Young voices needed to shape South of Scotland

YOUNG people are being invited by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) to apply to join its Youth Advisory Forum.

It’s a space for 16–25s to influence key decisions that will shape their future in the South of Scotland.

The Forum is described as ‘a platform for young people to get involved in groundbreaking initiatives that have a direct impact in their communities and influence decision-makers at a national level’.

To date, members have helped in shaping the work of SOSE, as well as regional and national projects through consultation and project development sessions.

They have been involved in improving access to further and higher education for rural young people; helping reshape messaging on local food chains and consumer awareness; and advising on policy for community benefits tied to onshore windfarms.

In return, SOSE has given training to build the youngsters’ confidence and tackle imposter syndrome and members have gained practical skills in governance, finance, and leadership. Many of the group have earned their Participative Democracy Certificate qualification too.

The Forum is now expanding and looking for applications from 16–25 years old living in Dumfries and Galloway.

Meetings are held every six weeks and can be joined remotely. There’s support with transport and access needs as well.

Current forum member Jameson Shirreffs stressed you don’t need to know anything about policy, politics or strategies, adding: “If it wasn’t for the Forum, I wouldn’t have grown as much as a person. It’s helped me so much with confidence, and my communication and problem-solving skills, and deciding on different outcomes.

“You gain so much from it and for it to be something that requires so little of your time, it has been so incredibly worth it.”

Melissa Gunn leads the Forum and said: “This is a great opportunity for young people to get their voices heard and influence the decisions that will shape their local areas for years to come.

“We know that young people’s ideas, energy, and lived experiences are key to building a better future.

“You don’t need any experience to join us — just your voice and your passion. We’ll support you every step of the way. We have another packed year planned and we can’t wait to welcome some new members.”

n Applications close at 12 pm on Monday September 29 at www.southofscotlandenterprise.com/youthadvisoryforum