The Children's Rights Team works with children and young people who are in care/looked after, care leavers and those who receive support from social care, to ensure they are able to have their say in all matters affecting their lives. There are two main purposes of the team: advocacy and participation.

Are you a looked after child, looked after young person or a care leaver? Find out more about the help and support available from the Children's Rights Team on The Source website.

Advocacy

This means helping young people to stand up for themselves and make their voices heard. In Suffolk, two organisations provide independent advocates:

Anglia Care Trust (ACT)

Are you aged 17 or under and have a Social Worker? ACT can support you: 

• At review meetings
• At child protection conferences (if you are over 12) 
• If you want to make a complaint.

If you would like an advocate to support you with a particular area of your life to ensure your views are heard, please contact the ACT Helpline number on 01473 269402 or Bridget Warren, Children's Rights & Advocacy Officer call 0800 9171119 (this number is free from a landline).

ACT referal and advocacy forms

• Download the ACT advocacy referral form.
• Download the ACT independent visitor referral form.

Young Voices Advocacy Service

Are you aged 5 to 25 and have a disability?
Young Voices can support you to solve a problem or have your say. Call 07786 984123 or email Voice Ability

Participation

Brighter Futures is an activity group for young people in care, who have left care and are receiving a service from Suffolk County Council. 

The Children in Care Council (CiCC) is where looked-after children can give their views, have their say, challenge and even change the way local authorities (the big bosses) run children's services and children's lives.

To get involved with Brighter Futures or the CiCC, contact the Children's Rights Team.

The Promise

The Government has asked all social services teams across the country to make a promise to all young people who it looks after which outlines all the things that children's social care services must promise to do to make sure that you are cared for and helped to achieve at school or college. Read the Suffolk Promise.

Contact Suffolk County Council's Children’s Rights Team

Julia Kett
Children's Rights and Participation Officer
Call: 0800 9171119 (number is free from a landline)

Bridget Warren
Children's Rights and Advocacy Officer
Call: 0800 9171119 (number is free from a landline)

Rose Eastaugh
Participation Worker
Call: 07515 190063

Further information

Rights 4 Me website (for the Children's Rights Director for England

Who Cares Trust website

 

 

 

In this section