How advocacy can help
We spoke to Hearings-experienced young people from Our Hearings, Our Voice to hear what they think about how advocacy workers can help. Here’s what they had to say…
“It helps the child or a young person give their views to Panel Members, even if they are too scared”
“Some people are too nervous to speak up in front of everyone in the Hearing. An advocacy worker can help”
“My advocacy worker pushed hard for me. She didn’t argue and pushed for what I wanted, even if she always didn’t agree me with, but she never argued with me”
“Should have more care experienced people as advocacy workers. They can relate to you and you can relate to them”
“It is good to form a bond with your advocacy worker. You need to be able to trust them and be comfortable with them”
“You should be able to meet them before the Hearing and talk to them. Not just meet them before the Hearing starts”
“It is important you have a choice. You might feel confident and not want one. Choice is important”
“It is important that someone is there just for the child”
“They can also pass on your views on your behalf”
“Definitely should be a choice. Plus children and young people should know it doesn’t have to be a professional advocacy worker. It can just be someone you trust to help you”
“The children or young person should be able to say yes or no to the advocacy worker. If they don’t like them or don’t get on”
“If they can get one now, which is great. I would encourage everyone to get one”
“I didn’t know you could have one, although my mum had one. It helped my mum understand what was going on. Plus the advocacy worker was there just for her. I knew what I wanted so I felt I didn’t need one”
“It is all about relationships and trust”
“They can help children”
If you would like an advocacy worker to help and support you in your Children’s Hearing, you can find contact details for your local area.
Interested in finding out more about Our Hearings, Our Voice? Visit their website.