What is Advocacy?

What is Advocacy?What is Advocacy?


• Advocacy at its simplest means speaking Advocacy at its simplest means speaking up – on ones own behalf or on behalf of up – on ones own behalf or on behalf of othersothers

• It can be an important means by which It can be an important means by which people’s voices can be heard and their people’s voices can be heard and their views and wishes made knownviews and wishes made known

• It can enable people to gain access to It can enable people to gain access to information, to be well informed about their information, to be well informed about their rights and to make complaintsrights and to make complaints


• The aim is to ensure that minority groups The aim is to ensure that minority groups in society, who are frequently in society, who are frequently disadvantaged, have a means to know disadvantaged, have a means to know about, and gain, the life opportunities that about, and gain, the life opportunities that are equal to the majority population.are equal to the majority population.

• Advocacy is a process or spectrum of Advocacy is a process or spectrum of several activities that seeks to challenge several activities that seeks to challenge the social exclusion experienced by the social exclusion experienced by many, that often leads to their loss of many, that often leads to their loss of rights, and in some situations, to abuse.rights, and in some situations, to abuse.

What is Advocacy?What is Advocacy?• Advocacy is taking action to help people say Advocacy is taking action to help people say

what they want, secure their rights, represent what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services they need.their interests and obtain services they need.

• Advocacy promotes social inclusion, Advocacy promotes social inclusion, equality and social justice.equality and social justice.

• Advocacy aims to achieve a more Advocacy aims to achieve a more equal and just society for people who equal and just society for people who are disregarded and at risk of social are disregarded and at risk of social exclusion. exclusion.

Who can be an Advocate?Who can be an Advocate?Advocacy is helping a person to be heard.Advocacy is helping a person to be heard.Most people can act as advocates Most people can act as advocates and use advocacy daily….and use advocacy daily….

• parents listen to the needs and wishes of parents listen to the needs and wishes of their children, when choosing a school for their children, when choosing a school for example;example;

• friends stand by each other and offer friends stand by each other and offer support. support.

This is often referred to as “informal” advocacy and is a This is often referred to as “informal” advocacy and is a part of everyday life- we all do it, we all receive it, we all part of everyday life- we all do it, we all receive it, we all

have the skills for it.have the skills for it.

Who can be an Advocate?Who can be an Advocate?

Sometimes more formal methods of Sometimes more formal methods of advocacy are required and this is often advocacy are required and this is often referred to as Independent advocacy. referred to as Independent advocacy.

Advocacy of this type is a tool that can be Advocacy of this type is a tool that can be used in a variety of ways when an used in a variety of ways when an advocate speaks for and with people who advocate speaks for and with people who are not being heard, helping them to are not being heard, helping them to express their own views and make their express their own views and make their own decisions. own decisions.

Characteristics of Characteristics of AdvocacyAdvocacy

Advocacy is founded on the belief that Advocacy is founded on the belief that all people have value and rights.all people have value and rights.

The individual advocate must be The individual advocate must be independent of any service provision.independent of any service provision.

The one to one relationship The one to one relationship between the advocate and the between the advocate and the ‘Partner’.‘Partner’. The commitment and loyalty of the The commitment and loyalty of the advocate must be to the ‘Partner’.advocate must be to the ‘Partner’.

Types/Styles of AdvocacyTypes/Styles of Advocacy

Citizen AdvocacyCitizen Advocacy

Based on the 1960’s civil rights Based on the 1960’s civil rights movement in the USA, it involves an movement in the USA, it involves an unpaid, trained citizen volunteer, who, unpaid, trained citizen volunteer, who, with the support of an independent with the support of an independent organisation represents the interests organisation represents the interests of the client/service userof the client/service user


Peer AdvocacyPeer Advocacy

When former or current service When former or current service

users act as advocates.users act as advocates. When the Advocate and the When the Advocate and the

Advocacy Partner share similar Advocacy Partner share similar experiences or environmentsexperiences or environments


Self AdvocacySelf Advocacy

Speaking up for yourself!Speaking up for yourself!

A group of service users address A group of service users address common issues and concerns and common issues and concerns and make representations to make representations to management, for example a management, for example a “Patients Council” within a hospital“Patients Council” within a hospital


Sessional AdvocacySessional Advocacy

This involves Advocacy provided by This involves Advocacy provided by paid workers employed by an paid workers employed by an independent organisation. Is often independent organisation. Is often referred to as Crisis, Lay, Issue based referred to as Crisis, Lay, Issue based or Case Advocacy.or Case Advocacy.

(Professional Advocacy)(Professional Advocacy)


Legal AdvocacyLegal Advocacy

This relates This relates specifically to legal to legal advice and representation from a advice and representation from a solicitor or barrister solicitor or barrister

Statutory AdvocacyStatutory Advocacy

IMCA, IMHA- right to representation relatingIMCA, IMHA- right to representation relating

Particular laws.Particular laws.

Documents

What is Advocacy?