Young Person Takeover: Islay Jackson
Hi, I’m Islay! I’m a young activist, an advocate for the youth voice and a marine enthusiast. This is what I got up to in the last month!
A bit about me:
I’m 16, in S6 (my last year at secondary school!)
I live in Glasgow
I volunteer with YSCS, MCS and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
I’m a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament and Deputy Convenor for the Transport, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee
Young Person’s Policy Group
I joined YSCS at the beginning of 2024, and have been a member of its Young Person’s Policy Group since the inception of the group. We meet once a month to talk about marine policies, pressing marine news, and to get involved with policy as young people. We recently took part in our first consultation, submitting a group response on the Scottish Government’s Offshore Marine Protected Area consultation. I absolutely love this group, and can’t wait for our next big achievement!
Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award
At the start of the month I completed my Gold Duke of Edinburgh final expedition. Some school friends and I travelled to Fort William where we launched our canoes and started our 4 day expedition along the Great Glen Canoe Trail. We all enjoyed a peaceful paddle along the Caledonian Canal, and the weather was on our side the entire time! So glad I did all 3 levels of the Award, and would recommend it to anyone that is considering doing it!
Marine Conservation Society
Outside of YSCS, I volunteer with many different environmental organisations, one of which is Marine Conservation Society. I attended an event with Marine Conservation Society in Inverness at the start of October, where we discussed policy and advocacy, careers in the marine sector and little changes we can make to take action! We also got to go on a fabulous boat trip, spotting lots of cormorants and a couple of common seals, but sadly no dolphins 🐬
Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park
I also volunteer with Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park as one of their Junior Rangers. We meet at least once a month to take part in practical conservation tasks across the National Park. This month a group of us helped out at the Wild Strathfillan tree nursery, a project led by Trust in the Park. We were collecting Sessile Oak acorns from the SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and then planting them into cells to be reared for the next 2 years in preparations for the planting initiative that begins in 2026. We planted 4,000 acorns, a mere 10% of the total number of trees that are going to be reared this year! We also got to see some of the Scots pine from last year, they’re so big! Thanks to everyone involved, can’t wait till the next session ❤️🌎
Scottish Youth Parliament
I am a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament for Glasgow Anniesland and Deputy Convenor of SYP’s Transport, Environment and Rural Affairs committee. At the end of the month I attended SYP’s 82nd national sitting at the Scottish Parliament - our first Parliament sitting since 2019! Here I debated on motions, submitted my own motion, led a committee meeting, took part in campaign training for our national campaign, ‘improve mental health training and support’, and networked with MSPs. I also just got elected to the UK Youth Parliament! I will start my work with them in the next few weeks - follow my Instagram for more information on what I’m up to @islay.jackson.msyp.
