We have been delighted to partner with the Parent & Carer Alliance on this year's Communities Programme. PCA is run by and for parents and carers of children with additional needs. A key part of PCA's work is to ensure families are given a real opportunity to have a voice in the decision-making processes which affect their lives and to feel more confident in championing getting the needs of their families. What PCA needed was a detailed, but easy to use Guide, which looks at the legal duties officials in health, care, education and local council have under the Human Rights Act with a focus on wellbeing, choice, family and community connection, dignity and non-discrimination.

The Guide is packed with real life stories from PCA's work, BIHR's work, and legal cases showing how the Human Rights Ac can support family advocacy. The colour-coded Guide comes in 3 parts: (1) Duties, (2) Rights and (3) Actions, with several detailed tools, including a human rights flowchart, action steps for advocacy, initial and escalation template letters, worked through stories, and signposting for more support.

Through their lived experience, PCA know the system is often stacked against families. The maze of officials and services families face is often complex; that's why a comprehensive human rights advocacy guide was needed.