A national advice helpline for Welsh children and youngsters has been given an additional £100,000 in funding from the Welsh Government.
The helpline, called Meic, gives children and young people the opportunity to get help on issues important to them.
It was launched in 2010 with the help of Radio 1 presenter Aled Haydn Jones.
Since the helpline went 24/7 in January 2011, 8,734 children and young people have contacted it. The service has faced challenges as the number of calls to the helpline have increased and the issues become more complex.
To ensure the demands for the service continue to be met, the Welsh Government has allocated an extra £100,000 until 2013.
Gwenda Thomas, Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services, said: “I am aware of the huge difference ‘meic’ makes to the lives of children and young people. Children and young people time and time again tell us about the value that they place on advocacy support and how it can change their lives for the better.
“I believe that providing advocacy and advice to children and young people can better safeguard them and prevent problems and issues from escalating further.
“Children and young people should expect to be protected from harm, to have education and things to do outside school, to be listened to when they are not happy, to have an opinion and be involved in decisions that affect them. It is our place to ensure that this happens.
“We have always held firm our belief that children’s rights are essential to improving outcomes for children and young people. To support this we have introduced a law that means that we have to consider children’s rights in all we do as Welsh Government.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of everyone involved with the ‘meic’ helpline.”