Independent Advocacy Service (Children)

The North Lanarkshire Council is seeking to procure an Independent Advocacy Service for Children through an open procedure. The service aims to ensure that children and young people, aged 0 to 26, have their voices heard and their rights safeguarded during important decision-making processes. This procurement falls under the services category, specifically under the CPV code 85312300.

The project is located in Motherwell, in the UKM84 region. Initially, the tender period was set to end on 28th July 2025, but it was later amended to conclude on 13th August 2025. The procurement stage recently saw an award status change to "cancelled" due to business risks identified by Police Scotland.

Despite the cancellation, the council remains active as a central purchasing body and is likely to seek similar engagements in the future to address the same needs. This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in social services and child advocacy to establish a foothold in a critical public sector domain. Companies with expertise in children’s advocacy, safeguarding, or community-based services would be particularly well-suited to compete.

The procurement's emphasis on ensuring children's voices are prioritised aligns with the broader goals of companies committed to social impact. Although the current award process has been discontinued due to the identification of high-risk factors, this signals an ongoing need and opportunity for adjustments and enhancements in proposal submissions. Businesses capable of demonstrating robust measures to counteract serious organised crime risks would be in an advantageous position for future procurement attempts.

Additionally, involvement in such tenders enhances brand credibility and positions firms at the forefront of ethical and socially responsible service delivery.