'SINCE being elected as a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) for Cowdenbeath back in March of this year, I have been very busy getting down to work for the young people in our community.

I fought a tough campaign, and I am delighted that young people have put their trust in me to serve as their youth representative until June 2019 – a role which I take very seriously.

I have been co-opted onto the Cowdenbeath Area Committee to ensure that decision-makers truly listen to young people’s views and concerns in the community. I was delighted that the Period Poverty Motion proposed by Councillor Erskine passed at my first meeting, and I look forward to working with Councillor Erskine on this issue. I have also been pursuing youth representation on Fife Council’s Education and Children’s Service’s Committee, and have attended the last two meetings to see how we could do this and how it will work. I look forward to meeting with Carrie Lindsay, Executive Director for Education and Children’s Services, and Councillor Fay Sinclair, Convenor of the Committee, in the coming weeks to discuss this.

I have also been attending youth clubs and youth projects on a weekly basis, listening to the views of young people and acting on these. I have since hosted surgeries every first Tuesday of the month at Lochgelly Centre, with plans to extend this to the third Tuesday of every month, as well in a rotating location. These are held from 6:45-7:30pm.

I have established a ‘Pupil Improvement Committee’ at Lochgelly High School which recommends areas in the school that need improved, based on suggestions from pupils. I am delighted that the committee now has 20 members and is focusing on various issues such as the dinner hall.

Being an MSYP has some benefits, like being invited to the Youth Work Awards at the start of November to celebrate the work and dedication of young people from all over the Cowdenbeath area. The night was successful and there were lots of awards handed out to inspirational and determined young people. I hope those young people continue to do what they do best, and I hope to see them at the ‘Yoscars’ next year. It gave a real insight into all the good work that young people do; not all are out causing problems as we are frequently told. Congratulations to all the staff that made it happen.

Finally, I have been busy taking forward constituents’ concerns, If any young person (12-25) has an issue/concern they’d like me to raise, or wants to know more about my work, please get in touch by emailing hello@syp.org.uk, or following me on Twitter: @BaileyLeeMSYP.'