AdvoCard offers independent individual advocacy to various groups in Edinburgh, including individuals aged 16 and over who identify as having a mental health condition, inpatients of all ages at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital or CAMHS, prisoners at HMP Edinburgh, individuals affected by problematic substance use, and those impacted by Welfare Reform or benefit changes due to their mental health or substance use challenges.
Website: www.advocard.org.uk
CAPS Independent Advocacy provides independent individual advocacy in East Lothian and Midlothian for people who use, or have used, mental health services, and people who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community and people who need support to have their voice heard because of drug or alcohol use. They also provide individual advocacy to children in East Lothian or Midlothian who are experiencing the Children’s Hearings system.
CAPS runs collective advocacy groups for people in East Lothian, Midlothian and Edinburgh who use, or have used, mental health services and another for Veterans. In Edinburgh there is an LGBTQIA+ collective advocacy group and one for people from minority ethnic backgrounds. They also facilitate several experience-led advocacy projects, relating to mental health across Lothian.
EARS provide independent advocacy to the following:
West Lothian
- Older people (aged 65+)
- Adults with physical disability or acquired brain injury
- Stroke survivors
- Adults with a learning disability and/or are on the Autism Spectrum
Midlothian
- Older people (aged 65+)
- Adults with physical disability or acquired brain injury
- Stroke survivors
East Lothian
- Older people (aged 65+)
- Adults with a physical disability or acquired brain injury
- Stroke survivors
Edinburgh
- Stroke survivors
Telephone – 01506 205840 or email info@ears-advocacy.org.uk
The Mental Health Advocacy Project provide independent advocacy for adults resident and/or receiving treatment in West Lothian, aged 18 to 65, in the following groups.
Unpaid Carers advocacy (by agreement with West Lothian Council)
People who are impacted by their mental ill health
People who are impacted by their problematic substance use
Prisoners in HMP Addiewell
Individuals detained under the Mental Health Act
Collective advocacy for mental health service users
Website: www.mhapwl.org
Partners in Advocacy provide individual independent advocacy for adults with learning disabilities in Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian. They also provide individual independent advocacy for specific adult carer issues, older people over 65 and adults with physical disabilities in Edinburgh.
www.partnersinadvocacy.org.uk
People First (Scotland)
People First (Scotland) is the National Disabled People’s Organisation of adults with a Learning Disability in Scotland. Members in local Edinburgh groups meet to share; experience; news and to plan development on issues that affect our lives as citizens and humans.
The Royal Edinburgh Hospital Patient’s Council offer independent collective (group) advocacy within the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for all in-patients and former patients.
They also offer community and hospital based collective advocacy for people impacted by their problematic substance use
www.rehpatientscouncil.org.uk
For information about independent Advocacy in other areas please click here.