The role of advocacy

Rôl eirioli

Advocacy

Advocacy gives a voice to children and young people, and ensures that their rights are respected and that their views and preferences are heard. Advocacy can help children and young people express their views, understand their rights and solve problems. Advocacy is essential for children or young people in the care of the local authority who have difficulties communicating.

Advocacy services, such as 'Tros Gynnal Plant' (TGP) work with children and young people in care who need care and support (including children and young people on the Child Protection Register) and care leavers.

https://bit.ly/2LH5uA3

Charities such as the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) can provide advocacy for children in care or children who are the subject of a child protection plan.

https://www.nyas.net/

An advocate is an individual who represents the point of view of the child or young person. Advocates explain the views and needs of children and young people and help people to make decisions. Advocacy plays an important role in ensuring that services listen to children and young people:

  • when they say that something is wrong
  • when they need support
  • when important decisions that affect them are being taken and they have something to say on the matter
  • when they need someone to support them.

The advocate needs to take the time to develop a relationship with a child and do so over a period of time which is appropriate for each child. Meetings between the advocate and the child or young person must be held in a setting where they feel comfortable and can express their views freely. An advocate may attend a Child Protection Conference but has no legal right to do so.

Local authorities have a statutory requirement to provide independent advocacy services for looked after children and young people, care leavers and children in need.

Advocacy supports a rights-based approach as it gives children and young people a voice, as Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states "Your right to say what you think should happen and be listened to".

https://bit.ly/2In8q1S

Eiriolaeth yw rhoi llais i blant a phobl ifanc, gan wneud yn siŵr bod eu hawliau’n cael eu parchu a bod eu barn a’u dymuniadau yn cael eu clywed. Gall eiriolaeth helpu plant a phobl ifanc i fynegi eu barn, deall eu hawliau a datrys problemau. Mae eiriolaeth yn hanfodol i blant neu bobl ifanc sydd yng ngofal yr awdurdod lleol neu sydd ag anawsterau cyfathrebu.

Mae gwasanaethau eiriolaeth, megis ‘Tros Gynnal Plant’ yn gweithio gyda phlant a phobl ifanc sy’n derbyn gofal, angen gofal a chymorth (gan gynnwys plant a phobl ifanc ar y Gofrestr Amddiffyn Plant) a’r rhai sydd wedi gadael gofal.

https://bit.ly/2yf0CJQ

Gall elusennau fel Gwasanaeth Eiriolaeth Ieuenctid Cenedlaethol (National Youth Advocacy Service - NYAS) ddarparu eiriolaeth i blant mewn gofal neu blant sy'n destun cynllun amddiffyn plant.

https://www.nyas.net/

Eiriolwr yw person sy'n cynrychioli safbwynt y plentyn neu'r person ifanc. Mae eiriolwyr yn esbonio barn ac anghenion plant a phobl ifanc ac yn helpu pobl i wneud penderfyniadau. Mae gan eiriolaeth rôl bwysig er mwyn sicrhau bod gwasanaethau yn gwrando ar blant a phobl ifanc:

  • pan fyddant yn dweud bod rhywbeth o'i le
  • pan fydd angen cymorth arnynt
  • pan fydd penderfyniadau pwysig sy'n effeithio arnynt yn cael eu gwneud a bod ganddynt rywbeth i'w ddweud am y mater
  • pan fydd angen rhywun i’w cefnogi.

Mae angen i'r eiriolwr gymryd amser i ddatblygu perthynas â phlentyn a'i wneud dros gyfnod o amser sy'n addas i bob plentyn. Rhaid cynnal cyfarfodydd rhwng yr eiriolwr a'r plentyn neu'r person ifanc mewn lleoliad lle maent yn teimlo'n gyfforddus ac yn gallu mynegi eu barn yn rhydd. Mae'n bosib i eiriolwr fynychu Cynhadledd Amddiffyn Plant er nad oes hawl gyfreithiol i hyn.

Mae’n ofyniad statudol ar awdurdodau lleol i ddarparu gwasanaethau eirioli annibynnol ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc sy'n derbyn gofal, pobl sy'n gadael gofal a phlant mewn angen.

Mae eiriolaeth yn cefnogi dull gweithredu sy’n seiliedig ar hawliau gan ei fod yn rhoi llais i blant a phobl ifanc, fel mae Erthygl 12 o’r Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau’r Plentyn yn nodi “Eich hawl i ddweud beth ddylai ddigwydd ac i rywun wrando arnoch”.

https://bit.ly/2XkKNiI

The role of advocacy

Complete the activity below, choose the two correct answers in each question

Rôl eirioli

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