The Engage Programme held an advocacy and lobbying workshop to clarify the differences between advocacy and lobbying and share examples of each. The workshop aimed to help participants gain a deeper understanding of effective advocacy and lobbying on behalf of children and young people. It covered definitions of advocacy and lobbying, examples from different organizations, and perspectives from those being lobbied. Participants also discussed barriers, enablers, and resources for advocacy and lobbying work.

1. The Engage Programme
Advocacy & Lobbying
Workshop

2. Workshop Aims
• To clarify the difference between advocacy and
lobbying
• To share examples of practice from both advocacy
and lobbying
• To gain a deeper understanding of what works in
relation to advocacy and lobbying on behalf of
children and young people

3. Workshop format
• Definitions & clarification of terms
• Advocacy & lobbying work examples
 VOYPIC
 Hope Centre
 NEXUS

4. Workshop format
• The view from the other side – being lobbied
• Summing up, resources and evaluation
• Lunch

5. Definitions - Advocacy
• Advocacy is taking action to help people say what
they want, secure their rights, represent their
interests and obtain the services they need (Action
for Advocacy, 2012).
• Advocacy can be defined as an individual being
supported to express views, communicate choices
and receive services or participation as a result
(Advocacy Resource Exchange, 2012).
• Advocacy may be within services (e.g. mental health)
or independent

6. Definitions - Lobbying
• Lobbying is the practice of individuals and organisations trying
to influence the opinions of MPs and Lords. Methods of lobbying
vary and can range from sending letters, making presentations,
providing briefing material to Members and organised rallies (
www.parliament.uk)
• Lobbying means, in a professional capacity, attempting to
influence, or advising those who wish to influence, the UK
Government, Parliament, the devolved legislatures or
administrations, regional or local government or other public
bodies on any matter within their competence (Public Affairs
Council, 2012)

7. Summing up
• Advocacy & lobbying – definitions & distinctions
• Barriers and enablers to effective practice
• The expertise that is in the ROEYP family
• Resources

8. NCB Northern Ireland
Albany House
73-75 Great Victoria Street
Belfast BT2 7AF
Tel : 0208 9089 1730
Email : ncbni@ncb.org.uk
Web : www.ncb.org.uk

9. The Nexus Institute 1984 -
NEXUS works to respond to the needs of adults who have
experienced sexual abuse and violence by:
•Providing an effective professional counselling
service for everyone 16+
•Providing high quality training to key individuals
•Increasing awareness of the issue of sexual violence and
its consequences throughout the community through
research, public awareness and information services.

10. What we do
• One to one counselling – 1100 sessions monthly across NI
• Education and Awareness programme (lottery funded)
4 Regional Offices/34 Outreach Sites
 Belfast
 Portadown
 Derry
 Enniskillen
Currently over 404 men and women on our waiting list

11. Definition of Sexual Abuse
“Actual or likely exploitation of a child.
The involvement
of children and adolescents in sexual activities they do
not truly comprehend to which they are unable to give
informed consent or that violate the social taboo’s of
family roles (Children’s Order NI 1995)

12. Why did we lobby???
• Experience and knowledge
• Survivors of sexual violence didn’t have a
voice
• To ensure that sexual violence would
remain at the top of the health agenda
• To ensure that we could continue to
provide our specialist service to survivors

13. What we did
• Met with all influential stakeholders, ie,
councillors, MP’s, MLAs REGULARLY
• Gained a lot of exposure via media, (tv,
radio,newspapers etc) responding to high
profile cases
• Included the voice of the survivors
whenever we could.

