Sanjay's story
Volunteering with Advocacy Matters gave Sanjay his confidence back.
What is Advocacy?
Advocacy is about making sure your voice is heard. An advocate is someone who is entirely on your side, helping you understand your options, speak up, and make sure the people making decisions about your life actually hear what you want. Advocacy Matters provides free, independent advocacy to disabled people and those who need support navigating complex systems.
What is Independent Advocacy?
Advocacy, statutory or non statutory seeks to ensure that people, particularly those who are most at risk in society, disabled people those with mental health issues or dementia are empowered to: Have their voice heard on issues that are important to them. Their rights safeguarded and defended. Have their views and wishes genuinely considered when decisions are being made about their lives. To be included in decision making in the best way for them.
Statutory Advocacy
Statutory advocacy is appropriate when a person is legally entitled to an advocate under legislation because of their circumstances. This might be because individuals are being treated under the Mental Health Act or because the individual has been assessed to lack mental capacity to make a specific decision and a best interests decision is being made under the Mental Capacity Act. These are the models of Statutory Advocacy Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (Mental Capacity Act 2005) Independent Mental Health Advocacy ( Mental Health Act) Independent Care Act Advocacy ( Care Act 2014) NHS Complaints Advocacy
Non-Statutory or Community Advocacy
Non statutory advocacy means there is no legal framework that governs the role unlike IMCA, IMHA or CAA but it is equally important. Non statutory advocacy supports individuals whose issues full outside of the advocacy commissioned under legislation. Non Statutory Advocacy can be delivered by a paid advocate or a volunteer. They will give you one-to-one support to speak up for yourself. Your advocate may be able to help you for longer than other advocates and may help you with more issues. Your advocate will be able to help you write letters, go to meetings with you and support you to complain about things you are not happy with.
Read our Advocacy Stories
More StoriesNames and pictures have been changed to protect the identities of our service users.
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Advocacy Matters... because every voice matters
Read stories from people who've experienced advocacy first-hand, or find out how to make a referral for yourself or someone you know.