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What is Advocacy?. What is Advocacy?. Advocacy at its simplest means speaking up – on ones own behalf or on behalf of others. It can be an important means by which people’s voices can be heard and their views and wishes made known.
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What is Advocacy? • Advocacy at its simplest means speaking up – on ones own behalf or on behalf of others • It can be an important means by which people’s voices can be heard and their views and wishes made known • It can enable people to gain access to information, to be well informed about their rights and to make complaints
What is Advocacy? • The aim is to ensure that minority groups in society, who are frequently disadvantaged, have a means to know about, and gain, the life opportunities that are equal to the majority population. • Advocacy is a process or spectrum of several activities that seeks to challenge the social exclusion experienced by many, that often leads to their loss of rights, and in some situations, to abuse.
What is Advocacy? • Advocacy is taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services they need. • Advocacy promotes social inclusion, equality and social justice. • Advocacy aims to achieve a more equal and just society for people who are disregarded and at risk of social exclusion.
Who can be an Advocate? Advocacy is helping a person to be heard. Most people can act as advocates and use advocacy daily…. • parents listen to the needs and wishes of their children, when choosing a school for example; • friends stand by each other and offer support. This is often referred to as “informal” advocacy and is a part of everyday life- we all do it, we all receive it, we all have the skills for it.
Who can be an Advocate? Sometimes more formal methods of advocacy are required and this is often referred to as Independent advocacy. Advocacy of this type is a tool that can be used in a variety of ways when an advocate speaks for and with people who are not being heard, helping them to express their own views and make their own decisions.
Characteristics of Advocacy Advocacy is founded on the belief that all people have value and rights. • The individual advocate must be independent of any service provision. • The one to one relationship between the advocate and the ‘Partner’. • The commitment and loyalty of the advocate must be to the ‘Partner’.
Types/Styles of Advocacy • Citizen Advocacy Based on the 1960’s civil rights movement in the USA, it involves an unpaid, trained citizen volunteer, who, with the support of an independent organisation represents the interests of the client/service user
Types/Styles of Advocacy • Peer Advocacy When former or current service users act as advocates. When the Advocate and the Advocacy Partner share similar experiences or environments
Types/Styles of Advocacy • Self Advocacy Speaking up for yourself! A group of service users address common issues and concerns and make representations to management, for example a “Patients Council” within a hospital
Types/Styles of Advocacy • Sessional Advocacy This involves Advocacy provided by paid workers employed by an independent organisation. Is often referred to as Crisis, Lay, Issue based or Case Advocacy. (Professional Advocacy)
Types/Styles of Advocacy • Legal Advocacy This relates specifically to legal advice and representation from a solicitor or barrister • Statutory Advocacy • IMCA, IMHA- right to representation relating • Particular laws.
