What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is providing an individual with a voice to ensure that her/his needs and wishes are made known, views respected, and rights protected.

Advocacy is....	Advocacy is not...
Supportive Non-judgemental Independent Empowering Confidential	Counselling Advice Telling/Lecturing Mentoring

Why are advocates needed?

Vulnerable people experience:	The system
Prejudice and discrimination Isolation Rejection Powerlessness Social devaluation	Makes assumptions Categorises people Can be hard to challenge Does not listen

A person, for whatever reason may not be able to make themselves heard, understood or accepted. They may not for whatever reason be able to communicate their needs or wishes. Nor might they know what options are open to them or understand the decisions being made for them. An advocate can act as a voice for a person, champion their rights and present their needs and wishes. An advocate can also act as enabler and support a person in speaking up for themselves.

Principles of Advocacy

Principles in advocacy are first about the person (partner or client) for whom the advocate makes representations and should address this person's needs, beliefs and values.

This person has the right:

• To be valued
• To know what's happening
• To be involved
• To be understood

As with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, these rights are universal and apply to all regardless of race, gender, religion or culture.

What is Peer Advocacy?

One person advocates for another who has experience or is experiencing similar issues.

What can you expect from your Advocate:

• The advocate will arrange when to meet with the client, and will keep to this agreement
• The advocate is there to help the client say what they want, not to advise or tell the client what to do
• The advocate will keep the client informed of progress through regular contact or at other agreed times
• The advocate will not tell anyone anything about the client unless permission is given and/or the client is at risk to themselves or to others or an illegal offence is being committed
• The advocate works as an independent, representing only the needs and wishes of the client
• The client will be aware of the complaints procedure should they need to make a complaint
• Policies and procedures covering Confidentiality, Whistle Blowing, Equal Opportunities, Complaints, Safeguarding, Health & Safety etc are available

The Rights of the Person

Advocacy is based on the belief that everyone has certain rights as an individual. Some of these are listed below:

• A person has the right to express their own opinions and ideas
• A person has the right to have his/her opinions and ideas listened to and to be treated as an equal human being
• A person has the right to say what they feel
• A person has the right to say 'yes' or 'no' without feeling guilty or selfish
• A person has the right to be wrong and make mistakes
• A person has the right to change their mind
• A person has the right not to understand and ask for more information
• A person has the right to say what they want and what they need
• A person has the right not to feel responsible for other people's problems
• A person has the right not to feel dependent on others for approval