14. The Icing on the Cake
• A meeting was held between our Director and
the then Minister of Health, Des Brown in July
2003.
• A promise was secured (in writing) to
commission research to determine the extent of
sexual violence throughout Northern Ireland.
• Persistent lobbying with successive MLAs and
health ministers in the interim
• Sympathetic ministers

15. Development of Strategy
• Nexus and other relevant Groups met to
discuss the shape of the Strategy:
• What it should do
• Who it would target
• Draw up an Action plan
• Establish Sub groups to work on the
various topics such as support,
prevention, justice

16. Launch of Strategy
• Nexus presented at the official launch of
the Sexual Violence Strategy 2008.
• It was launched by Minister McGimpsey
and Minister Goggins in Stormont

17. The Real Work begins…..
• Strategy sub-Groups set up to agree the
way forward
• Time commitment to meet monthly and
work on implementing the actions
• Nexus is represented in all the sub-groups

18. Benefits of Strategy
• Opportunity to make a difference to lives
of survivors of sexual abuse and violence
• More awareness of issue
• More funding
• Opportunity to work closely with similar
groups
• Opportunity to keep sexual violence at the
top of the health agenda

19. Where we are at currently
• Coming to end of four year strategy
• Many things have been achieved: sarc, changes to law,
directory of services, pr campaign
• Strategy now merging with DV strategy in 2013
• Nexus will continue to remain involved and ensure the
victims of seuxal violence have a voice

21. OUR MISSION
o VOYPIC is an independent regional voice that seeks to
empower and enable children and young people with an
experience of care to participate fully decisions affecting their
lives.
o Our aim is to improve their life chances, through working in
partnership with children, young people, staff, managers,
agencies and government.
o We do this through listening and learning and facilitating change
which impacts and influences legislation, policy and practice.

22. WHO WE ARE
o VOYPIC is a charity that was set up by 50 young people and
professionals in 1993
o It is an organisation that works throughout Northern Ireland,
independent of social services and works with children and
young people in residential care, foster care, leaving and
aftercare or any child or young person who has an
experience of care.
o We as an organisation, want to help children and young
people with an experience of being in care, have their
voices heard and to have impact on the issues and
decisions that affect them.

23. WHAT DOES VOYPIC DO?
o Advocacy
o Mentoring
o Participation
o Policy
o Research

24. VOYPIC’s Advocacy Service
VOYPIC provide an independent and skilled
service to represent the rights of children and
young people in Care.

25. VOYPIC Advocacy
“Advocacy” means providing an independent and skilled
service to represent the rights of children and young people
in care. It involves helping children and young people to:
• Learn about their rights
• Learn about the services to which they are entitled
• Make informed choices
• Ask for services and adherence of their rights
• Ensure that the services they receive are appropriate and
take account of their age, gender, race, religion, culture,
language, physical or mental health, or sexual orientation

26. Components and Services within
the Advocacy project
Accessibility
Independence
Promoting good Setting standards &
practice reviewing practice
Training advice
Advocacy
Project
Individual/
Representation
Group Support
Awareness raising Consultation
Support Confidentiality

27. Advocacy the service
ADVOCACY
GROUP INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGN
Issue based Case work Challenge
•Regional proactive
Regional -all profiling of an issue
Action based
elements •Recommendations
group work
of care •Implementation

28. Individual Advocacy

29. Active Cases by HSCT Area at 19th
March 2012
Active cases by HSCT End of year 2012
180
155
160
140
120
100
80
60 43
36 32
40
m
N
a
b
22
c
o
e
u
20
s
r
f
20
2
0
Belfast Northern Regional South Southern Western total
Eastern
HSCT Area

30. Individual Advocacy in Practice
Foster Care
Supported Residential
Accommodation Care
Leaving Secure
Care Care
Advocate
Mental Woodlands
Health JJC
Hydebank
Hospitals
YOC

31. Issues in Individual Advocacy
– Leaving care – No accommodation
– Pocket money – Contact with
parents/siblings
– Sanctions
– Post adoptive
– Financial support contact
– Mental Health – LAC Review
Tribunals – Education
– Concerns about – Support in legal
placement process
– Appropriate adult

32. Diversity of Issues
Care Plan 10
Active Cases by Issue Complaint 5
End of Year 2012 Contact 15
Education 5
Family Group Conference 3
22 3 10 JJC 3
11 5
1 LAC Support 13
15
Leaving Care 10
Legal 9
5
3 Mental Health 5
40 3
Other 10
13 Placement 40
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker 1
10
10 9 Young Parents 11
5
Youth Conference 2
Advice, Information and Support
2
N/A 3

