Aaran McDonald, 19, the member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) for Cunninghame South, has announced that he will be retiring at the end of this month.

Aaran who was first elected at aged 15 in 2017 was re-elected in 2019 as the local MSYP. With his term being extended due to the pandemic, Aaran has become North Ayrshire’s longest serving MSYP after serving for more than four and a half years.

Aaran has spoken up for young people at Cunninghame House, The Scottish Parliament and even representing Scotland at the House of Commons dispatch box. He will be ending his time in the SYP as a Trustee and Director.

Aaran said: “Over the past four and a half years it has been my honour to represent the young people of Cunninghame South as their Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament. It has been the best experience of my life gaining new skills, gaining confidence and indeed meeting people who I can truly say will be my friends for life.

“Getting to work alongside other young people in our local area, in SYP and across Scotland and the UK has been absolutely amazing. My time in SYP has allowed me to campaign on issues really close to my heart and seeing what our organisation has achieved over the last four and a half years makes me immensely proud. From the UNCRC incorporation, to working alongside local young people to ensure they have their voices heard each and every day I look back on what amazing work we have done.

I now look back to 2016 and wonder if when I summitted my application form to first stand in the 2017 election did I really see myself all these years later still in the role and having held national roles including being Convener of the Transport, Environment and Rural affairs committee and even being a Trustee. I don’t think shy 14-year-old Aaran even thought he had a chance of winning.

If you told me back then that after my time at SYP, I would have done things like speaking in the chamber of both the Scottish Parliament and the House of Commons or speaking Infront of crowds of NVOs and Public sector heads. I would have thought you were kidding me on.

In 2019, when I ran for re-election I said, “Together We Can, Together We Will” and i hope that it has come true. I’m proud to be a working-class young person and even prouder to have represent young people like me here in Cunninghame South, I hope that the work which I have done has shown that we as working-class young people can stand up and we can achieve whatever we put our hearts to.

The Pandemic saw our communities face challenges which none of us could have ever of imagined. Our life’s we’re basically put on hold, we lost loved ones and businesses have had to close their doors. I had the privilege of volunteering with Kilwinning Support hub to deliver prescriptions to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. What I learned the most during that time is how our community could come together and work to put our community first, it is something that made me immensely proud.

“I want to say a massive thank you to everyone I have had the privilege of working with both within and outwith SYP and thank you to the young people who put me where I am. Youth work has changed my life and I will never forget that.”

Having been the MSYP for the length of time he has, Aaran has worked alongside decision makers and some have provided us comments on the announcement of his retirement.

Council Leader and Councillor for Kilwinning Joe Cullinane said: “Aaran has been a strong voice for young people during his lengthy term in SYP. As North Ayrshire’s longest serving MSYP in the history of SYP he has created a legacy of youth involvement, engagement, and advocacy that he can be proud of. His dedication has been clear for all to see and I look forward to seeing what comes next for Aaran.”

Councillor for Irvine West and Cabinet Member for Participatory Democracy Louise McPhater told us “Aaran has been a great ambassador for the Scottish Youth Parliament and our young people and whilst working alongside him he has also delivered to an exceptional standard. He continues to fight for our communities and has a long-standing commitment to the bettering the outcomes of our local young people.

Aaran is a polite, well-mannered young man and nothing is ever a bother to him when help is needed. He has been a great support to myself during my role in council and has always brought clarity and understanding of the ongoing daily struggles our local young people encounter.”