MEIC Information, Assistance and Advice Helpline

Tender description

Provision of a national information, assistance and advice service for children and young people for up to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. It will continue to operate under the recognised brand of MEIC. Lot 1: MEIC is a Welsh Government funded confidential, anonymous, and free bilingual helpline service for children and young people up to the age of 25 in Wales providing information, useful advice and support need and are open 8am - midnight, 7 days a week, by phone, SMS text and instant messaging. It provides confidential support empowering children and young people to get their voices heard on what matters to them. The telephone line currently operates between 8am and 12 midnight. The service provides invaluable support to children and young people in Wales which has been in even greater need during the pandemic, particularly during lockdown periods when children and young people were not able to access school, social clubs and the support of friends and wider support mechanisms outside of their home. The MEIC service is specific to Wales only and therefore has been an additional provision to offer advocacy, advice and support via online support, text and telephone. The service is also extended to professionals and to the families and carers of children and young people in Wales to assist them in providing direct support to children and young people.