Children & Young Peoples Advocacy | Blackburn with Darwen

Download referral form

Children and Young People’s Advocacy’

We’re here for you

We know it’s not always easy to speak up, especially when adults are making decisions about your care, safety or future. You might feel unsure, unheard, or worried about saying the wrong thing.

That’s where advocacy comes in.

An Advocate is someone who is on your side. We listen to you, support you, and help make sure your voice is heard.

Older woman with a younger girl and boy outside in a field

What does an Advocate do?

Your Advocate can help you:

Talk things through and work out what you want to say
Understand your rights and what’s going on around you
Feel more confident in meetings, reviews, or conversations
Speak up for yourself, or speak for you if that’s what you prefer
Get support to raise a concern or make a complaint

We work at your pace and focus on what matters most to you.

Who can get an Advocate?

You can ask for an Advocate if you:

Are in care
Are leaving care or have already left it
Have a Child Protection Plan
Are involved in safeguarding or Child in Need plans
Are transitioning from children services to adult services under the Care Act
Want help to complain about or challenge something regarding Children’s Social Care

You don’t have to wait for someone else to suggest it — you can ask yourself.

Get In Touch

You can ask for an Advocate yourself, or someone you trust can help you get in touch. Professionals, carers and family members can also make referrals on your behalf.

Call us on: 0330 00 22 200
Email: referral@bwdadvocacy.org.uk

Download Referral Form

Our team will listen to your concerns and connect you with the right advocacy support.

You stay in control

Advocacy is led by you. That means:

You decide what help you want
You choose what to say and how
We won’t tell you what to do or make decisions for you

The only time we wouldn’t do something you ask is if it could put you in danger; your safety always comes first.

We’re independent

We don’t work for social workers, schools, or the council. We work for you. Our job is to make sure:

You feel listened to
Your views are properly recorded
What you say is taken seriously by those making decisions

The only time we wouldn’t do something you ask is if it could put you in danger; your safety always comes first.

Why this matters

You have the right to be heard and involved in decisions about your life. Having an Advocate means you don’t have to face things alone, and that your voice matters.

Man and younger woman sitting at a desk with a piece of paper

I could talk to them and feel safe, and they listened to me.

Will my Advocate keep things private?

We know it’s really important that you can trust your Advocate and feel safe talking to them.

What you tell your Advocate is private. This means you can speak openly without worrying that your Advocate will share what you’ve said with anyone else.

Your Advocate won’t share anything you tell them unless you say it’s okay. The only time they might need to share information is if they’re concerned about your safety or someone else’s.

We’ll always try to talk to you about this and explain what’s happening.