Newcastle CVS

Newcastle Advocacy Centre provides a free, independent, high quality and ethical advocacy service that

• helps people to be aware of their rights and available choices
• supports them to make informed decisions about their lives
• facilitates their voices being heard
• helps them advocate for themselves
• informs and influences decision makers in policy, service commissioning and provision at a local, regional and national level to achieve positive change

We do this by

• providing Case Advocacy for adults from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities around health and social care issues
• providing Citizen Advocacy for adults in vulnerable circumstances
• providing Case Advocacy for adults with mental health needs
• providing Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) to people subject to the Mental Health Act
• raising awareness of advocacy and promoting good practice through our facilitation of Advocacy Network Newcastle

Quality Performance Mark

We have been awarded the Action for Advocacy Quality Performance Mark following a full assessment of our services. The report says that we provide 'an effective, committed, person centred service that showed clear understanding of independence and confidentiality and which worked tirelessly to operate in a person centred and empowering way. Staff, volunteers and management were all described as skilled, knowledgeable and committed. Most notably, strong mention was made of the steps which Newcastle Advocacy Centre has taken to meet the diverse needs of its local community. ... The service is clearly delivering good advocacy which is highly valued by its service users.'

• A copy of the report is available here.