Explains what advocacy is and how it can help you. Gives information on different types of advocacy, including statutory advocates, what sort of situations an advocate can help you with, and how to find an advocate.
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Depending on your situation and what you want help with, there are various organisations that can help you find statutory and non-statutory advocacy services in your local area:
"[My local] Mind have recently acted on my behalf and having that support has meant I can move forward as I need to... the feeling of anxiety which has been a part of my life for so long has now lifted to a more manageable level."
It is important you feel comfortable with your advocate and feel able to talk to them about your situation. As a starting point, you may find it helpful to talk to your advocate about how you can work together and what you do – or don’t – want them to do. You may find it helpful to put together some questions to ask them, such as:
Unfortunately, if you're not entitled to a statutory advocate, you may find there are limited advocacy services in your area – or none at all. This can be really tough, especially if you feel you don't have people around you who you can ask for support. If you're in this situation, there are still some things you can try:
This information was published in March 2018. We will revise it in 2021.
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