33. Speak Out Be Heard!
Advocacy Line

34. Process Overview
Referral is Made
Advocate Assigned
Initial Meeting
Action Planning
Resolution
Support Options

35. Individual Advocacy in Practice
Looked After Child Reviews
Child Protection Case Conferences
Core Group Meetings
Court Settings
Pre-proceedings meetings
Youth Conferences
Risk Assessment Meetings
Safety in Partnership Meetings

36. Speak Out Be Heard!
Visiting Advocacy

37. Speak Out Be Heard!
Advocacy Surgeries

38. Resource - Listen To Me
• A workbook that
records personal
information about the
child or young person
• Can be used to
complete a Person
Centred Plan

39. Our Advocacy Advice pack
Leaflets entitled ‘A
young person’s guide
to:-
• Mental Health Review
tribunals
• Care Orders
• Secure accommodation
• Article 8 orders
• Emergency Protection
Orders
• The Gillick Principle

40. Resource - Talking Tools

41. THE BIG RED BOOK

42. Our care guides
• Series of 3 guides
• Available to download from our website
• Interactive guides accessible via our website
http://www.voypiccareguides.org/

43. Other publications
• What to do guides
• Leaving Care? Lost?

44. Young People’s Comments
The Best Thing about VOYPIC’S Advocacy
Service is?
• You feel like you are being listened to.
• They listen to you and assist your needs.
They help you when help is needed.
• Having someone there to listen to me and
getting end results.
• It gives you relevant information and ensures
your views are represented.
• I always had someone I could contact and
discuss any concerns I had.

45. QUESTIONS

46. Lobbying & Advocacy
An LGB&T Perspective
Matthew McDermott – Equality Officer
Harriet Long - Advocacy Officer

47. What is Sexual Orientation?
Sexual Orientation is a person’s attraction,
whether emotional, psychological and/or
sexual,
to people of the opposite or same gender.
This includes
Feelings
Behaviour
Identity

48. Gender Identity
Gender Identity describes people’s expression of
themselves as male or female. This is different to
sexual orientation.
Gender Dysphoria is when someone feels as though
their visible gender does not match how they feel inside
to some degree. It can also be called gender variance
(from social norms), or gender variant behaviour. It is not
a mental illness but a biological condition influenced by
pre-natal development.

49. What is Transgender?
Transgender or Trans is the umbrella term given to
describe individuals, behaviours and groups whose
gender identity is different from the sex assigned to them
at birth and/or describes individuals, behaviours and
groups whose gender identity does not conform to
conventional notions of male and female.
Gender Identity describes people’s expression of
themselves as male or female. This is different to
sexual orientation.

50. How many LGB&T people are there?
• It is estimated that between 6% - 10% of the UK
population are Bisexual, Gay or Lesbian.
• This would mean that between 168,500 and 101,100
people in Northern Ireland fit into this group
Based on National Statistics 2006, estimated population for NI of 1,685,000.
• There are between 80-100 people who identify as trans that are
accessing support services. Many are invisible and/or isolated.

51. Lobbying
• Influencing government
• Opposing government policy

52. Advocacy
• Two way street – between
individuals/groups/communities and
public services etc
• Awareness raising
• Emotional support but distance
• Important relationship between
experience and societal
systems/structures

53. Aims of Advocacy scheme:
To support LGB & T people in Belfast to reduce the fear of
crime and discrimination.
To improve communication between services to help people
live safely, free from abuse and discrimination.
To inform and raise awareness of issues, barriers faced and
sensitivities for LGB&T people and their families.
Who can use this service?
This service is available to all people who identify as LGB &
T and their families and partners.

