Our Vision is that CROA improves access to and promotes the human rights of Children & Young People in need through campaigning, training & policy support for Children's Rights Officers & Advocates
Our National Development Project is based in our office in Belper in Derbyshire with the Membership Services Manager. The project co-ordinates the services we offer to our members and responds to the needs of our membership in terms of developing resources, campaigning on children’s rights issues and providing a link between children, advocates and senior Government officials as well as the Children’s Commissioners for England and Wales.
If you have a query about children’s rights or advocacy then please contact:
Cheryl Matheson-Snell, Membership Services Manager info@croa.org.uk
Training Development Officer: Jane Menday was appointed on the 1st November 2008. Jane leads on developing, promoting, coordinating and monitoring the delivery of CROA's children's rights, participation and advocacy training courses and workshops. jane@croa.org.uk
Campaigns and Policy Officer: Kamna Dev was appointed on 26th January 2009. Kamna leads on all CROA's Campaigns and is responsbile for implementing some of the key legislative initiatives associated with Children's Rights. kamna@croa.org.uk
CROA is a membership organisation that supports professionals working within the field of Children's Rights.
CROA provides continued support to its Members by hosting regular Seminars on current issues that professionals face within their work. These Seminars are held monthly across the Country.
CROA holds a two day annual Conference in October. This provides an opportunity for professionals to share good practice, keep informed of any changes to legislation and attend workshops on various topics
CROA works closely with The Children's Legal Centre and has access to a Legal Helpline
TRAINING:
CROA has a training team that consists of 14 young people and 11 adults. CROA's taught course (Total Respect) is delivered by a team of at least 3 trainers: 1 Lead Trainer and 2 young trainers who may have experience of receiving care from their Local Authority.
Total Respect was originally launched by CROA in 2000 in conjunction with the Department of Health. Since then many organisations in England and Wales have successfully used the training pack to introduce the concepts of listening and participation within their Agencies.
Total Respect has been delivered to over 130 people in 2007/08 and has attracted both Local and National Awards, including the Pavillion Training Award and TOPSS National Training Accolades.
Full details of the Total Respect course can be found in the 'Publications' page along with CROA's other resources and training packs that are available.
Accreditation: CROA offer accreditation for young people who are delivering training to adults on children’s rights and participation. The course is called “Pioneers for Children’s Rights” and results in 3 Units at level 2 through the Open College Network for the young people who submit their work. We have our own internal moderator and support service for young people and the adults who are working with them. There are two routes for young people to take, either having been on the CROA training for trainers course or having been on a local training for trainers course that has been verified for content by our internal moderator. For more information please contact Jane Menday (contact details above).
CROA is committed to the full implementation of the UNCRC (please see UNCRC document attached)