A helping hand (From Penarth Times)

A helping hand

A NEW service has been launched by the Vale of Glamorgan Council to support young people who are away from their families.

The Vale Advocacy and Independent Visitor Project, which trains volunteers to befriend children in care, was launched at Barry Memorial Hall recently.

The launch was attended by guests including Vale of Glamorgan AM and Welsh Health Minister Jane Hutt, and Assistant Children's Commissioner Rhian Davies.

The event aimed to raise awareness of the new Advocacy Service and the need to recruit volunteers who will form relationships with looked after children who have little or no contact with their families.

The Vale Advocacy and Independent Visitor Project is being commissioned by the Vale of Glamorgan Council and run by children's charity Spurgeons.

Spurgeons is a well-established national organisation with more than 100 projects of this kind up and running across the UK.

The Advocacy project in the Vale of Glamorgan is the first in Wales and will see the creation of a new regional office and the appointment of a new project manager who will recruit and train volunteers.

Volunteers will then befriend and support children and young people aged between seven and 24, who are either in care, are going through the child protection process, are care leavers or are children in need.

Amanda Green, Children's Complaints Officer for the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: "Advocacy helps children and young people by making sure their voices are heard and their wishes are respected.

"Volunteers will provide a valuable link between looked after children and the wider community and will help ensure that the views of young people are conveyed to decision makers."

As part of the launch event for the Vale Advocacy and Independent Visitor Project, the Vale of Glamorgan Council also launched a new freephone number for children and young people.