VOLUNTEERS are needed to stand up for the borough's vulnerable children.

Bury Advocacy Service needs people to serve as advocates. They will be expected to visit a children's home, encourage a young person's rights, take up matters on their behalf and consult with young people about specific issues they raise.

Independent Visitors are also needed to befriend, advise and visit young people who don't have much contact from parents or who may be in foster care or one of the borough's three children's homes.

Volunteer visitors will be selected and trained by Spurgeon's Child Care, which is independent of both the children's home or placement where the young person lives and of Bury Social Services.

If you are aged 18 or over and would like to be a volunteer call project co-ordinator Jane Hayes on 253 6339.