The Advocacy Centre operates a Citizen Advocacy scheme, offering long term one to one advocacy support for vulnerable adults in the city. This includes people with a learning or physical disability, older people and people with mental health problems. We prioritise people who have:

• Difficulties in making their views known

• A major life change to face

• Inappropriate support from services

• Poor quality of life

• No-one independent with their interests at heart who can help them

For more information, email  Emma Aljoe, Terri Yardley or Stephen Wingate or call them on 0191 232 7445.

We also provide Case Advocacy for people with mental health needs, which is short-term issue related advocacy support. Examples of issues dealt with are:

• Changes to medication or treatment, or getting a second opinion

• Getting representation and support at a Mental Health Tribunal or Managers Meeting

• Problems with care plans, reviews, case conferences

• Accommodation concerns

If you would like to make a request for advocacy you can email us or fill in a request form.

For more information, email Linda Allen or Angela Walls or ring them on 0191 232 7445.

Since 1st October 2005 we have been running a pilot Case Advocacy scheme working with four BME groups:

• Bangladeshi

• Chinese

• French speaking African

• Iranian

We provide short-term advocacy support around health and social care issues.  Examples of issues we deal with are:

• Talking about your treatment with a doctor

• Your care in hospital

• Getting help in your home

• Information about services that could support you

If you would like to make a request for advocacy you can email us or fill in a request form.

For more information, email Yvonne Cheung or ring her on 0191 232 7445.

This BME Case Advocacy project has now been evaluated by an independent consultant, Jill Remnant.  To read the report or its summary, please click on the links below.

BME Case Advocacy Pilot Project evaluation report (PDF, 308kb)

BME Case Advocacy Pilot Project summary evaluation report (PDF, 181kb)

We recruit, prepare and support volunteer advocates for this work. Being an advocate is open to all sections of the community. No previous experience is required. However we are looking for a number of personal qualities such as those listed below:

• Communication and listening skills

• Ability to keep boundaries

• Ability to respect confidentiality

• Ability to manage stress

• Ability to be flexible

• Ability to understand and implement equal opportunities

• Empathy

• Reliability and Trustworthiness

• Friendliness

We are looking for people who can give an hour or two a week, during the day or at evenings and weekends who have an interest in promoting an defending the rights of vulnerable people. We offer full preparation for the role, ongoing support and out of pocket expenses.

For an informal chat about becoming an advocate, email Jacqui Jobson, or call 0191 232 7445 for an application form.