Advocacy is a way of supporting people to ensure they have their voice heard and their views and wishes are listened to.
ONSIDE provide skilled and trained advocates to offer practical and proactive guidance and support to ensure people facing disadvantage are treated fairly as citizens, have equal rights within all aspects of their lives and have access to the right services.
An advocate is a person who speaks up for you, acts on your behalf and, where required, puts forward your case for you .
They are:
- independent of Social Services and the NHS
- not a member of your family or one of your friends
An advocate’s role includes arguing your case when you need them to, and making sure health and social care services follow the correct procedures.
They are independent, so they represent your wishes without giving their personal opinion and without representing the views of the NHS or local authority.
An advocate might help you get information or go with you to meetings or interviews to support you.
Your advocate can also write letters on your behalf, or speak for you in situations where you don’t feel able to speak for yourself.
Find an Advocate
Advocacy Services help people – particularly the most vulnerable in society – to:
- access information and services
- be involved in decisions about their lives
- explore choices and options
- defend and promote their rights and responsibilities
- speak out about issues that matter to them