Independent Advocacy is a way to help people have a stronger voice and to have as much control as possible over their own lives.
Why might you want Independent Advocacy?
Many people sometimes feel that they would like support to make sure their views are heard – especially when it comes to important decisions about them and their future. Independent Advocacy can help make sure your views and opinions are heard.
What is ‘Independent’ Advocacy?
Independent Advocacy is “independent” because Independent Advocacy organisations only provide advocacy – they do not do anything else.
Independent advocates and advocacy groups do not work for hospitals, social work services or any voluntary organisations that provide social care or support services.
You can read more about the definition of independent advocacy here on the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance website.
Independent Advocacy is:
- Standing up for and sticking by a person or group and taking their side.
- Listening to someone and hearing their point of view.
- Helping people to feel valued.
- Understanding people’s situations and what may be stopping them from getting what they want or need.
- Offering the person support to tell other people what they want or need, or introducing them to others who may be able to help.
- Helping people to know and understand what choices they have and what the consequences of these choices might be.
- Standing alongside people who are marginalised in our society
- Speaking on behalf of people if they are unable to do so themselves
- Enabling a person to have control over their life but taking up issues on their behalf if they want you to.
- A process of working towards natural justice
Independent Advocacy is not:
- Providing general advice.
- Making decisions for someone.
- Help filling in forms.
- Mediation.
- Counselling.
- Befriending.
- Care and support work.
- Consultation.
- Telling or advising someone what you think they should do.
- Solving all someone’s problems for them.
- Speaking for people when they are able to do it for themselves.
- Agreeing with everything a person says and doing anything a person asks you to do.
Who can access Independent Advocacy in Lothian?
At the moment there are organisations in Lothian providing Independent Advocacy to children and young people, older people, people in prisons, carers, people using mental health services, people with learning disabilities and people with physical disabilities.
Where can I get Independent Advocacy?
For more information on Independent Advocacy Organisations in the Lothians, what they do and how to get in touch please click on ‘Where can I get Independent Advocacy?’ above.