Route1 Advocacy is a service that supports children and young people in care, and those receiving a service from Children’s Social Care. They do this by matching volunteers with young people as either short term Advocates, or longer-term Independent Visitors.

What is the role of a Route1 Advocate?
Advocates can speak up for the young person, give advice, make them aware of their rights, listen to them and represent their views, wishes and feelings. Their aim is to empower a young person by supporting them to have their say. There is a bank of advocates and each one can agree to take on a specific case or not.

What is the role of an Independent Visitor?
Unlike Advocacy, Independent Visitors befriend and spend time with a child or young person who is in the care of the Local Authority. This role emphasises building a long-term relationship with one child or young person (visiting once or twice each month). undertaking a variety of activities together, depending on their interests and the age of the young person.

Both of these roles come with training to allow you to make a significant difference to the person you support. And we have a training course in August specifically for those who work term-time – please get in touch to find out more.

A recent trainee said “The Route 1 team have been very supportive throughout this experience and are a very cohesive team focused on the young people…Lots of people say ‘we put the child first’ and they genuinely believe that they do; however, Route1 is the only organisation who I believe. Thank you.”

Contact us on 01749 822801, email route1advocacy@somerset.gov.uk. More information at www.route1advocacy.co.uk.