Hear 4 U

After starting out as a small children's rights project in Ayr in 1999 Barnardo's Hear 4U now provides an advocacy service for children and young people across three local authority areas in Scotland. The foundation of our service is based upon the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and in particular Article 12 which states that children and young people have a right to have a say in decisions that affect them. Our flexible approach enables children and young people to:

• have access to someone who will ensure that their views are heard by decision makers
• develop the confidence to speak up for themselves
• shape the way we deliver our service through regular review and evaluation.

The Hear 4U team consists of six members of staff geographically spread across the following areas:

Dumfries & Galloway

We currently have two advocacy workers in Dumfries and Galloway for children and young people aged under 18 years of age who are:

• looked after and accommodated by Dumfries & Galloway Council including those looked after outwith the local authority area
• struggling with their emotional health and well-being under the terms of the Mental Health Care & Treatment (Scotland) Act 2003.

Renfrewshire

We have one advocacy worker based in Paisley with a Renfrewshire wide remit to provide advocacy for children and young people under 18 who:

• are involved in child protection processes including the children's hearing system.

South Ayrshire

Hear 4U in South Ayrshire has one full time advocacy worker who is based in Ayr.They provide advocacy across the local authority area for:

• children and young people aged under 20 who are struggling with their emotional health and well-being under the terms of the Mental Health Care & Treatment (Scotland) Act 2003
• children and young people aged between 5 - 15 who are involved in child protection processes.

In addition to our advocacy workers we have a part time Children's Services Manager and part time Service Administrator who both currently work from our premises in Renfrewshire.