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Teenagers gain hold of Scotland's purse strings at Holyrood's Festival of Politics
News release issued 20 July 2006
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Teenagers will have a grip on the nation's purse strings when they go head to head in a Holyrood debate over how to Spend Scotland's Money as part of this summer's Festival of Politics taking place at the Scottish Parliament.
Six teams of 14 to 17-year-old students, gathered from schools from Inverness to Motherwell, will be provided with the actual figures and real bills presented to Parliament, asked to devise a budget and then debate which reforms they can afford to make as they bid to 'run the country'.
Will health, transport, education or crime be their priority - and will they make the same choices as our MSPs?
The six schools taking part in the budget debate are: Monifeith High School, Angus; Castlemilk High School, Glasgow; Uddingston Grammar, Lanarkshire; Inverness Royal Academy; Dalziel High School, Motherwell and Dollar Academy, Clackmannanshire.
The budget debate, to take place on Friday, 25 August, is just one of a series of events designed to involve people of all ages in the parliamentary process at the Festival of Politics (23-26 August).
Other activities for school students include the opportunity to create a designer politician with the 'Build Your Own MSP' game and the chance to get your legislation passed in an event teasingly named 'If I Ruled the World (or Even Scotland)'.
In addition, young people from different faith backgrounds will take part in a debate, chaired by Chris Ballance MSP, on how to create more peaceful societies.
There is also a chance to find out more about Scotland's power through the ages, in 'Guardians of Scotland?' - a dynamic storytelling workshop looking at who made the key decisions in Scotland's history.
The 2006 Festival of Politics will build on the success of its first year's programme in 2005 by almost doubling the number of events to around 50, and extending the programme from three to four days. By including Saturday, organisers have been able to develop a dedicated family day.
Presiding Officer, George Reid MSP, said:
"Whether you're eight or 80 - this year's Festival of Politics is for everybody and every activity in the programme is designed to entertain as well as enlighten.
"It's vital for a healthy democracy to involve and engage young people in the democratic process. And who knows - maybe some of our younger visitors might even return again as MSPs."
TIMETABLE OF EVENTS
Thursday 24 August
Education for Peace
Young people from different faith and non-faith backgrounds, debate how people can work together to create more peaceful societies. Chaired by Chris Ballance MSP.
Friday 25 August
How should the Parliament Spend Scotland 's Money?
School students debate and decide how Parliament should spend Scotland 's money. What are the priorities, how are decisions made and what difficult choices do you face?
Saturday 26 August
Fun and games for all the family with a political twist - in English and Gaelic. (11.00-16.00, Venue 5)
- Political Snakes and Ladders
The classic board game gets political - so kids can find out the ups and downs of getting elected.
- Constituency Jigsaw
Piece together the giant jigsaw and puzzle out all those constituency boundaries.
- Build Your Own MSP
Caring, sharing and with a beard too? Kids can design what their ideal politician looks like and behaves like!
- If I Ruled the World (or Even Scotland !)
Think it's easy to make a new law? Try and get your legislation passed but look out for those unexpected obstacles.
Saturday 26 August
Guardians of Scotland?
Who made the key decisions for Scotland through the centuries - kings and queens, parliament or people? This dynamic storytelling session with Donald Smith of the Storytelling Centre revisits key moments of decision from the Roman invasion to the 1997 Referendum (11.30-13.00, Venue 4).
Other activities taking place for children under 11
Wednesday 23 August - The Scottish Parliament Treasure Hunt
A total of 120 P6/P7 youngsters from St Stephens Primary, Coatbridge and St Columba's Primary School, Boghall, West Lothian , will take part in a Parliamentary Treasure Hunt where they will use their super-sleuthing skills to track down hidden clues from spotting shapes and flags in the building to identifying flowers in the gardens.
Saturday 26 August
The Tongue is Mightier Than the Sword!
Are you bothered by bullying giants? Fashed by feisty fairies? Come and hear stories on using your brains not your brawn, the might of your mind and not your mitts, the sharpness of your tongue and not your sword. Storytelling and craft workshop from Children 1st Storyworks. (14.00-15.30, Venue 4)
Background information on Holyrood's Festival of Politics & free crèche
Visitors to the Festival will also be able to benefit from another family-friendly aspect to the Parliament - the free crèche. The crèche opened in 2004, and provides up to four hours free child care for 0-5 year olds for members of the public visiting Parliament. For more information contact: 0131 348 6192.
Holyrood's Festival of Politics was introduced last year to Edinburgh 's festival season and received an Editors' Top Ten Award from Threeweeks - the Edinburgh festivals' premier review publication.
Full programme details for the Festival of Politics are available at most major Edinburgh Festival Venues, from the Scottish Parliament or from our website (www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk). The Festival takes places 23-26 August and includes, for the first time in Scotland , the World Press Photo Exhibition.
Media Accreditation - Media interested in covering any of the Festival of Politics events should send an email detailing their name, publication, contact details and which event they would like to cover to: [email protected]
Media will be accredited for events in August and are invited, at this stage, to indicate their interest in attending events. Please note that some events may be oversubscribed but every effort will be made to accommodate requests where possible.
For further information contact: [email protected]
Telephone: 0131 348 6852.
For public information/general enquiries, telephone 0131 348 500 or 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
E-mail: [email protected]
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The Festival of Politics is an initiative of the Scottish Parliament.
The Festival of Politics 2006 Partners are:
Standard Life; BAA Scotland; and ScottishPower.
