Allison Piggott

Barnardo’s is the largest national children’s charity in the UK. We’ve always been driven by supporting children, young people and families who need us because we know that when you change a childhood, you change a life. When life gets tough or it feels like there’s nowhere to turn, we’re here. We make sure children and young people feel safer, happier, healthier and more hopeful, by directly supporting them and their families with specialist services, raising awareness and campaigning to change things for the better. The Cornwall, Devon and Chanel Islands Advocacy Services empower children and young people by giving them a voice, so their wishes and feelings are heard and considered when decisions are being made about their lives. Advocacy is available to all vulnerable children and young people where they are involved in the child protection process, are children in care, asylum seeking children or disabled. This is not an exhaustive list. Our Volunteer Befrienders/Independent Visitor develop long term relationships with a child or young person in care, sharing fun and motivational experiences together. They are separate and independent from the Local Authority. They will be matched with a child or young person and arrange to meet up with them - activities could include going to the cinema, the park, going for walks, a bike ride or coffee. Sometimes our Independent Visitors can be the one stable adult in a child or young persons' life while other relationships can come or go.