Advocacy & Children’s Rights
YLF provide the children’s rights and advocacy service for all young people entitled to receive support from Kent and Medway Specialist Children’s Services.
Our Advocacy Service
YLF advocates offer independent support to children and young people who are struggling to express how they feel or who feel unhappy about decisions made by professionals or family that has an impact on their lives. We believe the voices of young people are paramount and should always be sought, respected and given consideration in any decision making.
What Advocates Do
Advocates work with young people to try to resolve their issues as quickly as possible. This is often achieved by supporting positive communication and developing young people’s self-advocacy skills. Young people are also empowered by learning about their rights and entitlements.
Our Advocates listen carefully to young people’s wishes and feelings and ensure young people lead the advocacy support at every step. Advocates strive to help young people resolve their issues, however sometimes this is not always possible, on these occasions advocates will always help young people to understand why the decision can’t be changed and refer to other services that might be able to help.
Who Advocates Can Help
Advocates can support children and young people if they are:
- a Kent or Medway young person in care
- a Care Leaver, up to the age of 24
- a child in need
- subject to a Child Protection Conference or Family Group Conference
- Homeless 16 and 17-year-olds (Joint Housing Assessments)
Not from Kent or Medway? Our advocates could still help – just contact us for more information
What Next?
Get an Advocate
Make a referral to start receiving support from an advocate
Our Mentoring Service
Find out how our Mentoring programmes could help
MCYPC
More about our Council for young people in Medway