Young People

Someone who can….

• Help get your views across
• Give you information about your rights and entitlements
• Help you have a say in decisions made about your life

Advocacy is always…

• Independent – This means we are separate from all other professionals and just work for you
• Confidential – We don’t pass on any information unless you tell us it is ok (unless we are worried that you or someone else may not be safe)

An Advocate can…

• Meet you face to face
• Help over the phone
• Text or Email you
• Whichever you feel most comfortable with

You can have the support of an YLF Advocate if you are…

• A Medway or Kent young person
• In Care
• A Care Leaver up to the age of 24
• A Child in Need
• If you have a child protection conference or Family Group Conference

Not from Kent or Medway?

Just give us a call on our Freephone number 0808  164 0096 or contact us online to find if we can help you, don’t worry if we can’t we will signpost you to someone who can.

On Facebook or Twitter? 

You can follow our Advocacy Service on Facebook and Twitter for support and information

An Advocate can be there to…

• Support you at meetings
• Help you write letters or email
• Help you understand your rights and entitlements
• Help you make a complaint if you’re unhappy about something
• Try to help resolve your problems
• If we can’t help we will refer you to a service that can
• Help find you legal advice

Our Advocates have previously helped young people with the following issues…

• Not wanting to move from residential placement to foster placement
• Being moved against young person’s wishes
• Being moved from placement but possessions were not sent to new placement
• Young person not aware of their savings since being in care or where they were saved
• Request life story work not actioned by Social Services
• Support at Child Protection Conferences
• Wanting to Stay Put but told that the only option is to bid for council house
• Wanting help to find out will happen when young person turns 18
• Wanting more contact with grandparents, siblings or parents
• Not receiving support from PA – not informed PA was on long term sick leave
• Complaint about the transition to move placements with no education in place
• Wanting to know rights and entitlements around 18+ transition

You can contact us on our Young Person’s Freephone Number 0808  164 0096 and ask to speak to Kristy, Sarah or Lucy.

You can follow our Advocacy Service on Facebook and Twitter for support, information and to send us message.

Or you can you can fill in an online form and we will get back to you.  You can also ask someone to contact us on your behalf, like a teacher, social worker, or carer.

A Mentor is a volunteer who can support you for up to 6 months once a week, offering advice and guidance on things that you may be struggling with. They are someone independent who you can talk to and ask for help without worry or judgement.

A Mentor can help you by supporting you to achieve and help you to reach where you want to be. Whether its studying, improving grades, feeling better about yourself, joining a club or making new friends, a Mentor can help.

If you are aged 10-16 and living in Maidstone, Thanet, Gravesham or Swale, you are able to access a Mentor.

Not from the towns listed above?

Just give us a call on 01622 693459 or contact us online to find if we can help you, don’t worry, if we can’t we will signpost you to someone who can.

Send us a message and one of the team will be in touch. Or call us on: 01622 693459 and ask to speak to Neil or Amber

• Also referred to as an Independent Visitor, a befriender is a volunteer who has chosen to help and support a young person in care
• They are committed to a minimum of two years so that they can really get to know you and build a trusting and meaningful relationship
• Someone independent, separate from social workers, teachers and foster carers, and their priority is you

• The activities that you do with your Independent Visitor are moulded to your interests
• Your befriender will get to know you and the things that you like to do then on your once a month visit you can choose your activity
• These can be anything that interests you, like trampolining, go-karting, football, arts and crafts, going out for dinner… the options are endless!

• Your Befriender will provide support in your life, they will be someone to talk to and to listen to you
• They will stick around and be there for you when you need them
• If you want, they can come to your reviews with you as someone that you trust

• To be able to have a befriender you must be looked after by either Kent or Medway Council
• Be between the ages of 8 and 18
• You can make a referral online here
• If you are not with Kent or Medway you can still have an Independent Visitor. Just ask your social worker to send us a referral!

• young people living in Kent or Medway
• young people who are struggling at home, in foster care, or adopted
• those between ages 7 and 21

• some groups meet regularly at one of our hubs in Sittingbourne, Margate, Gravesham or Medway
• we play sports, computer games, team games, pool, nerf wars or have movie nights at the hubs
• we also head out to venues in your area to do activities like ice skating, bowling, trampolining or golf
• in half terms and school holidays we go to places like Chessington, the zoo and even weekend stays at camps!

• you will gain confidence, self esteem and feel better about yourself
• make new friends and meet new people
• allows you to go and enjoy new and exciting activities either in your area or further away!
• learn skills that could last a lifetime
• earn awards and certificates

You can contact us using our online referral form and we will get in touch about your closest group you can join.

Feel free to call us on 01622 693459 or email legends@ylf.org.uk 

You can also follow us @legendsYLF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see what we have been up to!