National Advocacy Information, Advice and Safety Net Service

Department for Education
1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029

A national multi-channel service providing child-friendly information on advocacy rights, advice and signposting to local provision, plus a Safety Net advocacy function when local services are unavailable, delayed, inaccessible or denied. Includes maintaining service directories, case management and reporting systems, and providing intelligence on demand, waiting times and barriers. An opt-out advocacy pilot for children in residential care is under consideration, with its scope and scale still to be developed.

Open the official notice

Closed· 29 September 2026

Estimated value: £540k; Buyer estimate
Published: 23 September 2026
Deadline: 29 September 2026; Closed
Contract length: 24 months; Ends 31 March 2029

What the contract covers

Services contract

Provision of national child advocacy information, advice, helpline and safety net services for children in care and other vulnerable young people.

Clear, child-friendly information on advocacy rights
A national multi-channel information, advice and signposting service
A Safety Net advocacy function where local advocacy provision is unavailable, unreasonably delayed, inaccessible or denied
Maintain accurate information on advocacy provision across England and support children and young people to access appropriate local services
Provide national intelligence to the Department on advocacy demand, access, waiting times, barriers to provision and emerging themes
Maintain appropriate digital, telephony, case management and reporting systems

Terms and requirements

Contract type: Services contract
Initial term: 24 months
Extensions: 12 months
Longest it can run: 36 months
Contract dates: 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029
Certifications asked for: None stated
Lots: 1
Suitable for SMEs: Yes
Suitable for charities and social enterprises: Yes
Category: Services
CPV codes: 85311300, 85312300, 85320000, 85321000

Services in this tender

Children's advocacy and independent visitorsMain service£375k typicalNational advocacy helpline and safety net advocacy for looked after children and care leavers

Lifecycle

Published
23 September 2026
Deadline for bidsClosed
29 September 2026
Contract awardedUsually published within a few months
Contract starts
1 April 2027

The buyer

Department for Education

Type: Locked
Contracts, 24 months: Locked
Recorded value: Locked
Typical contract: Locked

Buys most

Contact details

Email: Locked
Address: Locked

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Cite this tender

Link: https://bidskim.com/tender/3870012/national-advocacy-information-advice-and-safety-net-service
Buyer reference: Not published
Open contracting ID: ocds-h6vhtk-077808
Last checked: 5 November 2026

Department for Education. National Advocacy Information, Advice and Safety Net Service. Tender, 23 September 2026. BidSkim, https://bidskim.com/tender/3870012/national-advocacy-information-advice-and-safety-net-service (accessed 5 November 2026).