Useful Contacts
There are lots of people in Scotland who help to look after young people and give them advice if they are going to a Children's Hearing. These are some of the agencies who may be able to give you more information.
Advocacy
You can bring someone else with you to the Hearing to help you, such as a friend or a relative. They can support you and help you to have your say. You can also ask questions at your Hearing. You have the right to bring along a person called an advocate to your Hearing. The advocate is someone who can support you and help you to have a say.
To find someone who provides advocacy services in your area, please click on this link.
You can bring someone else with you to the Hearing to help you, such as a friend or a relative. They can support you and help you to have your say. You can also ask questions at your Hearing. You have the right to bring along a person called an advocate to your Hearing. The advocate is someone who can support you and help you to have a say.
To find someone who provides advocacy services in your area, please click on this link.
Children's Rights Officer
Every council (local authority) in Scotland has a Children’s Rights Officer (sometimes called a Children’s Rights and Information Officer). They can help children and young people in lots of different ways, they can:
Every council (local authority) in Scotland has a Children’s Rights Officer (sometimes called a Children’s Rights and Information Officer). They can help children and young people in lots of different ways, they can:
- Give all children and young people information and advice
- Help children and young people to represent their views and have their say at meetings (including Children’s Hearings)
- Make sure that the people who are caring for you, listen to what you have to say
- Help children and young people to make a complaint
- Make sure that you are always treated fairly and without discrimination
- Help to stop things that should not happen
- Help you put forward your ideas about what is good about services for children and young people and what needs to change
Contact your council to find out more about your Children's Rights Officer.
Some local authorities also provide advocacy services for children and young people. You should contact your council to find out if they provide this service as it can help you at your Hearing.
Scottish Child Law Centre
The Scottish Child Law Centre provides free legal advice to children and young people. Contact the under 18s freephone on 0800 328 8970 or email enquiries@sclc.org.uk, they are also on Facebook and have a website at www.sclc.org.uk and you can contact them through that.
The Scottish Child Law Centre provides free legal advice to children and young people. Contact the under 18s freephone on 0800 328 8970 or email enquiries@sclc.org.uk, they are also on Facebook and have a website at www.sclc.org.uk and you can contact them through that.
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Legal aid helps people who cannot afford to pay for someone to help them with their legal problems. To get more information, go to their website. They also have a leaflet that has been written just for young people to help you understand what help they can give you. Please click on the link to read this leaflet.
Legal aid helps people who cannot afford to pay for someone to help them with their legal problems. To get more information, go to their website. They also have a leaflet that has been written just for young people to help you understand what help they can give you. Please click on the link to read this leaflet.
There are also some other agencies who may be able to give you more information. Their details are below.
Anti-Bullying Network
Visit their website to get information to help you if you, or one of your friends is being bullied. www.antibullying.net
ChildLine
ChildLine is the free helpline for children in the UK. If you have a problem and want to talk to someone about it, you can call their helpline. If you call the helpline it is free and the person you speak to won't tell anyone you rang them. Call the helpline on 0800 1111 or visit their website at: www.childline.org.uk
ChildLine is the free helpline for children in the UK. If you have a problem and want to talk to someone about it, you can call their helpline. If you call the helpline it is free and the person you speak to won't tell anyone you rang them. Call the helpline on 0800 1111 or visit their website at: www.childline.org.uk
Child Protection Line
If you are worried about the safety or welfare of a child or young person, call the National Child Protection Line and speak to an experienced operator.
Free confidential helpline 0800 022 3222
www.infoscotland.com/childprotection
If you are worried about the safety or welfare of a child or young person, call the National Child Protection Line and speak to an experienced operator.
Free confidential helpline 0800 022 3222
www.infoscotland.com/childprotection
Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People
SCCYP promotes and safeguards the rights of children and young people living in Scotland. Tam Baillie, Scotland’s commissioner is here to make sure all young people have their rights respected.
www.sccyp.org.uk
SCCYP promotes and safeguards the rights of children and young people living in Scotland. Tam Baillie, Scotland’s commissioner is here to make sure all young people have their rights respected.
www.sccyp.org.uk
Young Scot
Young Scot gives young people loads of information to help them with important decisions and to make sure they are aware of all the great things available to young people locally, nationally and internationally. More information is available at: www.youngscot.org.
You can contact Young Scot by emailing them at infoline@youngscot.org or by phoning the InfoLine on 0808 801 0338 (Mon to Fri 10am - 6pm), or by texting 'callback' to 07781 484 317.
Young Scot are also on Facebook, Twitter, Bebo and Myspace.
Young Scot gives young people loads of information to help them with important decisions and to make sure they are aware of all the great things available to young people locally, nationally and internationally. More information is available at: www.youngscot.org.
You can contact Young Scot by emailing them at infoline@youngscot.org or by phoning the InfoLine on 0808 801 0338 (Mon to Fri 10am - 6pm), or by texting 'callback' to 07781 484 317.
Young Scot are also on Facebook, Twitter, Bebo and Myspace.
