ALN - Resolving concerns - Advocacy - supporting the learner

What is advocacy?

Advocacy will support you and make sure that your voice is heard when decisions affecting you are being made. You have the right to be heard and advocacy will support you in achieving this.

An advocate will not:

• judge you
• tell you what to do
• talk to anyone else without your permission, unless you've told them that they can!

What will an advocate do?

• Help you speak up for yourself or speak on your behalf if that is what you want.
• Listen to your concerns or worries and help you to act on them.
• Be open and honest with you.
• Help you challenge decisions.
• Help you prepare for meetings.
• Explain to adults how you are feeling.
• Explain to you what is happening and what is planned to happen.
• Help you to sort out a problem if you are thinking of making a complaint, a claim of discrimination or an appeal.

How to get support

You can speak to your family, school, youth worker or social worker about getting an advocate.

A child or young person should be able to get their own advocate without having to ask someone to do it for them, who they might not be comfortable with in the first place.

National Youth Advocacy (NYA) - 0808 808 1001 Email: help@nyas.net