RESOURCES
Information and Key Links
FFLAG (Supporting Families and LGBTQ+ Loved Ones)
https://www.fflag.org.uk/
0300 688 0368
Family Rights Group
https://frg.org.uk/
0808 801 0366
Kinship
https://kinship.org.uk/
The Children’s Commissioner for England
May take up issues on behalf of children and young people in care
Phone: 0800 528 0731
Home – Help at Hand
Coram Children’s Legal Centre
Provides legal advice for looked after children
LawStuff
Contact Us
Become
becomecharity.org.uk
Phone: 0800 023 2033
National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)
nyas.net
Phone: 0808 808 1001
Children’s Rights Alliance For England (CRAE) (cases for children in London only)
Now part of Just for Kids Law, a charity providing legal representation, advocacy, and campaigning.
Phone: 020 3174 2279
Email: Enquiries@justforkidslaw.org
Child Law Advice on Education for Looked After Children
Education for Looked After Children
Advocacy Advice from Child Law Advice
Advocacy – Child Law Advice
Article 39
A small, independent charity that fights for the rights of children in state and privately-run institutions.
Rights to Advocacy – Article 39
If the Local Authority refuses to allow your advocate to attend a child protection meeting, raise your concerns with your Local Safeguarding Children Board or the Local Government Ombudsman.
Relevant Legislation and Guidance:
- Children Act 1989 – gives the right to make complaints to the Local Authority.
- Adoption and Children Act 2002 – Local Authorities must assist with complaints.
- The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations (2021)
- The Advocacy Services and Representations Procedure Regulations 2004
- Effective Advocacy for Looked-After Children (Sept 2023)
- IRO Handbook – Statutory Guidance
- Providing Effective Advocacy Services for Children
- Government guidance on education advocacy
Resources National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)
0808 808 1001
https://www.nyas.net/
Coram Voice advocacy service
0808 800 5792
https://coramvoice.org.uk/
Cerebra – Our Vision is that every family that includes a child with a brain condition will have the chance to discover a better life together.
https://cerebra.org.uk/
Council for Disabled Children UK
https:// councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/
Children’s Commissioner for England – https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/
0800 528 0731 for Children in care
08088 020 008
Children’s rights Children and young people’s Legal Centre England
https://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/
Contact a family (for families with disabled children)
0808 808 3555
www.contact.org.uk
Disabled Facilities Grants
https://www.gov.uk/help-fordisabled-child/home-adaptations
https://www.gov.uk/ disabled-facilities-grants
Disability Law Service
020 7791 9800
Disability Rights
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/
Equality Act 2010: Information and guidance on the Equality Act 2010, including age discrimination and public sector
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance
Information Advice and support services for special educational needs
www.kids.org.uk/sendiass
Shared Lives Shared Lives
https://sharedlivesplus.org.uk
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
www.unicef.org.uk/what-we-do/unconvention-child-rights/
First 4 Adoption
https://www.first4adoption.org.uk/
The Fostering Network
https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/
FosterTalk
https://fostertalk.org/
New Family Social (UK Network for LGBTQ+ adoptive and foster families)
https://www.newfamilysocial.org.uk/
0203 880 2683
Department for Education
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
Department for Work and Pensions
https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits
HM Revenue & Customs
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs
Self-Assessment: 0300 200 3310
Tax Credits: 0345 300 3900
Child Benefits: 0300 200 3100
Self-Employed Income Tax: 0300 200 3300
National Insurance Enquiries (Class 1,2, and 3): 0300 200 3500
National Insurance Enquiries (Class 4): 0300 200 3300
The Human Rights Act
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/human-rights/human-rights-act
The Equality Act
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance
Children Act 1989
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/contents
Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (2010)
www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF
Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 3: Planning Transition to Adulthood for Care Leavers (2010)
Volume 3 Planning Transition to Adulthood PDF
Care Standards Act 2000
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/14/contents
Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/35/contents
Children Act 2004
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/31/contents
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/23/contents
Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/581/contents/made
Independent Review of Determinations (Adoption and Fostering) Regulations 2009
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/395/contents/made
Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010, amended in 2021
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/161/made
