Children and Young People’s Advocacy

 

As the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (2016) states:

“Children are not merely ‘adults in training’ but people who are able to form and express opinions, to participate in decision-making processes and to influence solutions.”

 

Advocates safeguard children’s rights and ensure their views are expressed and heard.

 

Child Protection Child Protection Conferences (Section 47 Enquiries of the Children Act, 1989) bring together the child or young person’s family, supporters, advocate and professionals involved in planning how best to reduce risks to an individual. Sometimes, if appropriate, the child or young person can also be in attendance at their protection conference and are given the opportunity to express for themselves or have their advocate offer their wants, wishes and feelings on their behalf.

 

When advocating on behalf of D/deaf children and young people and also hearing children and young people with D/deaf parents, being able to communicate across cultures and languages is a real benefit. I have extensive experience working with children and young people, their families and professional teams involved in Child Protection.

 

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Looked After / In Need Children & Young People

 

Looked After and In Need Children and Young People sometimes need an independent advocate to help them express their own feelings, wants, needs and wishes. Being able to trust that an Advocate is independent from the Local Authorities and Foster/Care homes can be a real support to Children and Young People, especially if they find themselves feeling unheard, vulnerable, or in situations where they feel they might not be able to trust the adults immediately around them.