Advice & Advocacy

Advocacy is a way of providing practical support, enabling people to make informed choices, to represent themselves and to get the service that they need. Advocacy promotes social inclusion and justice and helps to redress the power in balance between service users and providers.

Advocacy in all its forms seeks to ensure that people, particularly those who are most vulnerable in society, are able to:

• Have their voice heard on issues that are important to them.
• Defend and safeguard their rights.
• Have their views and wishes genuinely considered when decisions are being made about their lives.

Advocacy is a process of supporting and enabling people to:

• Express their views and concerns.
• Access information and services.
• Defend and promote their rights and responsibilities.
• Explore choices and options

An advocate is someone who provides advocacy support when you need it. An advocate might help you access information you need or go with you to meetings or interviews, in a supportive role. You may want your advocate to write letters on your behalf, or speak for you in situations where you don’t feel able to speak for yourself.

You may wish to contact your local organisation to find out if they can provide you with an advocacy or can advise you where to go. 

If you live in Bristol, please contact WECIL on 0117 947 9922 or email disabledpeopleshelpline@WECIL.co.uk .