Care Leavers (England) Regulations 2010
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2571/made
Sufficiency: Statutory Guidance on Securing Sufficient Accommodation for Looked After Children (2010)
www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/Lookedafterchildren/Page1/DCS
Working Together to Safeguard Children
A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
Short Breaks: Statutory Guidance (2010)
www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF
Promoting the Educational Achievement of Looked After Children (2010)
https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/Childrensworkforce/Pa
Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked After Children
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-the-health-and-wellbeing-of-looked-after-children–2
Children Who Run Away or go Missing From Home or Care (2014)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-who-run-away-or-go-missing-from-home-or-care
Stable Homes Built on Love
Stable Homes Built on Love PDF
National Kinship Care Strategy
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/championing-kinship-care-national-kinship-care-strategy
Special Guardianship Guidance
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-guardianship-guidance
Delegation of Authority & IRO Handbook
Junior ISAs for Looked After Children
Care of Unaccompanied and Trafficked Children
Children and Social Work Act 2017 (Sections 1-7)
Guidance on corporate parenting principles, local offer for care leavers, and extending personal adviser support.
Guide to Supported Accommodation Regulations (PDF)
Promoting Education of Looked After Children
Further information and statutory guidance for local authorities and VSHs.
Citizen’s Advice
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
0800 144 8848
Turn to Us
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
British Dyslexia Association
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/
0333 405 4555
The National Autistic Society
https://www.autism.org.uk/
National Centre for Eating Disorders
https://eating-disorders.org.uk/
0845 838 2040
The Information Commissioners Office
https://ico.org.uk/
Food in Care
https://foodactive.org.uk/what-we-do/resources-and-training/food-in-care/
NSPCC
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
0808 800 5000
LGBTQ+ Youth in Care
https://www.lgbtyouthincare.com/
NSPCC Online Safety
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/
0333 405 4555
UK Safer Internet
https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/foster-carers-and-adoptive-parents
Fostering in a Digital World
https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/about-fostering/being-a-foster-carer/caring-for-a-child/fostering-in-a-digital-world/
Children and Families Act 2014 (including definition of SEN):
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/part/3/enacted
Equality Act 2010 (including definition of disability):
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/6
Information on Disability Discrimination in Education from Child Law Advice:
https://childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/disability-discrimination-in-education/
A SEND Guide for Parents and Carers from the Department for Education:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-guide-for-parents-and-carers
SEND Code of Practice from the Department for Education:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7dcb85ed915d2ac884d995/SEND_Code_of_Practice_January_2015.pdf
A guide for young people aged 16 to 25 raising a SEND complaint from the Department for Education:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-complaints-guide-for-young-people-aged-16-to-25-in-education
Law Stuff (run by Coram’s Legal Centre and can provide advice):
https://lawstuff.org.uk/
The Special Needs Jungle:
https://specialneedsjungle.com/
There are lots of resources available online offering advice on how to provide help and support to children and young people with autism.
National Autistic Society:
www.autism.org.uk
Resources for Autism:
www.resourcesforautism.org.uk
020 8458 3259
Child Autism UK:
www.childautism.org.uk
NHS Autism Support Groups Hub:
www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/Autism-support-groups/LocationSearch/310
Ambitious about Autism:
For autistic children and young people, their parents and carers.
020 8815 5444
Website: www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk
IRM (Independent Review Mechanism):
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/independent-review-mechanism
0113 202 2080
Anti-Bullying Campaign
https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/bullying
Childline
https://www.childline.org.uk/
0800 1111
Missing People’s Helpline
https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/
116 000
National Drugs Helpline
https://www.talktofrank.com/
0300 1236600
Samaritans
https://www.samaritans.org/
116123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Young Minds
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
Parent’s Helpline: 0808 802 5544
Speech and Language UK
https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/
Care Advice Line
https://www.thecareadviceline.org/
Stonewall Young Futures
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/young-futures