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"She argues
for what is
best for me."

"She arguesfor what isbest for me."

Children's rights and advocacy

All young people should know their rights and have their voices heard.  At The Children’s Society, we help young people to understand their rights, advocate for themselves, and have their rights upheld in every decision, locally and nationally, to achieve a society for all children.  We work with children with social workers, children impacted by immigration, and take children’s voices to local and national leaders to change the systems that impact on them.

What is children's advocacy?

Advocacy is about young people’s voices being heard and shared, so that the right decisions can be made about their lives and futures. 

If you’re a child who has a Social Worker, or a care leaver then you have a right to an advocate. This is someone  who can meet with you to explain your rights, understand what you want, and help you share your views with professionals around you. If you need them to, they will speak on your behalf and support you in meetings about your future. They can help you make a complaint if you’re not happy with the way you’ve been treated by people like a social worker.  Advocates can help your  voice be heard with a particular issue your facing, like how often you see your family, your housing, or plans for your future made by your social worker, school or the police.   They can make sure that your wishes and views are respected by the people who are supporting you.

Advocates are completely independent, and are just for you. They will agree with you what they will say, show you letters that are written about you, and will keep your information confidential unless they’re worried about your or someone else’s safety. 

Where we offer advocacy services

young people protesting with megaphone

Campaigning for children's rights

From ensuring unaccompanied children have someone looking out for them when they arrive in the UK to making sure care leavers get a fair start into adulthood, we put young voices at the heart of the issues that affect them.

The difference we make for children

In our Cheshire Advocacy Service: 

  • ​100% felt views/wishes/opinions were listened to  
  • ​78% understood rights/decisions made  
  • ​56% felt confident self-advocating  
  • ​100% reported an overall improvement after working with the service   
  • ​100% reported they were happy with the support they received  
  • ​100% would recommend the advocacy service to others  
young man black hair blue hoody smiling at camera

"They listen to me without treating me like a name and a number." "They listen to me without treating me like a name and a number."

Our work protecting children's rights

We support children in care and care leavers, homeless young people, unaccompanied asylum seekers, children with disabilities and those on a child protection plan. Our advocates are reliable and non-judgemental.

Our volunteers in Cheshire and Torbay do regular visits with children in care. They are a constant presence in the young person's life. They teach them how to trust, enjoy life and grow. Whether it's popping round for a tea or taking them out bowling, our volunteers are there to listen and talk through their problems.