Criteria for referral to the advocacy service
How can advocates support children and young people?
How do you access an advocate?
Action for Children, Children’s Rights and Advocacy Service is commissioned by Bolton to provide independent advocacy for children and young people aged seven to 18 years to ensure their voice is heard in decision making processes which affect their lives.
“Children have the right to say what they think should happen, when adults are making decisions that affect them, and to have their opinions taken into account”
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - Article 12
Criteria for referral to the advocacy service
- Child/young person aged 7-18 years who is looked after
- Child/young person aged 7-18 years who has a disability
“Advocacy is about speaking up for children and young people so that the adults who work with them will listen to what they have to say”
Young person aged 12
How can advocates support children and young people?
We can attend meetings with you to ensure you are supported and are able to express your views. If you don’t feel confident speaking in meetings we speak on your behalf
- We can attend meetings for you if you don’t want to attend and give you feedback on any decisions made
- We can chase up agreements made at your meetings to ensure other people do what they have agreed to do for you
- We can help you to complain if you are unhappy with the services or the care you receive
- We can ensure people are mindful of your rights
How do you access an advocate?
- You could call us on the freephone number or on the landline (top right)
- You could call or text the project mobiles: 07872 675 872 or 07834 006 285
- If you would prefer your social worker, teacher, parent/carer could make a referral on your behalf
- You could email us (top right)
- You could write to us (top right)
If you are unsure about whether an advocate can help you just give us a call and we can have a chat. It doesn’t matter if you don’t live in Bolton. The advocacy service works with children and young people who are placed out of the borough. We can arrange to come to see you wherever you are!!!