'I am delighted to be writing in the column once more.

Fife Elects New MSYPs

At the end of March, young people went to the polls and elected their new Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament for the session from 2019 to 2021. I look forward to working with the new cohort of MSYPs for Fife and Scotland, and I’m delighted to be continuing my role in Cowdenbeath.

CafeInc Launch

The Easter Holidays have seen the launch of CafeInc, providing free meals and snacks for young people and their families at local designated schools and community centres. With the option for a hot meal or a packed lunch, it is feeding those who need it most. No questions are asked and support can be accessed if needed (at community centres). Numbers for uptake are looking good and I look forward to fighting to have this continued in the summer holidays.

ACEs Work

My work and the Scottish Youth Parliament’s work on Adverse Childhood Experiences are continuing to go from strength to strength. I met with the Scottish Cabinet, including Nicola Sturgeon, MSP and First Minister of Scotland, to highlight the issue of ACEs and how we need to move to prevention whilst also taking a Human Rights Based Approach to this issue. I’m also developing a toolkit for MSYPs and Support Workers to use to discuss ACEs with young people.

School Meals

Further to the letter I sent to the CEO of Fife Council, Steve Grimmond, about the quality of school meals and the increase in cost, I am delighted to have received a response from Mr Grimmond personally, instructing the Senior Manager with responsibility of this to meet with me in the coming weeks.

Youth Select Committee

I am delighted to announce that I’m a member of the UK-wide Youth Select Committee, which sits in the House of Commons. This year we are investigating the Knife Crime epidemic which is claiming so many young people’s lives. Information can be found on the British Youth Council’s Website.

Exams

The SQA Exam Diet begins at the end of April and I would like to take a minute to wish all my constituents that are going to be undertaking theses exams the very best of luck. You will achieve what you set out to achieve and remember that your teachers stand ready to support you and your revision throughout this time.

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 Bailey-Lee.Robb.MSYP@sypmail.org.uk, or following me on Twitter: @BaileyLeeMSYP/.