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Advocacy

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Providing Effective Advocacy Services for Children and Young People Making a Representation or Complaint under the Children Act 1989

Guidance for local authorities providing advocacy services for children and young people making a complaint under the Children Act 1989.

Formal Advocacy Training

An exciting new training opportunity available from Tros Gynnal Plant.

The Care Standards Act 2000 (Notification) (Wales) Regulations 2011 and Guidance

New measures increase the range of enforcement options available to the Care and Social Service Inspectorate Wales.

National Standards for the Provision of Children’s Advocacy Services

National Standards for the Provision of Children’s Advocacy Services
These advocacy standards will provide a framework to plan, develop and review advocacy practice at all levels.

Written Statement from the Welsh Government in response to ‘Missing Voices’ - the Children’s Commissioner’s Report

Gwenda Thomas, Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services

Children and young people time and again tell us about the value that they place on advocacy support, from assistance in expressing a view to representation in relation to life-changing decisions.

What is advocacy for children and young people?

Advocacy is a process which helps children and young people to:

  • speak up for themselves
  • access information and their rights and entitlements, or
  • get something stopped, started or changed.

Advocacy can mean different things to different people, depending on their experiences and understanding. Some think it is only to do with complaints. This is not always the case.

Others think it’s advice, but while advocates may sometimes give advice, it is more about them listening to a child or young person. Then they make sure they get to tell people their views, wishes and feelings and that they take their views into account, whether the advocate agrees with the child or young person’s opinion or not.

Like a microphone

One way to look at an advocate is like a microphone for a child or young person’s voice. When they don’t feel confident enough to speak up for themselves, or when they may feel that nobody is listening, an advocate will amplify their voice, making it louder and more likely to be heard.    

Advocates are not there to put words into a child or young person’s mouth but are there to help them express their own opinion in decisions that may affect them.

A right to be heard

Children and young people often struggle to get answers to simple questions about what help or support is there for them, and may often feel they need information and advice to understand their situation and support their decisions.

But not everybody knows that they have a right to be heard when they want to change, stop or start something, or that they have an opportunity to get support from an advocate.  

National research and guidance consistently identifies that all children and young people’s interests are better safeguarded, supported and promoted by having a personal champion in the form of an advocate who can support them and take an active part in their lives.

When there is early intervention to resolve issues and problems it can prevent the problem from escalating and provide substantial savings for services in the long term.