Meet your Advocate

Meet Your Advocate Jo McLeod Jo McLeod is the Advocacy and Participation worker for Children’s Hearings in Aberdeen. Jo joined the Who Cares? Scotland team in August during the global pandemic. Jo has a wealth of experience working with Care Experienced people and our wider community. Her passion and drive to elevate voice and create meaningful engagement and to elevate voice are clear to see. Jo finds fun and happiness in music, dance, animals and travel.

I’m Jo, I’ve worked with children and young people for over 10 years and I just love it! I’ve worked in schools and children’s houses in Scotland and New York, and with amazing young people leaving care. I love being outdoors and my favourite place is anywhere near the sea, but I’ll take hills and the woods too! To chill out I like to roll out my yoga mat and get some good tunes on. To have fun I love a dance, unfortunately I haven’t been to any gigs for ages because of lockdown, I can’t wait to get out and see some live music again! I love hugs, from people and from dogs, cats, rats or just about any animal! Why did you want to become an advocate?

I came across Who Cares? Scotland while working in Social Work and I was so impressed by their strong values and their motivation to change things for the better for all Care Experienced people. In all my jobs before, people told me they did not feel listened to and that decisions were made for them instead of with them. I wanted to be a part of changing that! Being an advocate means that I am kind of like a parrot - I listen rcarefully to what young people tell me and repeat it. I want to make sure that every child and young person is fully involved in decisions about their life, so I am delighted to be working at Children’s Hearings.

Why do you think independent advocacy is important?

It’s important to be independent - I don’t work for social work, school, or anyone else so you know I am here just for you. I don’t make choices or decisions for young people, I only help them to have their own views heard on what is happening in their lives and what might happen in the future. Advocacy is important because it can be really scary to speak up for yourself - having someone alongside you just makes it that little bit easier. It can also be a bit confusing to know what all your rights are so it’s important to have someone explain these to you so that you can make sure they are respected.

What is it like being an advocate during a global pandemic and lockdown?

I started this job in lockdown so it has been so strange to not meet any children or young people face to face, or even my workmates! I found it really awkward on video calls to start with but I guess I am getting used to it, just like everybody else is. I really can’t wait to see people in real life! It can be difficult to build relationships with people without actually meeting them which makes me feel a little sad. But I know If you are attending that we all have to do what we need to do to get through this and we a Children’s hearing in Aberdeen soon and think you would like advocacy you can get in touch with Jo on 07598 580316. If will come out you live somewhere else but think you stronger! would like advocacy look at the map

on the back of this magazine where you will find the contact details for all of our APWs.