What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is about making sure your voice is heard.

It means having someone who will listen to you, help you speak up, and make sure adults take your views seriously when decisions are being made about your life.

What does an Advocate do?

An advocate is an independent person who is on your side. They can:

• Listen to you and give you time to talk about your thoughts, feelings, and worries
• Explain things in a way that makes sense, especially if words used by adults are confusing
• Give you information so you understand your choices and know your rights
• Support you to make your own decisions, without telling you what to do
• Speak up for you if you want them to, or help you find the confidence to speak up for yourself
• Be with you in meetings to help share your views

What an Advocate doesn’t do:

• They don’t tell you what to think or what to choose
• They don’t take sides with adults, carers, or social workers, they are there for you only
• They don’t make decisions for you; they support you to make your own choices

Why is Advocacy important?

Sometimes adults make decisions about things like school, family, care, or health. An advocate helps:

• You understand what’s happening
• You get to share your views
• Your opinions are included when decisions are made