The National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN) was established in 1995 by AA practitioners, together with Mind, Mencap, and the Revolving Doors Agency, to develop and share best practice. We are a small national charity with a focus on England and Wales (we do not cover Scotland which is a separate jurisdiction).

As the national centre of expertise, NAAN's mission is to maximise the effectiveness of AAs. We are a membership organisation, open to organisations and individuals providing AA services in the UK. NAAN itself doesn’t provide appropriate adults but many of our member organisations do.

Our mission is to maximise the effectiveness of the AA safeguard.

We want every child and mentally vulnerable person detained or interviewed as a suspect by the police to:
• Be treated fairly and with respect for their physical and mental welfare;
• Be fully able to exercise their rights and entitlements, and to participate effectively in the process;
• Be safeguarded by an appropriate adult.

NAAN is funded via grants from the Home Office and charitable foundations, membership fees, and earned income from the provision of training, qualifications and events.

Like every charity, NAAN has a Board of Trustees (a group of unpaid non-executive directors) who ensure that the charity is effective in carrying out the purpose for which it was set up. Trustees have responsibility for overseeing the work of the charity, ensuring it is financially stable, well-run and fulfilling its charitable obligations. The day-to-day running is delegated to the executive team.

A recent skills audit revealed a lack of digital skills and confidence on our existing board. We are hoping to plus this gap with our current recruitment, and find somebody who will help us make the most of opportunities embracing digital could bring.