Off the Record

Advocacy - SHOUT OUT!

Shout Out! is our Children's Rights and Advocacy Service.

Like all our services, it is free, confidential and independent.

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is an ACTION. It can help get something stopped, started or changed.

Shout Out! Advocates can help you to have a say in decisions that are made about you and your life in the way you want them to.

Who can use Shout Out!?

A child or young person who is:

  • A child or young person in care
  • Leaving or has left care
  • Homeless
  • Disabled
  • Subject to a Child Protection Conference
  • Wanting to make a complaint about a service received

What can you expect from Shout Out?

  • Help in understanding what choices and rights you have so you can make informed decisions
  • Information, advice and support
  • Someone to listen to you and help you make sure other people listen to you
  • For more information read about OUR PROMISES TO YOU.
  • You can comment or complain about the service you receive from Shout Out! by filling in a form, which you can download here.

Examples of what Shout Out! does...

Some of the things an Advocate can support you with include:

  • Homelessness interviews
  • Reviews, conferences and meetings
  • Accessing benefits
  • School issues
  • Relationships with parents, carers, friends, girl/boyfriends, social workers, etc...

AND LOTS MORE...You can talk to an Advocate about anything that matters to you!

Shout Out!


Further Shout Out! Information ...

Information which partnership agencies may find useful:

Click here to download the Shout Out! referral form

Click here to read Shout Out! 2007/ 2008 report

Click here to read Shout Out! Non Instructed Advocacy Procedure

Click here to read Shout Out! Instructed Advocacy Policy


Click here to contact Shout Out!

COMING SOON... children and young people's Shout Out! newsletters....

...Shout Out! marketing material for partnership agencies.


Relevant Links

www.anationalvoice.org - national organisation run by young people who have been or are in care, which aims to improve the care system and ensure children's rights are met.

www.thewhocarestrust.org.uk- national charity working to improve things for children in care.

www.shelter.org.uk - national organisation which provides information and advice on all homelessness issues.

www.whizz-kidz.org.uk - organisation providing general information and support for disabled children and young people.

www.croa.org.uk - organisation supporting advocates, children's rights officers and participation workers in the UK to do what they do better.