Advocacy at its simplest is one person speaking up for another.

Advocacy is not something new or specific to people with learning disabilities or mental ill health.  It is an everyday activity that most people will experience regularly…it’s just that we don’t call it advocacy.

For example-

• A friend accompanies you when you return a faulty product to a supermarket.
• A daughter attends a GP appointment with her elderly mother who is hard of hearing.
• A work colleague helps you to write a letter appealing a parking ticket.

However for some people with mental ill health or a physical or learning disability there is no one  to offer help and take on this role. Many people with disabilities or long term conditions might find it harder to speak up for themselves.

There can be many reasons for this. For some people it might be because they have difficulties with understanding and communication. For others it might be because they are not used to being asked about their views. For others it because they have no one else in their lives who might take on this role.

For some people it means dealing with Social Work or Health interventions due to ill health, incapacity or because of Adult protection concerns.

Advocacy helps to rebalance this by standing by a person, taking their side and helping them to put their views across.

Sometimes people with disabilities or long term health conditions feel that they are ignored, that their views are not sought or that they are not treated fairly.

Advocates stand up for people, uphold rights and challenge injustice.