Reach Advocacy Scotland
Reach Advocacy: developing a recognised route into advocacy practice
Reach Advocacy Scotland identified a gap in formal advocacy training through peoples lived experience of health, social justice, and economic challenges. They worked with us to create a customised, SCQF credit-rated award to fill that gap.
The result was a qualification that has strengthened practice, built confidence and increased recognition of human rights-based advocacy across the workforce.
About Reach Advocacy Scotland: training provider
Reach Advocacy Ltd is a grassroots charity. It uses education to empower marginalised people and communities through human rights and advocacy. It also upskills staff, so they have a better understanding of the life trajectory of their clients, patients and customers, helping them provide better support in their service.
Its programmes help people understand, claim, and protect their rights while developing advocacy skills for professional and community settings.
In 2025, Reach marked 10 years as a Qualifications Scotland training centre and celebrated 158 learners achieving the award.
The need: addressing a gap in advocacy training
Derek McCabe, Head of Centre at Reach says: ‘Reach identified a gap in Scotland’s advocacy landscape. There was no formal, quality-assured training that combined advocacy practice with a strong focus on human rights and equalities.
We saw an opportunity to create a structured route into advocacy. The aim is to support people working where social justice issues affect participation in everyday life, including health, education, employment and justice.’
The solution: a customised award
Our customised awards service was the best fit for Reach Advocacy’s needs. It offered a way to bring together lived experience, professional practice and recognised standards in one qualification ¾ the Advocacy Practice Award at SCQF Level 7.
Reach funded and owns the award, while Qualifications Scotland provided the framework, support, and quality assurance needed to place it on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.
Dr Elaine Webster, Reader in Law, University of Strathclyde, commented: ‘Reach Advocacy has shown how organisations can embed a human rights framework in practical settings. Achieving accreditation for its educational programmes demonstrates both leadership and long-term commitment.’
The qualification: Advocacy Practice Award at SCQF Level 7
The award develops knowledge of human rights and equalities alongside practical advocacy skills. It helps people strengthen their practice, decision making and confidence.
It supports experienced advocates and people in related roles across public services, health, charities, and community settings. As well as people who have lived experience of inequality and want to upskill and enter into support or advocacy work.
Derek shares learner feedback about the course: ‘Learners reported a stronger understanding of human rights in everyday settings. They also feel more confident when working with services such as health, housing, social work and social security systems.’
The award has attracted external recognition. Reach was invited to the Scottish Parliament in 2018 and 2025 to celebrate learner success. The qualification has also been commended by Scottish Care.
Working with Qualifications Scotland: quality-assured and credible
The customised award model gave Reach robust quality assurance and a strong management framework. This helps maintain the qualification’s integrity and reassure learners and partner organisations of its quality.
That approach has also strengthened Reach’s wider workforce development and lived experience training offer. Our ongoing support has helped the award continue to meet recognised standards in a regulated environment.
Growth: expanding access through online delivery
Reach has also expanded delivery online, widening access across Scotland and supporting workforce development in health, social care, and other rights-based settings.