A SCOTTISH Government Minister, and community education staff from the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area, have praised the work from a Lochgelly High pupil who has been chosen as Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament of the Year.

Maree Todd, MSP, and Minister for Children and Young People, made the announcement last week on behalf of the Scottish Youth Parliament, that local Lochgelly young person, Bailey-Lee Robb, was the winner of MSYP of the Year for 2020.

Ms Todd went on to say that Bailey-Lee was 'an absolutely inspirational role model, who cares a great deal for his peers. He has consistently acted in the interests of improving young people’s life chances both locally and nationally'.

She went on to say that Bailey-Lee has been crucial in the bid to make Scotland an ACE-aware nation, by advocating for a rights based approach to tackling Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) in the Scottish Youth Parliament's campaign “Rights! the missing piece to childhood adversity. Marie Todd went onto commend Bailey-Lee for his tireless work around driving up the quality of School Meals in Fife, which he brought up in his role as a member of Cowdenbeath Area Committee.

The awards event should have taken place at the recent Scottish Youth Parliament sitting, but was cancelled due to the Covid-19 crisis. The Youth Parliament decided to stream the awards announcements on Twitter last week, where Bailey-Lee was unveiled as the winner.

Local Community Education Worker and support worker to Bailey-Lee, Lorraine Mullen, said: “I am immensely proud of Bailey-Lee upon his receiving this award, he deserves every accolade coming towards him!

"This achievement is in recognition of the immense amount of time, energy and good nature that Bailey-Lee puts into his work within the Youth Parliament.

"He is a great role model for other young people and a great advocate for young people’s rights! His work around ACE’s and School Meals shows how he makes the most of his position within the Youth Parliament to effect positive change for the young people he represents.

"He is also an active member of the local Lochgelly Youth Forum and he sits on Cowdenbeath Area Committee, as well as attending the Education and Children’s Services Committee of Fife Council.

"He has also given his time freely at the Café Inc lunches project as well as supporting the Lo’gelly Lunches recently throughout this Covid-19 time."

Added Lorraine: "He is a true credit to his community! I really don’t know how he manages it all".

Fellow Community Education Worker and support, Corinne McGinley, commented: "Bailey-Lee stood with the right intentions in the beginning - to represent the young folk of his constituency.

"His work ethic while balancing school, part time work and just being a young person, has been what has made what he has championed a success. His work around ACEs and School Meals, as well as the smaller, but no less important, constituency issues he has pushed as far as he could, are a credit to him. "I have really enjoyed getting to know and work with Bailey Lee - we've had some laughs... and he deserves this recognition so much".

If you would like to find out more about the work Bailey-Lee has been undertaking or indeed youth work in the area then don’t hesitate to get in touch with Lorraine Mullen, Lochgelly Centre, Bank St. Lochgelly on 03451 555555 – 406807 or drop an email to Lorraine.mullen@fife.gov.uk

 

 

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