Advocacy services for children and young people who are in care or are leaving care

If you are in care, or are leaving care, the law gives you the right to help from an advocate whenever you want to express your views or make a complaint.

Advocates are separate from social workers and social services.

They are there to help YOU be heard.

They are not there to give their own opinion or tell you what to do. But they can give advice on protecting your rights. They should be able to help you get a lawyer if you need one.

To see telephone numbers, you’ll need to be either using a mobile phone or have your computer set up to make calls.

  • ALWAYS HEARD

    If you can’t get hold of the advocacy service in your area, or they say that they can’t give you an advocate – you can still get help.

    The children’s charity Coram Voice runs a backup service called Always Heard.

    Always Heard promises to get you an advocate.

  • BARKING AND DAGENHAM

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • BARNET

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Action for Children.

  • BARNSLEY

    Advocates work for the Children’s Rights Team in the council.

  • BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET

    Advocates work for Off The Record charity.

  • BEDFORD BOROUGH

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • BEDFORDSHIRE, CENTRAL

    Get in touch and the council will arrange an advocate for you.

  • BEXLEY

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • BIRMINGHAM

    Contact your Rights and Participation Service in Birmingham Children’s Trust.

  • BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN

    Advocates work for the charity Child Action Northwest.

  • BLACKPOOL

    Advocates work for Blackpool Advocacy Hub (part of a charity called Empowerment).

  • BOLTON

    Advocates work for children’s charity Action for Children.

  • BOURNEMOUTH

    Advocates work for children’s charity Action for Children.

  • BRACKNELL FOREST

    Contact the council’s Child Participation Development Officer who will arrange an advocate for you.

  • BRADFORD

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • BRENT

    Ask your social worker or your independent reviewing officer or contact the Complaints Team at the council who will arrange an advocate for you.

  • BRIGHTON AND HOVE

    Advocates work for the Youth Advocacy Project in the council.

  • BRISTOL

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • BROMLEY

    Ask your social worker or your independent reviewing officer or contact the Complaints Team at the council who will arrange an advocate for you.

  • BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • BURY

    Advocates are arranged by the Children and Young People in Care Team in the council.

  • CALDERDALE

    Advocates work for your Children’s Rights Service in the council.

  • CAMBRIDGESHIRE

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • CAMDEN

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • CHESHIRE EAST

    Advocates work for the children’s charity The Children’s Society.

  • CHESHIRE WEST & CHESTER

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • CITY OF LONDON

    Advocates work for children’s charity Action for Children.

  • CORNWALL

    Your council can arrange for you to have an advocate from the children’s charity Barnardo’s. (The email address will take you straight to Barnardo’s).

  • COVENTRY

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • CROYDON

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • CUMBRIA

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • DARLINGTON

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • DERBY

    Advocates work for the charity Change Grow Live.

  • DERBYSHIRE

    Contact your Children’s Independent Advocacy Service, which is run by your council’s Participation Team.

  • DEVON

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • DONCASTER

    Advocates work for Doncaster Children’s Services Trust.

  • DORSET

    Advocates work for children’s charity Action for Children.

  • DUDLEY

    Advocates work for the children’s charity The Children’s Society.

  • DURHAM

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • EALING

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE

    Contact your Participation and Rights Team in the council.

  • EAST SUSSEX

    Advocates work for the charity Change Grow Live.

  • ENFIELD

    Contact your Children’s Rights Service in the council.

  • ESSEX

    Advocates work for Rethink All Age Advocacy Service.

  • GATESHEAD

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • GLOUCESTERSHIRE

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • GREENWICH

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • HACKNEY

    Contact your Children’s Rights Officer in the council.

  • HALTON

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • HAMMERSMITH AND FULHAM

    Contact your Children’s Rights Service in the council.

  • HAMPSHIRE

    Advocates work for the charity Speakeasy.

  • HARINGEY

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • HARROW

    Contact your Children and Young People’s Advocacy Service in the council.

  • HARTLEPOOL

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • HAVERING

    Contact your Children’s Rights Advocacy Service in the council.

  • HEREFORDSHIRE

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • HILLINGDON

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • HOUNSLOW

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Action for Children.

  • ISLE OF WIGHT

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • ISLES OF SCILLY

    Ask your social worker or your independent reviewing officer.

  • ISLINGTON

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Action for Children.

  • KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA

    Contact Looked After Children Advocacy in the council.

  • KENT

    Advocates work for the children’s charity The Young Lives Foundation.

  • KINGSTON UPON HULL, CITY OF

    Contact the Rights and Participation Project in the council.

  • KINGSTON UPON THAMES

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • KIRKLEES

    Contact your Children’s Rights Team in the council.

  • KNOWSLEY

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • LAMBETH

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • LANCASHIRE

    Advocates work for the children’s charity The Children’s Society.

  • LEEDS

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • LEICESTER

    Contact your Children and Young People’s Rights Participation Officer in the council.

  • LEICESTERSHIRE

    Contact Children’s Rights in the council.

  • LEWISHAM

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • LINCOLNSHIRE

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • LIVERPOOL

    Contact the Advocacy Coordinator in your council.

