Young people from Fife are being encouraged to join a group that stands up for people’s rights.

Anyone aged between 12 and 17 can apply to join the Young Advisors Group to work with the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Nicola Killean.

The role of the Commissioner and her team is to promote and protect children’s human rights and work closely with the office’s Young Advisors Group as one way to hear about the issues that matter. The group shares their opinions with the Commissioner and they are currently looking for more members.

This year the group laid their investigation – Mental Health: Counselling In Schools – at the Scottish Parliament. In May last year, two young advisors also went to the UN in Geneva to report on how the Committee on the Rights of the Child examined the UK and devolved governments about their children’s rights record.

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The group have even given evidence on education during the COVID-19 pandemic to the Scottish Parliament.

Commissioner Nicola Killean said: “Children and young people are at the heart of everything we do. Their experiences, opinions, and ideas influence every aspect of our work. The Young Advisors are crucial to the office – they help us promote and protect rights and work with us on specific projects. At the moment, they are helping us engage with children and young people across Scotland to help inform my four-year plan.

"They are part of my office’s governance and play a key role when we are recruiting new members of our team. They have promoted rights through events and media opportunities, and had a lot of fun along the way. 

Dunfermline Press: The role of the Commissioner and her team is to promote and protect children’s human rights.The role of the Commissioner and her team is to promote and protect children’s human rights. (Image: Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland)

“It’s really important that our Young Advisors Group reflects Scotland’s diversity and we can support young people from lots of different backgrounds with different experiences to take part. We are especially keen to hear from young people who haven’t been in a group like this before. We can’t wait to start working with some new Young Advisors and look forward to the ideas and experiences they will bring to our team of human rights defenders.” 

Any young people from Fife who are interested should visit the group’s website, the closing date for applications is Monday, February 12 at midday.