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Sophie Wright, 15, was also impressed by the event as a "very good opportunity" to ask questions of politicians. "I think there are many issues around bus travel, young carers, free school meals, things like that," she said. "It was good to just hear what the MSPs were doing to help us with this." Since 2022, everyone aged between five and 22 has been entitled to free bus travel in Scotland. Free school meals are available for children from P1 to P5 and for older pupils if the family is in receipt of certain benefits. Sophie, too, will be a first time voter next year but knows that a lot of her generation are less engaged than she is - but her message to peers about politics is quite clear. "I think it definitely does affect young people," she said. "If it doesn't affect you, it will definitely affect people around you. "There are so many issues - like housing - that affects older people would also affect younger people, so it is important to get involved."