  • London

    Just for Kids Law offers advocacy to children and young people who are in care or leaving care in London.

  • LUTON

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • MANCHESTER

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • MEDWAY TOWNS

    Advocates work for the charity The Young Lives Foundation.

  • MERTON

    Advocates work for the charity Jigsaw4U.

  • MIDDLESBROUGH

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • MILTON KEYNES

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • NEWHAM

    Contact your Children’s Rights Service in the council.

  • NORFOLK

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE

    Ask your social worker, your independent reviewing officer or contact the Complaints Team at the council who will arrange an advocate for you.

  • NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE

    Contact your Children and Young People’s Advocate in the council.

  • NORTH SOMERSET

    Advocates work for the Junction 21 Mentoring Service in the council.

  • NORTH TYNESIDE

    Contact the participation, advocacy and engagement part of your council.

  • NORTH YORKSHIRE

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

    Contact your Children’s Rights Service in the council.

  • NORTHUMBERLAND

    Advocates work for children’s charity Action for Children.

  • NOTTINGHAM

    Advocates work for the charity The Children’s Society.

  • NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

    Advocates work for the charity The Children’s Society.

  • OLDHAM

    Advocates work for the company Excel Social Work and Therapeutic Services.

  • OXFORDSHIRE

    Advocates work for VIVA in the council.

  • PETERBOROUGH

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • PLYMOUTH

    Your council can arrange for you to have an advocate from the children’s charity Barnardo’s. The email address says complaints but you can have an advocate for anything linked to children’s services, being heard and your rights.

  • POOLE

    Advocates work for children’s charity Action for Children.

  • PORTSMOUTH

    Just4U advocates work for No Limits charity.

  • READING

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • REDBRIDGE

    Contact your Children’s Rights Team in the council.

  • REDCAR AND CLEVELAND

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • RICHMOND UPON THAMES

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • ROCHDALE

    Advocates work for the children’s charity The Children’s Society.

  • ROTHERHAM

    Contact your Right 2 Rights Service in the council.

  • RUTLAND

    Contact your Advocacy Support Worker in the council.

  • SALFORD

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • SANDWELL

    Advocates work for the children’s charity The Children’s Society.

  • SEFTON

    Contact your Independent Visiting and Advocacy Officer in the council.

  • SHEFFIELD

    Advocates work in the Children’s Involvement Team in the council.

  • SHROPSHIRE

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • SLOUGH

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • SOLIHULL

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • SOMERSET

    Contact Route1 Advocacy in the council.

  • SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

    Advocates work for the charity Reconstruct.

  • SOUTH TYNESIDE

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • SOUTHAMPTON

    Just4U advocates work for No Limits charity.

  • SOUTHEND-ON-SEA

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • SOUTHWARK

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • ST HELENS

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • STAFFORDSHIRE

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • STOCKPORT

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • STOCKTON-ON-TEES

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • STOKE-ON-TRENT

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • SUFFOLK

    Advocates work for the charity Anglia Care Trust (ACT).

  • SUNDERLAND

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • SURREY

    Contact your Children’s Rights Service in the council.

  • SUTTON

    Advocates work for The Volunteer Centre.

  • SWINDON

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • TAMESIDE

    Contact your Children’s Rights Service in the council.

  • TELFORD AND WREKIN

    Contact the Rights & Representations Project in the council.

  • THURROCK

    Advocates work for the charity Open Door.

  • TORBAY

    Advocates work for the children’s charity The Children’s Society.

  • TOWER HAMLETS

    Advocates work for the children’s charity The Children’s Society.

  • TRAFFORD

    Contact your Advocacy and Engagement officers in the council.

  • WAKEFIELD

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • WALSALL

    Advocates work for the children’s charity The Children’s Society.

  • WALTHAM FOREST

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • WANDSWORTH

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Coram Voice.

  • WARRINGTON

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • WARWICKSHIRE

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • WEST BERKSHIRE

    Advocates work for children’s charity Action for Children.

  • WEST SUSSEX

    Contact your Advocacy Service in the council.

  • WESTMINSTER

    Contact your Children’s Rights Team in the council.

  • WIGAN

    Advocates work for the charity Wigan Family Welfare.

  • WILTSHIRE

    Advocates work for the charity County Community Projects.

  • WINDSOR AND MAIDENHEAD

    Advocates work for the charity Windsor and Maidenhead Counselling Service.

  • WIRRAL

    Advocates work for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

  • WOKINGHAM

    Contact your Children’s Rights and Advocacy Officer in the council.

  • WOLVERHAMPTON

    Advocates work for the children’s charity The Children’s Society.

  • WORCESTERSHIRE

    Advocates work for the charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

  • YORK

    Contact Speak Up, which is your Children’s Rights and Advocacy Service in the council.

If you find that any of our information is incorrect, please let us know by using the contact form. Thank you!

Help wherever you live
Help if you are in care or leaving care
Help if you are in hospital or another health place
Help if you are in an immigration detention centre
Help if you are in prison
Help if you are living in a school
Help if you are in a secure children’s home
As a person with rights, you should always be respected and listened to.