My Rights, My Say supports children in Scotland aged 12-15 with additional support needs to exercise their rights to be involved in decisions about their support in school. It’s independent, confidential, easy to use, and supports children to speak up about what they need to learn.
Our Vision
Our vision is that children and young people with additional support needs can share their views and be involved in decisions about the support they get with their learning.
Our Values
Our values guide the way that we work within our teams, and with our partners and colleagues in other organisations. They have been shaped by our staff, our board and the young people we support.
Child-centred
Everything we do is guided by the rights of children and young people.
Flexible
We can adapt the way that we gather views. The young person is in control and we will find a way that works for them and their families.
Collaborative
We are a partnership service and our strength comes from the knowledge and experience in our teams and the young people we are guided by.
Supportive and Empowering
We support young people to have their rights respected and their voices heard.
We are also guided by the Vision Statement of the Inclusion Ambassadors for Scotland, a group of secondary school-aged pupils who have a range of additional support needs and attend a variety of school provision.
Click here to read their Vision Statement which sets out how schools can help pupils with additional support needs to feel more included and supported.
Find out about our great team below.
My Rights, My Say is a partnership between Enquire, Partners in Advocacy, Children in Scotland and Cairn Legal. Each partner offers different services:
Enquire is the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning. We provide advice and information about additional support for learning to parents, carers practitioners, children and young people.
Our role in My Rights, My Say is to raise awareness of the rights of children with additional support needs aged 12 – 15 and the support My Rights, My Say offers.
Reach is Enquire’s dedicated website for children and young people, helping you understand children’s rights to be supported and involved in decisions so they have an equal chance to flourish in their education.
Enquire website for parents. carers and professionals
REACH website
Partners in Advocacy provides direct advocacy support to children aged 12 -15 with additional support needs to help them have a say in decisions about their support.
Our advocacy workers support children to share their views, attend and speak at meetings and if a child does not feel able to speak themselves, speak on their behalf.
Partners in Advocacy Website
Children in Scotland is the national network improving children’s lives.
As partners in My Right, My Say we provide independent support to make sure child’s views are heard in formal process (such as tribunal cases, assessments, etc). We also work with key stakeholders including schools and local authorities to enhance professional practice in listening to children’s views.
Children in Scotland Website
Cairn Legal is a legal firm helping families plan for their future.
We provide legal representation to support a child making a reference to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal.
Cairn Legal Website
The people behind My Rights, My Say
Hi, I’m Pauline and I’m responsible for advocacy in My rights, My Say.
I first learned about advocacy when I wrote an essay on the subject for my diploma in health and social welfare. I loved the idea of supporting people to speak up for themselves, have their views respected and to ensure that their rights were upheld. As soon as I saw a job advertised in advocacy, I applied straight away. That was 14 years ago and I have never looked back!
I’m so privileged to do the job that I do and be able to help the children and young people using our service.
I’m a big dog lover and enjoy walking my dog Luna In my spare time. Favourite hobbies are reading, listening to live music and going to the theatre.
Hi, my name is Marie and my job is to help young people aged 12-15 to get their views heard in decisions that will affect their experience of school.
I have worked with children and young people for more than 15 years in the Netherlands, Kenya and Denmark, which is where I am from. I love that every time I speak to a young person, I learn something new. No two children are the same and I love finding good ways for all children to share their views in a way that is meaningful to them.
A big part of my job is to speak to schools and local authorities to help them find new ways to listen to children and promote children’s rights. It is so important to me that children’s views are not just something people say they will do, but something that actually happens!
In my free time, I love going for walks and listening to music. I am a big sci-fi fan and love reading books about anything that is space or fantasy related!
Hi I’m Cat and I’m responsible for raising awareness of children’s rights and the help My Rights, My Say offers.
I’ve been working to raise awareness of children’s right for 14 years. I’m passionate about helping pupils, schools and families work together to make sure children get the help they need. I love my job because I enjoy getting out and about to talk to people, listening to their stories and sharing what has made a positive difference to children’s experience of school.
Out of work I spend a lot of time wishing I had a dog, catching up with friends and family, running, baking and, when I get the chance, sitting reading a book with a cup of tea.
My name is Sarah-Jane and I co-ordinate all the advocacy support for My Rights, My Say.
I first started in Independent Advocacy as I wanted to help young people’s voices to be heard. I work as a children’s counsellor in another job which means I hear how young people feel about things going on in their life, and I realised that young people themselves know what would help them best, which is why I wanted to become an advocate.
I really enjoy helping young people and advocating for them to get the right support, it a fantastic job!
When I’m not at work I spend time with my family, friends and my 4 dogs so that keeps me really busy! I am a big kid at heart and love all things Disney and marvel. I also love going to the pictures and to comedy shows.
Hi, I’m Iain and I provide legal representation for My Rights, My Say.
I’m an independent education law consultant and I specialize in additional support needs law. I’m the principal author of the “A-Z of Scots Education Law – A guide for parents” (Consumer Focus Scotland). I’m the Convener of the School Closure Review Panels and a Consultant Solicitor with Cairn Legal. I have a strong reputation on equality law matters, particularly cases involving disabled children.
Out of work I’m a bit of a “gamer” particularly board games, card games and social deduction games. I’m a big fan of rugby (watching other people playing not playing myself!) and I do a spot of singing too. I run a youth club and I help out at a Boys Brigade group.
Hi, I’m Lucy and I help raise awareness about children and young people’s rights to additional support for learning.
I do this by working directly with children, young people and the adults that support them – both in schools and the community.
It has always been really important to me that children are listened to and involved in their education. Before I came to My Rights, My Say I was a teacher. This means I know first-hand about the challenges that children and young people face and how being included in decisions about their support can make such a difference.
When I’m not thinking about children’s rights, I seem to spend most of my time renovating my house with my family – I love DIY, gardening and baking and you will always find me at my happiest when I’m eating some delicious food with friends!
Hi, I’m Catherine and I look after all My Rights, My Say communications work.
I’ve worked in journalism and public relations for over 25 years, working with organisations including the National Portrait Gallery in London and Edinburgh College of Art. I’m passionate about creating and sharing platforms for young people to have their voices heard and learn more about their rights.
As well as representing My Rights, My Say, I work for Children in Scotland as their Senior Communications Officer.
When I’m not at work, I’m busy having fun with my son and our dog, George, a hyperactive cocker spaniel. George is great for getting us out of the house and into some of the incredible parks and wild places in and around Edinburgh.
Hello, we’re the Enquire helpline team.
We provide advice and information to help parents, carers and practitioners understand additional support for learning. We hope our advice and information helps families and schools work together so children get the support they need in school. As partners in My Rights, My Say we provide advice and information about the rights of children with additional support needs aged 12 – 15 and the help and support My Rights, My Say offers. We are all incredibly proud of the work we do particularly when we receive positive feedback about our advice making a difference to a child’s experience of school.
We all come from various backgrounds including teaching, autism advice and support, policy work and mentoring which we feel is what makes us such a strong team.