Lothian Independent Advocacy Awareness Week

9-15th December 2013.

Independent Advocacy

IndependentAdvocacyisawaytohelppeoplehavemoreinfluenceandasmuchcontrolaspossibleovertheirownlives.

Thereare lotsoforganisationsinLothianthatprovideIndependentAdvocacy,indifferentwaysandfordifferentgroups ofpeople.ThisleafletexplainswhatIndependentAdvocacyisandlists organisationsinLothianwhoprovide IndependentAdvocacythatyoucan getintouchwith.

WhatisIndependent Advocacy?

IndependentAdvocacyis"independent"becauseIndependentAdvocacyorganisationsonlyprovideadvocacytheydonotdoanythingelse.Independentadvocates andadvocacygroupsdonot workforhospitals,socialworkservicesoranyvoluntaryorganisationsthatprovidesocialcareorsupportservices.

IndividualIndependentAdvocacyisprovidedonetoonebyadvocacy workers,whocanbepaidorunpaid. It aimsto:

  • supportpeopletorepresenttheirowninterests
  • representtheviewsofindividualsifthepersonis unabletodothisthemselves
  • provideadvocacysupporton specificissues
  • provideinformationnotadvicesopeople canunderstandsituationsandmake informedchoices anddecisions

Collectiveadvocacyhappenswhenagroupofpeoplewithsimilarissuesorexperiencesgettogethertosupporteachother.Togethertheycanraiseissuesandtrytochange things.

Somepeoplefindraisingadifficultissueiseasierwiththesupportofagroup.Agroupcanhaveastronger,loudervoicethanonepersonintakingforwardsharedissues,makinggroupsmoredifficulttoignore.

ThefourmainprinciplesofIndependentAdvocacyare:

  • Independent Advocacy putsthepeoplewhouseitfirst.
  • Independent Advocacy isaccountable.
  • IndependentAdvocacyis asfreeasitcanbefromconflictsofinterest.
  • IndependentAdvocacyisaccessible.

YoucanreadmoreabouttheseontheScottishIndependentAdvocacyAlliancewebsite

Independent Advocacy Services in Midlothian

CAPS

(ConsultationandAdvocacyPromotionService)

CAPSprovidesindependentindividualandcollectiveadvocacyinEastLothianandMidlothianforpeoplewhouse,orhave used,mentalhealthservices.Theyalsosupportseveralexperienceledadvocacyprojects,relatingtomentalhealthacrossLothian.

OldStablesEskmillsParksMusselburgh

EastLothianEH217PQTel:0131273S116

IndividualAdvocacy:0131273S118

Email:

EARSAdvocacyService

EARSAdvocacyServiceprovide independentindividualandcollective(group)advocacytoolderpeople-inWestLothian,EastLothianandMidlothian;adults(16+)withphysicaldisabilitiesand/oracquiredbraininjuryin-WestLothianandMidlothian.EARShavealsojuststartedanewprojectworkingwithpeopleofanyagewhohavesurvivedastroke-thisisaLothianwideservice.

ForecourtBusinessCentreAshleyPlace

Edinburgh EH6SPX

Tel:084S6070129/0131SS38866

Email:

PartnersinAdvocacy

PartnersinAdvocacy provideindependentindividualadvocacyforadultswithlearningdisabilitiesinEdinburgh,EastLothianandMidlothian.Theyalso provideindependentindividualadvocacyforolderpeopleandadultswithphysicaldisabilitiesinEdinburgh.

2ndFloor,BeaverhallHouse 27/5BeaverhallRoadEdinburghEH74JE

Tel:01314787723

Email: