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
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Members have considered an update on the Council's medium term financial plan and the impact of the UK and Scottish Governments’ budgets on the coming year’s funding settlement. The position is currently looking more positive than initially planned for, however more detail needs to be worked through.
In November, The Highland Council launched a public statutory consultation to seek views on the proposed introduction of a Visitor Levy scheme across the Highlands. The Council has announced an extension to this consultation period, which will now give businesses, visitors and communities until 31 March 2025, an additional seven weeks, to take part and have their say.
In the light of the financial forecast for 2025-26, Highland Council is inviting you to tell us more in the budget preparation for the coming financial year. The budget engagement builds on extensive budget participation which took place in the winter of 2023-24.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Every year Highland Council invites all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the following year. The Council encourages everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say.
Communities and Place Committee met yesterday (Wednesday 27 November 2024) and Members agreed the Highland Local Child Poverty Action Report which includes actions for delivery in 2024/25. Reducing child poverty is a priority for the Council and its partners.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Members of the Highland Council's Community and Place Committee have given their support to an action plan focusing on the operating of public conveniences over the next 10 years. Whilst not a statutory function, the Council is the main provider of public conveniences located throughout Highland, operating 74 sites.
A report published on 27 November 2024 by LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) looks at the state of funding for councils by the Scottish Government. Confidence in the sustainability of council finances is critically low.
At today's (Wednesday 27 November 2024) Communities & Place Committee, Members agreed the most appropriate long-term strategic direction for residual waste management is to continue to utilise a merchant provider solution. Communities & Place Committee Chair, Cllr Graham MacKenzie said: "After careful consideration and analysis it has been agreed that a merchant provider solution is considered the most appropriate long term solution to our statutory waste management obligations, and that an energy-from- waste facility within the Highlands is not considered to be a suitable course of action.
