NYAS provides advocacy and legal representation to children and vulnerable adults when important decisions are being made about them. The children and young people NYAS work with might be in care, have a disability or special needs, be subject to child protection plans, have mental health difficulties or their parents might be separating.
NYAS offers a variety of services including:
- A national advocacy helpline.
- Advocacy for children in care and those in need – including children subject to child protection plans, care leavers, children and young people with disabilities.
- The provision of independent visitors for children in care.
- Legal representation of children in private family law.
NYAS has a network of 170 staff, 300 volunteers and 350 self-employed advocates in the country. Fifty nine members of staff are based in NYAS’ head office in Birkenhead.
Over the last 12 months alone, NYAS has supported more than 9000 children and young people through its advocacy service. The charity provides advocacy services in 59 local authorities, has acted on 115 reportable safeguarding concerns and matched 379 vulnerable children and young people with an independent visitor.