New Voice For Highland Youth

6th September 2012

The Highlands has a new Youth Convener. John Erskine from Dingwall has this week taken up the unique role of Highland Youth Convener. John (21) is the sixth Highland Youth Convener. He takes over from Stuart Davidson from Nairn who is going on to pursue a degree in law. The Highlands is unique in having a Youth Convener.

The Youth Convener works closely with young people across the Highlands through Highland Youth Voice, Area Youth Forums and Pupil Councils in High Schools. John will maintain the great links between organisations and partners already established by previous Youth Conveners and will also develop new connections with organisations across the Highlands.

This diverse role will see John acting as the conduit between elected members and senior officials in Highland Council and Highland young people. John's role also requires him to act as a sounding board for youth issues in the Highlands. He will attend Council and Planning Partner meetings where appropriate, he has full voting rights on Adult and Children's Service committee and speaking rights at all other council committees.

John who attended Dingwall Academy is the first graduate to take on the role as Highland Youth Convener. John graduated from University of Stirling in June with a B.A. (Hons) degree in Philosophy and Politics, which was a key factor in John's decision to apply for this challenging role.

John said of his new role; "Having grown up in the Highlands I feel I have experienced many aspects of the challenges facing young people across the area. As a returning graduate I wanted to take on the role, to focus on making the Highlands a great place for everyone and tackle one of the major nationwide problems of Youth Unemployment. I look forward to working with young people across the Highlands and Highland Council who have placed a high priority on Youth Issues in there council programme for the coming year."

Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Drew Hendry congratulated John on his appointment; he said: "In our Programme for The Highland Council we clearly give our commitment to children and young people and are working to ensure the best possible quality of life and opportunities are available to them. To do this effectively we need to make sure the ideas, opinions and aspirations of young people are clearly heard. John will play a pivotal role in making sure this happens and I look forward to working closely and productively with him."

John was in London last week in his role as Highland Youth Convener to raise issues and represent young people to Department of Work and Pensions officials in Westminster and meet with Chris Grayling MP, Minister for Employment.

John can be contacted at High Life Highland in Inverness on 01463 663800 or by email to youth.convener[AT]highlifehighland.com