Anja 'proud and excited' after being appointed to Highland youth convener role
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Newly appointed Highland youth convener Anja Johnston says she will be looking to focus on mental health as part of the year-long post.
The 24-year-old from Thurso will take part in Highland Council meetings and act as a sounding board for youth issues in the region.
The full-time role is a bursary position that runs for 12 months.
Anja has previously worked as an assistant youth worker, delivering the Yo-Jo digital youth project with High Life Highland. She is a volunteer with Scouts Scotland, having held various roles looking specifically at youth involvement.
As youth convener, Anja will represent young people’s views when engaging with elected members and senior officials of Highland Council. She will attend council and community planning partnership meetings and have full voting rights on the education committee, with speaking rights at all other council committees.
The youth convener works closely with young people across the region through the Highland Youth Parliament, area youth forums and pupil councils in secondary schools. Anja will maintain the links between organisations and partners established by previous youth conveners and will be seeking to develop new connections.
She will be the 13th youth convener since 2007.
“I am very proud and excited to be taking on such an important role within the Highlands," Anja said.
"It is such a vast area, which makes this no easy task. But I believe that with my previous work, personal and voluntary experiences, and with the support and backing of a wonderful team around me, the next 12 months will be a positive and fulfilling time for young people in the Highlands.
“I am incredibly passionate about youth voice and, as we move through the various stages of the pandemic, these voices are going to become very important in the recovery effort. I am looking to build on what the previous youth conveners started, to build connections with groups across the Highlands.
“Young people have already voiced what matters to them now and with this in mind I am looking at building and delivering a strategy with a key focus on mental health. I want to be open and approachable to young people and for them to feel that they can talk to me in confidence.
"By having these conversations, we can start to build a true picture of what services young people need in the Highlands.
“These next 12 months are going to be challenging as the role, like many others, has changed from face-to-face to digital – but this opens up many doors that have previously been closed to us and I hope it will expand the reach of the youth convener.”
Council leader Margaret Davidson said: “The Highland youth convener post is unique in Scotland and I have had the privilege of working alongside all of the previous 12 youth conveners. Each of them has played an important role in helping us better understand and engage with issues affecting our young people.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their contribution as we welcome Anja to the job. Anja joins us at a very interesting and challenging time as we drive forward economic and social recovery from Covid-19 that has impacted across all Highland communities, especially the lives and learning of so many young people.
"It is more important than ever before that we not only hear the views of young people but get them involved in decision-making processes which could have an impact on their future.
"I am sure that Anja will find the role very rewarding and will enjoy becoming a very able, active and persuasive champion who will have a direct input into our policy and decision-making process."
High Life Highland chief executive Steve Walsh said: “The role of the youth convener is an exciting opportunity and pivotal in representing young people in different settings and at different levels of decision-making to ensure the views of young people are heard across the Highlands. Anja will be working alongside our youth development team, and I look forward to seeing them come together providing support and guidance to bring the new remit and structure to life over the coming year.”
