The Children and Young People Committee has published its report on advocacy services for children and young people in Wales.

The report calls for an independent advocacy service for young people to be established as soon as possible. It recommends that a centrally funded national advocacy unit be established, with responsibility for commissioning independent advocacy services in local areas. Children and young people should be involved when determining which advocacy providers should be awarded contracts for local areas.

The committee found that four main themes emerged during the inquiry:

• the need for independent advocacy;
• the need for skilled advocates;
• the need for accessible advocacy
• the need for continuity of service

The report is available to download from the National Assembly for Wales website.