54. Questions?
matthew@rainbow-project.org
harriet@rainbow-project.org

55. Youth work being political
 Campaigning on......
 Improved public transport services for young
people
Gathering evidence about need and identifying
recommendations to improve services
Presenting evidence to politicians
Working in partnership with politicians and service
providers to implement recommendations

56. How did it come about?
In 2010 the Consumer Council approached YouthAction
NI about carrying out research on young people's
experiences and attitudes of public transport and how
they felt it could be improved.
Recognising YouthAction’s previous research ‘Sense of Belonging’

57. The aim of the research?
The aim of the research was to:
∗Identify young people’s attitudes, views and
experiences of using public transport
∗Ensure the needs of young people are considered in
the development of public transport policy and
provision

58. How was the research carried out?
Involving young people was central to the research methodology.
The research was carried out through YouthAction NI’s Community Leadership
Programme in Greater Belfast, Derry/Londonderry and Fermanagh. 38 young
people in the Community Leadership Programme piloted, developed and
completed questionnaires which they then carried out within their work
placements.
Young Farmer’s Clubs were also invited to participate in the research to allow
for further input for young people in other rural area’s.
In total 189 young people completed the questionnaires.

60. Key findings
Young People Want To Use Public Transport!
57% of young people replied that public transport was
important to them
55% stated that using public transport was their first choice
“I drive to college but trains would be much handier”
“Make the Rural Lift service available to everyone”

61. Key findings
Young people face barriers which prevent them from accessing
suitable transport provision
Availability of public transport
Lack of choice
Cost of public transport
“To get to Enniskillen from Garrison you have to go 7 miles backwards
before travelling 24 miles to Enniskillen”
“Getting the bus is ok but the prices are getting really dear”
“There are no buses after 6pm”

62. Key findings
Lack of public transport limits young people in what they
can do
85% of young people were aware of how the lack of public
transport impacted on their lives whether this was taking
part in after school activities, accessing job opportunities or
being able to socialise with friends
“I feel I have no independence and my plans always have to fit
round my parents to give me a lift”
“Your parents decide when and how often you go out”

63. What happened next?
Young adults who were involved in the transport
research worked with YouthAction to devise a fifteen
minute drama sketch which was presented to the
Department of Regional Development Committee in the
Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings.

66. Off to Stormont we go!
All of the young adults who were involved in the
research got the opportunity to visit Stormont to watch
the drama sketch, see the finished publication and to
voice their opinions to the DRD committee.
“I cant believe we did it”
“I am so proud of myself”

70. What happened next?
Translink talk business..
∗ Translink contacted us to help them trial a Young Person’s
Travel Discount Card
∗ 144 young people throughout Northern Ireland took part
∗ 8 week trial – 2 weeks without the card and 6 weeks with
using the card
∗ This card entitled them to 30% off Metro and Ulsterbus
charges as well as 33% off NI Railways
∗ This required regular contact with young people via
Facebook, phone calls and the use of our texting service

71. We also helped the Consumer Council with the launch
of a Young Person’s Travel Guide

72. Findings from the trial....
∗ Very positive comments from young people on savings
∗ 58% young people still using card with increase to 64% able to use
it until December 2011
∗ 29% experienced problems using card
∗ 48% of those not using card cited the reason as passing their
driving test.
∗ ‘It’s helped saving money on way to work or activities
that I do that are far away.’

73. Keeping it on the agenda....
∗ We met with the DRD Committee to contribute to
their own inquiry into public transport
∗ We gave a presentation to the DRD Committee on
updating them on the recommendations from the
‘Transport Matters’ report.

74. Success!
∗ Translink approached us in February 2012 to complete
a survey with young people to identify a name for the
young person’s discount card.
∗ 300 young people were consulted through Facebook,
Survey Monkey and through filling in questionnaires .

75. The Consumer Council
and Translink also
gained a “Highly
Commended” from
NICCY’s Participation
Awards for “Supporting
young people to
participate in decisions
which affect their lives.’

76. Watch this Space...
 Translink hope to launch the young person’s discount card
during the summer period.
 We are also working again with the Consumer Council around
implementing other recommendations from the “Transport
Matters” research. One of them which is particularly important
to us is ‘ensuring that young people continue to be engaged in
how public transport is designed and delivered. ‘ To this end..
 We will be utilising our youth poll system to gain current views of
young people on public transport.
 We are requesting a meeting with DRD Minister and local MLA’s
to seek their support to implementing the recommendations.