able to pay.

I care about social justice and equality for all not just Scotland’s people.  In areas of Health policy Scotland has pioneered the smoking ban and minimum alcohol pricing being good examples of where Westminster has followed our lead.  Showing that decisions we make independently here can have a positive impact on our friends and neighbours south of the border.  A progressive approach to welfare and employability could make an equally good impression, with Scotland presenting a better way than Westminster austerity, driving debate and accelerating change in the other countries on this island.  For those of us opposed to nuclear weapons, an Independent Scotland provides the only realistic opportunity to remove them from our soil and indeed the constitution for our newly independent country could choose to ban them entirely from our land.

I have high hopes for Scotland, for a caring society where there are opportunities for all our citizens and support for those who need it.  An independent Scotland is not a panacea to all our social and economic problems.  The global challenges being faced will not disappear overnight and we may not always get things right first time, but decisions will be made by a parliament 100% accountable, responsible and reflecting the wishes of the people of Scotland.  For that to happen, the people making those choices must be those who care most about Scotland, the people living and working here.  Our voices must be heard. 

Yes, Scotland should be an independent country.

Irvine - Cycle Friendly Town?

I was pleased to learn yesterday that funding has been secured from Sustrans Scotland to identify the potential to develop and promote Irvine as a Cycle Friendly Town.  The Study area includes the Irvine West and Irvine East Wards and Eglinton Country Park within the Kilwinning Ward.  Eglinton Country Park was included within the Study as it was identified as a key location for Irvine residents to visit.

The aim of the Study is to identify a programme of recommendations to make active travel a viable option for everyday journeys in and round Irvine and encourage modal shift to cycling.  

Cycle Friendly Town status and the safe cycling environment that comes with it encourages more people of all ages to make journeys by bike.  Taking part in even 30 minutes of exercise a day can improve Health and Wellbeing.  Being a form of transport it can be one of the easiest ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine - saving money, increasing fitness and being good for the environment to boot.

The first stage of the process is a consultation, I'd encourage all interested parties to take part online at the address below:

http://www.mvasurvey.com/cyclingirvine/ 

Information on existing cycle routes throughout North Ayrshire can be found here on the website 

Youth champion

Just a quick note to say how happy I am to have been appointed Youth Champion.  North Ayrshire's young people are represented already through the youth council, there has been a lot of good work done in ensuring their voices are heard.  At the joint meeting of North Ayrshire's cabinet and Youth executive I heard from some very impressive young people, confident and eloquent communicators  I look forward to working with them.  I also wish to try to engage with our young people who might not feel as comfortable in the council chambers debating with our education Director and the leader of the council! I intend to spend  some time over the next wee while meeting with youth groups and projects and listening and learning.......watch this space.

Support for Scottish Sports Alliance Goals

I am happy to add my support to The Scottish Sports Alliances 3 goals.  

Getting children into sport early provides them positive role models and establish's healthy behaviors, build confidence and belonging.  For the wider community sport socially connects individuals and groups. In terms of physical and mental health it can bring measurable differences in a relatively short space of time.  I have also seen first hand how sport can affect the justice landscape too, giving our young people a positive, sociable and enjoyable diversion.  

Three goals for sport:

1. Help every young person in Scotland get active and stay healthy
2. Make better use of sporting facilities
3. Champion the efforts of sporting volunteers and coaches

Our First Minister Alex Salmond says "The SNP support the Alliance's campaign and share Scots' passion for sport.  Getting children involved at a young age is vital, and we are committed to the delivery of at least 2 hours PE in primary schools and 2 periods of PE in secondary schools by 2014.  We support making better use of sports facilities and opening up school school sports facilities to meet the SNP's ambition for a healthier and more active nation.  However facilities are only part of the the picture - it is the time, effort and commitment of thousands of volunteers and coaches who are the backbone of sports teams and sports clubs across Scotland"

Last weekend at conference the establishment of a £10 million fund that will allow communities to bring their local sports facilities across Scotland into the 21 st century was announced, welcome news indeed.  

LIBDEMS CHALLENGED ON VOTES AT 16

The Scottish Parliament

I was interested to read that Deputy Prime Minister’s PPS Jo Swinson MP is set to host a meeting of the Votes at 16 Campaign Coalition in Westminster.  For me it's only right to extend the franchise for all elections to include young people.  It seems ridiculous that 16 and 17 year olds can work and pay tax, marry, join the armed forces but not have a say politically.  

While the UK Government has signalled it doesn’t want 16 and 17 year olds voting on Scotland’s future as they tried to dictate the terms of Scotland’s referendum, Ms Swinson says she will ‘bring together young people, organisations and parliamentarians to discuss the Votes at 16 campaign, including plans for a week of action’, on 27 February.

Labour and Lib Dem MPs and MSPs including the Leader of the Lib Dems Nick Clegg, the Deputy leaders of both parties in Scotland and the Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran have given their support to the Votes at 16 campaign and the Lib Dems, who voted with the SNP to  introduce votes at 16 in Scotland’s health board elections, promised to lower the voting age in their 2010 manifesto.

SNP MP Mike Weir comments:

“It is time the LibDems were honest about where they stand on votes for 16 and 17 year-olds. Is this one of those policies, like tuition fees, where the LibDems say one thing and do the other. Indeed, the LibDems have already let young people down once, will they do it again?

“16 and 17 year olds already play a part in our society.  They should be able to have their say over Scotland’s future.  “Attaching strings to Scotland’s referendum is simply not acceptable.  The referendum should be decided by the Scottish people and the Scottish parliament.

“It is ridiculous that politicians who say they support 16 and 17 year olds having a vote in elections would not support them voting in a referendum.  "And of course Lib Dems in Scotland have already backed votes for 16
and 17 year olds as part of elections to health boards.

“Penalising those 16 and 17 year olds who will be looking to the future of their country in an attempt to attack the SNP is just another sign of how badly the Tories, Lib Dems and now Labour are misreading the Scottish people.

“It is grossly unfair those aged 16 and 17 are able to play a major part in our society, to pay taxes, join the armed forces, consent to marriage but under UK Government plans will not be barred from making democratic decisions about their own future.

“All parties have accepted that the SNP has the right and mandate to hold a referendum on Scottish independence. The LibDems and Labour members have accepted that 16 and 17 year olds should be given the
vote. They should reaffirm their position, stop equivocating and ensure 16 and 17 year olds are able to vote.”