Law student becomes one of Scotland youngster ever board directors

A 21-year-old student has become one of Scotland’s youngest ever board directors.

Law student Declan Welsh will make history when he takes up his position on the board of the charity Children in Scotland from today.

Mr Welsh, a student at the University of Strathclyde, said he hopes the appointment will allow him to “have a direct effect on the lives on children in our country” and has already highlighted the issue of child poverty as one where action needs to be taken, branding it “an embarrassment in a country as wealthy as ours”.

Mr Welsh added: “People are angry over a lot of trivial things, but everyone should direct that anger at this.”

He aims to encourage more young people to become involved in politics, “wholeheartedly” agreeing with extending the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds, and also wants to help ensure those starting work have a better experience.

Mr Welsh said: “It’s harder than ever to find a job, and when young people leave school they often find that they have no option but to take unpaid or low wage jobs. Graduates even are faced with the prospect of entering jobs with no relevance to their degree.

“The current economic climate was caused in no way by young people, yet young people bear the burden the greatest. I think that finding work that pays fairly and is rewarding is not an option for far too many young people. That has to change.”