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Services and
General Information

For confidential legal advice and representation call us on
0151 649 8700

or Sharon Lovell on
07747 461017

Introduction
The National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) is a UK charity providing socio-legal services. It offers information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children and young people aged 0-25, through a network of over 150 advocates, NYAS is also a Community Legal Service.

Service Ethos
NYAS is committed to working towards full implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and in particular Article 12 which deals with the right of each young person to be consulted in all matters affecting them. NYAS seeks to provide and develop its services through the active participation of young people, who are involved at all levels of the organisation.

Who do we offer services to?
NYAS offers independent and confidential information, advice, advocacy and support to young people who want to have their wishes and feelings heard in administrative or judicial proceedings, or in any other circumstances, when decisions are being made about their lives.

NYAS puts children and young people first and offers help to children: -

• In need or despair
• In trouble
• In care or leaving care
• Who are homeless
• With difficulties at school
• Whose parents are separated or divorcing
• Who are simply not being listened to

NYAS offers a young person led service in which young people are given the opportunity to use the knowledge and experience of our advocates and lawyers to inform their own decision making process.

How to Obtain Information, Advice, Advocacy or Legal Representation
All services provided by NYAS are independent and confidential. Information, advice and advocacy for children and young people including legal advice and representation can be obtained by contacting us on:

All requests for help are dealt with by the Helpline and intake team and allocated to one of our advocates if appropriate. Services include:

Legal Information, Advice and Representation
The NYAS in-house legal team provide legal services for young people.

Issue Based Advocacy
Issue Based Advocates are allocated in response to a specific request for advice or advocacy for one to one work with a child or young person.

Residential Visiting Advocacy
Advocates visit residential units on a regular basis to meet and interact with young people and pick up any concerns or issues expressed to them directly.

Casework Support
NYAS offers caseworkers to undertake independent social work reports for young people who are the subject of disputes over residence and contact. Caseworkers may work alone or with a lawyer from the NYAS legal team.

Independent Persons
Independent Persons provide information, advice and advocacy for Young People in Secure Training Centres.

Independent Visitors
NYAS supplies independent visitors to visit, advise and befriend young people who are looked after by the local authority and have little or no contact with their families.

Young Persons Forum
The forum provides a facility for consultation with young people and provides a means for young people to express their views about local and national issues.

Children's Events
Consultations and information enabling children to say how things are for them and to learn about the service.

Training and Consultation
Staff training and development plays a vital role in the delivery of high quality services to children and young people. NYAS is registered with the Law Society and Open College Network to provide accredited courses which include:

• An Introduction into Advocating on Behalf of Children & Young People
• Complaints & Representations
• Promoting Childrens Rights within Residential Care
• Legal Framework of Advocacy
• Advocating with Children with a Disability

Bespoke training and workshops are available upon request.

For further details contact: training@nyas.net

Online Youth Club
www.onlineyouthclub.org
An interactive website for young people to encourage expression of their views and access to NYAS with a secure moderated chatroom facility.

Other Information
Separate Leaflets are available in relation to NYAS, NYAS Legal Services, NYAS Young Persons Participation, NYAS Training and NYAS Complaints Procedure.

National Youth Advocacy Service
Egerton House, Tower Road,
Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 1FN
Telephone 0151 649 8700
Email help@nyas.net
Website www.nyas.net

FREEPHONE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
0800 616 101

MEIC - the 24 hour Advice and Advocacy Helpine for children and young people in Wales.

Watch the launch of the helpline on Youtube Video 1 Video 2