Advocates
Advocates work alongside individual children to make sure their voices are heard and their wishes and feelings are taken into account when decisions are being made which affect them. Each advocacy case is usually short term and there is no expectation of a long term commitment to a particular child. We have a bank of advocates and each one can agree to take on a specific case or not.
For more information please visit our What is an advocate page.
Independent visitors
Independent Visitors make a long term commitment to one child in care. They visit the child once or twice each month and sometimes more often, and build a trusting, supportive relationship and friendship that can sometimes last many years. This can bring life-changing experiences and opportunities to a vulnerable child or young person.
Our Advocates and Independent Visitors are volunteers and they can:
- act as both an advocate and an independent visitor if they wish
- take part in an exciting and stimulating training programme
- provide a highly valued service which can sometimes be life-changing for a vulnerable young person and even for the volunteer themselves
- improve the well-being of vulnerable children, our communities and even themselves
- help to make sure the child’s voice is heard and the child is empowered in such a way that their rights are recognised and acted upon
If you would like to consider becoming a volunteer, please complete a Route1 Volunteer application.
Route1 volunteer training
This is an exciting opportunity, previous experience is not necessary as full training is provided. Route 1 recruits and trains volunteer independent visitors and advocates. Volunteers may choose to do both roles. Route 1 provides a 5 day basic training course which all volunteers are required to complete. All Volunteers are required to attend the full 5 day course.
Basic Training Course content
- Personal Skills and Qualities
- Management and Support
- Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities
- How Children Learn
- Communication
- Risks
- Boundaries
- Confidentiality
- Human Needs
- Brain Development
- Social Exclusion
- Attachment
- Experiences and Consequences
- Values
- Personal Space
- First Aid
- Safeguarding/Child Protection
- Children Looked After/Independent Visitors
- Care Leavers
- IV National Standards
- Your First Meeting
There are various courses throughout the year and are free of charge. All course material is provided. If a volunteer wishes to become an Advocate, they will be required to attend an additional 2 full training days.
Route1 volunteer training schedule 2026
January (9am to 4.30pm) – Venue in Taunton
- Monday, 12 January 2026
- Tuesday, 13 January 2026
- Monday, 19 January 2026
- Tuesday, 20 January 2026
- Monday, 26 January 2026
February to April (6pm to 9.30pm) – Venue in Street
- Wednesday, 25 February 2026
- Wednesday, 4 March 2026
- Wednesday, 11 March 2026
- Wednesday, 18 March 2026
- Wednesday, 25 March 2026
- Wednesday, 1 April 2026
- Wednesday, 8 April 2026
- Wednesday, 15 April 2026
- Wednesday, 22 April 2026
June to July (9am to 4.30pm) – Venue in Shepton Mallet
- Wednesday, 3 June 2026
- Wednesday, 10 June 2026
- Wednesday, 17 June 2026
- Wednesday, 24 June 2026
- Wednesday, 1 July 2026
August (9am to 4.30pm) – Venue to be confirmed
- Wednesday, 5 August 2026
- Thursday, 6 August 2026
- Wednesday, 12 August 2026
- Thursday, 13 August 2026
- Wednesday, 19 August 2026
September to October (9am to 4.30pm) – Venue in Taunton
- Wednesday, 9 September 2026
- Wednesday, 16 September 2026
- Wednesday, 23 September 2026
- Wednesday, 30 September 2026
- Wednesday, 7 October 2026
October to November – Saturdays (9am to 4.30pm) – Venue to be confirmed
- Saturday, 31 October 2026
- Saturday, 7 November 2026
- Saturday, 14 November 2026
- Saturday, 21 November 2026
- Saturday, 28 November 2026