Advocacy
We know how frustrating it can be when others aren't listening to you and it can be particularly difficult to deal with when you need to communicate regularly with health professionals. The role of an advocate depends on your situation and the support you want, but they are there to support whatever your needs are as an independent person – they will never pressure you into making decisions you are not comfortable with. An advocate’s job is to help you to speak up, get your views heard and your needs properly met.
What does an Advocate do?
An advocate will:
- Listen to your views and concerns
- Help you understand your rights and explore your options
- Provide information to help you make informed decisions
- Support you to contact relevant people/contact them on your behalf
- Accompany you to meetings or appointments
An advocate will not:
- Give you their personal opinions
- Solve all of your problems for you
- Force you to make decisions
- Be judgemental about you or your situation
POhWER provides advocacy for deprivation of liberty (DOLs) safeguards and provides independent mental capacity advocacy. They also provide some community advocacy in Birmingham.
Independent Advocacy has the vision to “Empower people to lead fulfilling lives” by reducing social isolation, empowering people to stand up for their rights and improving their self-esteem. They help communities to build supportive networks and friendships, offer training, workshops as well as a range of services covering Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire.
Advocacy Matters is a specialist advocacy service who provides independent advocacy support in Birmingham and Walsall. Some of their focus includes supporting with end of life, neurological disorders, domestic violence, learning disabilities, autism and dementia.
Find out more about Advocacy Matters
People in Partnership provides independent advocacy support and training for people with a disability. They work inclusively with all disabled people whether it be a learning or physical disability, autism, epilepsy and sensory disabilities.
CASBA (Citizen Advocacy South Birmingham Area) is an independent organisation that provides specialist Advocacy for adults with learning disabilities across South Birmingham (Edgbaston and Northfield constituencies).