Advocacy · England
Help for children and young people to speak up
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Your views matter when people make plans about your life.
You can ask for help to explain what you want.
An advocate can help you understand choices.
They can help you explain your wishes and worries.
There are different rules about who can get an advocate.
Ask your social worker or council to check which service can help you.
Children in care can ask for advocacy.
Children who need social care support can also ask.
Young people leaving care can ask too.
You can ask for support before a problem becomes a formal complaint.
An advocate can also help you make a complaint.
There are services that explain education and disability rights.
Ask your council for its SEND advice and support service.
SEND means special educational needs and disabilities.
Ask about advocacy when preparing to move to adult services.
The rules depend on the assessment and the help you need.
You can share your views in different ways.
You might use pictures, signing, technology or someone who understands you.
Using little or no speech does not mean you have no views.
The advocate should focus on your wishes and rights.
Your family may also need their own support.
What you can do next
Ask how to contact an advocate for children or young people.
Tell the service what helps you communicate.
Find your council Web pageFuller informationThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
Advocacy for children and young people
Support to be heard in care, education and the move towards adult life.
Children, young people and care leavers · England
Children's social care
The October 2026 statutory guidance says looked-after children, children in need and care leavers should have advocacy when they want support to express their views. They should not have to wait until a problem becomes a formal complaint.
Complaints and representations
The Children Act includes duties to arrange assistance for eligible children and care leavers making or intending to make representations, including complaints. Ask the council's children's services or complaints team about independent advocacy.
Help with education and SEND
Your area's SEND Information, Advice and Support Service — often called SENDIASS — can explain education and disability rights to children, young people and parents. Ask what meeting or appeal support it provides. This is not identical to every statutory advocacy role.
Moving towards adult services
Care Act advocacy may apply during a child's needs assessment, a child's carer's assessment or a young carer's assessment for transition to adult services. The relevant involvement and support conditions still need checking.
Your own voice
The advocate should focus on the child's or young person's wishes, rights and communication. Parents and carers may also need their own information or support. Being unable to use speech does not mean someone has no views; ask about communication support and non-instructed advocacy.
Words you could use
“I want help to explain my views about this plan. Please tell me how I can get an independent advocate.”
Where the information comes from
Links checked 26 October 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- DfE: advocacy services for children and young people Web page
Current guidance, replaced on 13 October 2026.
- Effective Advocacy statutory guidance, October 2026 PDF
Guidance for looked-after children, children in need and care leavers.
- Children Act 1989, section 26A Web page
Assistance with making representations and complaints.
- Children and Families Act 2014, section 32 Web page
Local authority duties to provide SEND advice and information.
- Care Act 2014, section 67 Web page
Advocacy duties include specified transition assessments.