What we do
This service offers two types of support, Advocacy and Independent Visitors (IV). Both support children and young people aged 8 and over.
Our Advocacy service can support Children In Care, Care Leavers, Child in Need, Child Protection and Children with Disabilities (8 years and upwards and up to 25 years for care leavers)
Our Independent Visitors (IV) service supports children and young people up to age 18.
Independent Visitors (IVs):
Our IV Service matches children and young people who are under the care of the local authority with trained volunteers who visit them in person on a monthly basis to befriend, support but mainly ensure they have fun and new experiences. This is for those who may have little or no contact with their birth families. These relationships are intended to be long-term where possible, helping to build trust and consistent support over time.
Advocacy Support:
We provide independent and confidential support to help children and young people understand their rights, share their wishes and views, and to support to resolve their issues such as, housing, financial entitlements or making complaints. This includes support before and during child protection conferences, so their voice is heard and taken into account when decisions are made about their safety and care.
Freephone: 0800 085 8287
We can help with
- We provide one-to-one support for children and young people looked-after by their local authority. We also help other young people in need of support, such as those on a child protection plan. Our mental health advocacy services work with children and young people receiving or wanting mental health support. Children and young people have a right to be heard and involved in decisions about them, so we support them by explaining their wishes and arguing their case. We also provide activities and training for families and professionals.
- If you are a parent/carer, find out more about Advocacy and participation (children in care)
- Search for Advocacy and participation (children in care) services
- An Independent Visitor is a volunteer who befriends, advises and assists a child or young person who is being looked-after by their local authority. They become be a consistent presence over a long period and can become a valuable source of support. We recruit and train the volunteers before matching them with a child or young person in their local area who shares similar interests. We then provide ongoing support to help the relationship grow.
- Search for Independent visitors services