National Youth Advocacy Service

Egerton House
Tower Road
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH41 1FN

Helpline: 0800 616101
Tel: 0151 649 8700
Fax: 0151 649 8701
Web: www.nyas.net
Best time to phone helpline: 8am - 8pm weekdays; 10am - 4pm Saturdays; answerphone at all other times.

Most children in the UK have their own advocates: their parents and wider family of caring relatives and friends who protect them and their interests until they are old enough to become happy, participating members of society. The National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) was set up to help the many thousands of children and young people in the UK who have no-one to listen to them or to speak up for them. All its services are independent and confidential.

NYAS is committed to working towards implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and in particular the right of each young person to be consulted when decisions are made about their lives. NYAS provides the following.

• Accessible information for young people about the complex situations they face.
• An independent casework service.
• Advocacy service for children in care with its own Freephone line (number above).
• Legal representation: NYAS has its own solicitor and agent solicitors around the country to give expert advice to young people and represent them in court if necessary.
• Publications: a quarterly journal Representing Children for professionals concerned with the rights and welfare of children.
• Training and consultancy.