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What we do

NAAN is a charity working to create a fairer justice system for children and vulnerable adults through an effective appropriate adult safeguard. 

We are a membership organisation, open to organisations and individuals.

We don't provide appropriate adults but many of our member organisations do.

Our vision

Every child and vulnerable adult detained or questioned as a suspect is treated fairly with respect for their physical and mental welfare, can exercise their legal rights and entitlements, and can participate effectively.

Our mission

To maximise the effectiveness of appropriate adults as a safeguard for children and vulnerable people by strengthening local provision, informing the public, and contributing to a fairer system.

Our strategic objectives

1. Strengthened local provision

We will strengthen local community organised schemes to deliver more effective, efficient, consistent and sustainable appropriate adult support for children and vulnerable people.

2. Informed children, vulnerable people and supporters

We will empower children, vulnerable people, parents, family, friends and professionals to make well informed choices and increase the effectiveness of familial and other non-scheme appropriate adults.

3. A fairer system

We will work with others to make the wider system of rights and safeguards work in a fairer way for children and vulnerable people.

4. Increased impact

We will make the charity more effective, efficient and sustainable.

Our values

Justice

We believe in a fair justice system for all, with the presumption of innocence and the right to participate effectively in proceedings. 

Accessibility

Just as we demand an accessible justice system, we strive to achieve accessibility in our own work, from design to delivery.  

Equity

We recognise that intersectional structural disadvantage affects our society, justice system and organisation. We know that fair outcomes require different inputs for different needs and, ultimately, the removal of causes of inequity.

Diversity

We recognise and embrace the significant diversity in our society in order to better achieve our objectives.

Independence

We act with independence and assert and protect the independence of appropriate adults.

Humanity

Individuals are at the heart of what we do. Every individual we engage with is a human-being and deserves respect and dignity. Personal connection and relationships matter to us. 

How we work

Leadership

We lead change in the interests of justice for children and vulnerable people, focusing on what could be, while recognising how things are.

Lived experience

We will aim to put lived experience at the heart of our work, through our partnerships with others and our own structures and activities.

Collaboration

We recognise our own limits and value the knowledge, expertise, experience and roles of others including AAs, local leaders and people with lived experience. We will seek effective partnerships with organisations that have complementary networks and capabilities.

Evidence

We underpin our work with the best evidence currently available and encourage further development of the evidence base.

Innovation

We innovate to meet existing and evolving needs. We will use the power of technology to widen our audience and deepen our impact.

Connection

We create and strengthen connections between practice, policy and research. We will connect our membership to each other and to other networks.

What we do

Our history

NAAN was established as a membership network in 1995 by frontline practitioners, Mind, Mencap and Revolving Doors Agency, to develop and share best practice in the AA role.

We registered as a charity in 2004.

Our role

With around 100 member organisations, we provide an independent centre of expertise, innovation and infrastructure support.

We work across policy, commissioning, provision and accountability to increase the effectiveness of the AAs that safeguard children and vulnerable adults

Who we serve

People arrested and/or interviewed by police who are:

  • Children and young people (aged 10 to 17) 

  • Adults who are mentally vulnerable (including but not exclusively; mental health, learning disabilities and difficulties, autistic spectrum disorders, severe dyslexia)  

Our activities

  • Raising awareness

  • Setting national standards

  • Developing guidance

  • Supporting volunteering

  • Informing parents and carers

  • Providing training

  • Conducting research

  • Informing policy

Who we work with

  • Appropriate adults (parents, relatives, carers and support workers; professionals; community volunteers)

  • Appropriate adult schemes (local authorities, private sector, charities)

  • Appropriate adult commissioners and funders (both current and potential)

  • Influencers including reformers, academics, media and service users

  • Policy makers including civil servants and politicians.

Our memberships

NAAN is a member of:

Where we work

NAAN supports the role of the appropriate adult as constituted under the law in England and Wales.

NAAN includes associate members from outside England and Wales (such as Northern Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey).

NAAN does not cover the AA role in Scotland as defined under Scots Law. 

Our legal status

Initiated as an informal practitioner network, the National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN) became a registered charity on 5th July 2004 and is a company limited by guarantee. 

Our funding

NAAN is currently funded via:

  • Membership fees

  • Earned income from the provision of training

  • Home Office grant funding

  • Grants from charitable trusts and foundations

Please see our annual reports for more funding information

Our history

NAAN co-founder, Ian Blackie was there at the very begining. He's been a trustee, Chair, and remains a committed member today. 

Here he remembers how it all began...

1. The beginning

"In 1994 the Revolving Doors Agency, now known as Revolving Doors invited MENCAP, Mind and me, to meet at their offices to discuss appropriate adult issues.

Greenwich, where I worked as an Emergency Duty Social Worker had been one of the first areas to set up a volunteer scheme for vulnerable adults. As a result of this we were receiving more and more calls from other authorities requesting advice on how to start and run a service".

2. Basic discussions

"The discussions we had were at a basic level. Young people were generally supported by their friends, family and social workers. Adults however were not well supported and were often not identified as vulnerable. I remember one senior police officer saying “we don’t want to get bogged down in all this PACE nonsense, lets just get on with it”. One London police station regularly used the manager of the Kebab shop opposite as an AA and did a good discount on 'take aways' for police officers".

3. The conference

"As the request for help and advice increased, we decided to take a risk with virtually no funding to organise a conference in 1995. In spite of a national rail strike, the conference was attended by 140 people.

A mandate was given to the organisers to set up a national forum. This was to organise national meetings to enable schemes and organisations to discuss matters of common interest and act as a voice for appropriate adults".

4. NAAN is born

"With a small profit from the conference and the good will of many people and agencies these ad hoc meetings continued.

It was recognised that training and standards needed to be developed. So in 1997 funding was sought and NAAN was born.

Objectives were set for the steering committee and part time co-ordinator".

5. Our first objectives

  1. Independent charitable status.
  2. Develop and promote national standards of national training and performance.
  3. Further develop and maintain links with other organisations in the criminal justice system.
  4. Develop guidelines in respect of the differing needs of juveniles and vulnerable adults.
  5. Facilitate communication between members of the Network.
  6. Organise regular meetings/conferences for members.

Looking back

Almost 20 years later, NAAN has developed in many ways. But it also remains true to its founders' objectives. 
  • Charitable status was achieved in 2004
  • We have comprehensive , evidence-based, approved, national standards.
  • We have strong links including with the Home Office, MoJ, NPCC, CPS, ADASS, YJB, civil society and academics.
  • Our national training pack reflects the needs of children and adults, and an e-learning product is on the way. 
  • Members meet regularly, online and in person, with a weekly newsletter.
  • We run regular online events.