Here, Marie explains what the My Rights, My Say service can do to support children and young people aged 12–15 in Scotland.
The service is free, confidential, and completely independent.
Marie:
My Rights, My Say is a Scotland-wide network, and we are 4 different organisations, each with our own area of expertise, and we work together to support children with additional support needs, their parents and carers, and professionals to basically make sure that they can connect with children’s rights to additional support for learning. So we do that by offering independent advocacy. We support children that are going through formal processes for example, a Tribunal. We also provide legal representation to children who are making a reference to the Tribunal themselves, and we provide advice and information for parents, carers, and professionals. So as a network, we are embedded in legislation effectively. We’re here because Scottish law says that children have to have access to these support services.
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.
My Rights, My Say is guided by the Vision Statement of the Inclusion Ambassadors for Scotland
The Inclusion Ambassadors is a group of secondary school-aged pupils who each have a range of additional support needs and attend a variety of school provision.
Their Vision Statement sets out how schools can help pupils with additional support needs to feel included and supported.
The people behind My Rights, My Say
My Rights, My Say is a partnership between Enquire, Partners in Advocacy, Children in Scotland and Cairn Legal. Each partner offers different services.
The service is also informed by a group of young people called the My Rights, My Say Young Advisors, who are a key partner in shaping what we do.
Partners in Advocacy
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.
Children in Scotland
Children in Scotland is the national network improving children’s lives.
Our Children’s Views service provides independent support to make sure children are heard in formal process (such as tribunal cases and assessments). We also work with key stakeholders including schools and local authorities to enhance professional practice in listening to children’s views.
Cairn Legal
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.
Enquire
Enquire is the Scottish advice and information service for additional support for learning.
Enquire’s vision is that all children in Scotland are supported, included, and listened to throughout their education. Our role, in making this a reality, is to offer advice and information – to children, young people, parents, carers and professionals – about children’s rights to additional support for learning.
My Rights My Say Young Advisors
The My Rights, My Say Young Advisors are a group of young people with experience of education as a learner with additional support needs.
The group shares their experiences and opinions to ensure the My Rights, My Say service reflects what matters to young people and by making sure the service listens to and respects children’s views.
The group regularly welcomes interest in joining on a voluntary basis from those with direct experience of accessing the My Rights, My Say service.