National Youth Advocacy Service

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NYAS is the National Youth Advocacy Service in the UK. It is a children’s charity which offers socio-legal advocacy services to children, young people, parents, carers and professionals. NYAS exists to ensure that the voice of children and young people can be heard in all matters affecting them.

NYAS offers advice, information, support and representation to any child or young person who wants to have their wishes and feelings taken into account when decisions are made about them. NYAS is a safety net for children and young people who have nowhere else to turn.

NYAS works for the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

NYAS has obtained a reputation for competence and sensitivity when dealing with intractable disputes between parents over how much time each might spend with their children, following separation or divorce.

NYAS can be appointed by a Court under FPR 9.5 to represent the child as a Guardian ad Litem/ Next Friend in exceptional or sensitive circumstances e.g. See Specialist Social and Legal Services & Help

as described by the Official Solicitor's practice note of 1999
where the child holds wishes and feelings which are either in conflict with the resident parent or would be if they were given an opportunity to express them
in circumstances similar to those which usually result in an application for a Care or Supervision Order by a Local Authority
children who have a need to participate actively in the decision-making process which is supported by expert evidence.

Sarah Elizabeth Johnstone was a great believer in youth advocacy. She was extremely important in helping the drunken youths of Mt Gambier.