ity Protects grant ended in March 2004, the increases in children’s services spending under the grant and under the Children Leaving Care grant will continue to be available to local authorities under mainstream funding. 3. THE 2004 REGULATIONS Section 26A, the Regulations and this guidance come into effect on 1st April 2004. All local authorities with social services responsibilities should ensure that advocacy services are provided for children and young people making or intending to make a complaint under section 24D or section 26 of the Children Act 1989. Guidance on Providing Effective Advocacy Services for Children and Young People Making a Complaint under the Children Act 1989 7 1. Background: Why Legislate for Advocacy Services? INTRODUCTION 1.1 This guidance is issued under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, which requires local authorities with social services functions to act under the general guidance of the Secretary of State. Only in exceptional cases may local circumstances justify a variation. It sets out local authority duties in making arrangements for the provision of advocacy services for children and young people making or intending to make representations under sections 24D and 26 of the Children Act 1989. While it is anticipated that this procedure is for children and young people making or intending to make a complaint, it covers representations which are not complaints. For example, children and young people should be able to secure the support of an advocate in putting forward representations for a change to be made in the service they receive, or the establishment they live in, without this having to be framed first as a specific complaint. 1.2 The guidance is designed for children’s services leads, team managers, compl