Community Advocacy

Community Advocacy

Free, independent and confidential support for adults who are vulnerable or disadvantaged.

Support is provided by a skilled and experienced team of volunteer advocates, who work alongside individuals in a supportive and empowering partnership.

A Community Advocate may support you in a variety of ways. They may help you to make a complaint about a service or situation you are unhappy with, such as a housing or benefits issue. They may help a vulnerable adult to live independently, by dealing with issues with utility providers or accessing the right support to help with setting up a bank account and managing finances.

If you can answer yes to the following questions, then a Community Advocate may be a good option for you:

• Do you find it difficult to get your views across to other people?
  
  
• Does it feel like people are making decisions about you, but not in consultation with you?
  
  
• Does it feel difficult to speak and say how you feel in meetings or on phone calls?
  
  
• Is it difficult to consider options and make decisions, because you are under stress or in difficult circumstances?

An advocate does not provide legal or specialist advice, but will help to ensure:

• Your voice and views are heard
  
  
• You have access to information and professional advice and guidance
  
  
• You have support to consider options, make decisions and act on information and advice
  
  
• You are afforded fair and equal treatment

To access the service or for more information, please call our Access Hub on 01905 27525 or email accesshub@onside-advocacy.org.uk.