In Scotland, children have the right to be involved in decisions about your education. A lot of the time, they will be supported by parents, carers or adults at school to take part in these conversations.
But sometimes, it can be hard for children and young people to speak up if they feel they aren’t being heard or getting the support that they need.
This is where Independent Advocacy comes in.
What is Independent Advocacy?
Independent Advocacy is when someone supports a child or young person to share their views and be heard. This person is called an advocacy worker. They are on the young person’s side and can help to make sure their views are taken seriously in decisions that affect them.
How can Independent Advocacy help?
My Rights, My Say has advocacy workers who can help children aged 12-15. They can meet with them and chat about things, like what is important to them at school. They will do this in whatever way is most comfortable for each child or young person. They can then help to make sure that their views are heard by the adults who support them.
They can do this by helping children and young people to work out what they would like to say. They can then support them to tell people what they think, or tell people on their behalf if they would prefer.
When can Independent Advocacy help?
The My Rights, My Say Independent Advocacy service can help children and young people if they feel they are:
- Not getting the right support with their learning
- Not being listened to
- Being bullied at school
- Struggling with homework or any aspect of school
- Struggling with anxiety or mental health
- Being excluded or sent home
- Not included in school life
- Not sure who to turn to for help.
What does an advocacy worker do?
Our My Rights, My Say advocacy workers can:
- Explain children’s rights to support at school
- Meet with children and young people and listen to them – online or face to face – whatever suits them best
- Find out what is important to them and what they want to share with the school
- Attend school meetings with them and up for their rights
- Support children and young people to speak themselves
- Help children and young people understand why decisions have been taken, especially if the decision is different to what they wanted
- Explain other options that may be open to them
- Help make a request for an assessment or for a co-ordinated support plan (CSP).
What doesn’t an advocacy worker do?
An advocacy worker will only ever make sure children and young people’s views are heard.
They won’t:
- Take direction from anyone else, like school or family
- Tell children and young people, their family, school or anyone else working with them what they think is best for them
- Act on behalf of a parent or carer.
They are only interested in what children and young people think – and supporting them to share this with others.
Partners in Advocacy
The My Rights, My Say Independent Advocacy service is managed by Partners in Advocacy.
It is an important part of Children in Scotland’s Additional Support for Learning (ASL) Services.