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Spot the Difference

1, St. John's Place
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 1LH

Telephone:
01983 529569

Email:
info@iowyouthtrust.co.uk

Illustrations by Adam Brown

The Isle of Wight Council’s Children’s Services Directorate is committed to listening to children and young people who use their services, or may use their services.

Advocacy aims to support people who need assistance to obtain his or her full rights and privileges as a citizen. Advocates can help people get their voice heard and taken seriously.

The Isle of Wight Youth Trust Advocacy Service helps children and young people who are supported by Children’s Services, or have been until recently, to present their grievance – or suggestions – and get answers.

What Can Advocates Do?

Advocates can do several practical things:

• Attend meetings with you, or for you.
• Advise you about your rights.
• Communicate with professionals for you.
• Negotiate better services and support for you.
• Offer you support in dealing with procedures.
• Help you put together a complaint and see it through.

They also contribute to policy making to safeguard the right of children and young people.

Advocacy is about your wishes

This means that what you want is the important thing.

Children's Services has a duty to do what they think is best for you. This can mean that they seem not to be listening to you if you want something different. You should feel part of the decision, but you may not get what you want. Even so, they sho8uld explain that to you in a way you can understand. Advocacy can help you with all this.

How Do I say It?

It is also important that the way we present your argument suits you. While it should be understandable to the decision-maker we will present it to, it should reflect you too. We like to offer different ways to show them what your personal wishes are:

Letter, Report, Speech by you,
Speech by Advocate, Slide-show,
Video-diary, Painting, Cartoon-strip etc.

How Could An Advocate Help Me?

An Advocate us an independent person who could help you:

• tell the service what you need.
• find out important information.
• help you understand what services are on offer.
• help you understand your options.
• give you the opportunity to talk.
• help you talk to professionals.
• find out what your rights are.
• ensure you are treated fairly.
• make a complaint, if necessary.
• suggest service improvements.

Choosing an Advocate

To help you best, Advocates need to be independent of the agency providing the service. While Children's Services provide financial support to Advocacy service, this does not stop them being independent.

We think it's important you feel comfortable with any Advocate who is going to work with you and for you.

• You can choose your own friend or relative to be your Advocate.
• You can choose a professional Advocate from the Youth Trust.

Whoever it is, they should understand the expectations the Children's Services have of Advocates. This is to protect you when sharing sensitive and confidential information with Advocates. Check the Advocacy Code of Practice. The Isle of Wight Youth Trust can also help the friend or relative you prefer to to be your Advocate to understand the job and do it well for you.

Leaflets

Advocacy Service
Have Your Say
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