About Us

Following a conference in 1995 organised by MIND, MENCAP and The Revolving Doors Agency an informal network was developed to provide support to those involved in Appropriate Adult work.

By 1999 interest in Appropriate Adults and the numbers of schemes coming on line started to take off. This coincided with changes in thinking about the delivery of Youth Offending services. For the last five years membership of and interest in the network has increased rapidly. There are now more than 100 organisations and individuals in membership.

The National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN) is registered as a charity and  a Company limited by guarantee.  It is governed by a Board of Directors/Trustees. It currently has two paid members of staff, a Chief Executive and a National Administrator. NAAN is funded by the Home Office, charitable trusts and membership fees.

At its Annual Conference in March 2004, members were asked to help identify priorities for NAAN over one and three years. Its aims and objectives have therefore been informed by the views, priorities and aspirations of members.

Aims
• To promote and protect the rights and interests of young people and vulnerable adults in police custody
• To support the development and maintenance of effective Appropriate Adult services throughout England and Wales.

Objectives
• Develop and promulgate national standards governing best practice, recruitment and training of volunteers or paid staff, and resourcing of schemes
• Work with the Home Office, Department of Health, Police Service, Youth Justice Board and other stakeholders towards improving policy, guidelines and legislation
• Work with members and stakeholders to develop full coverage of AA services by schemes in membership of NAAN across England and Wales to an agreed level of provision.

In all its work NAAN seeks to address positively issues of diversity and equal opportunities.

Folowing a further consultation with members, a new three year Strategic Plan for 2007-10 was agreed by the NAAN Board in March 2007.