Independent Advocacy is a way to help people have more influence and as much control as possible over their own lives.
Independent advocacy is a way to help people have a stronger voice and to have as much control as possible over their own lives It is about everyone having the right to a voice:
- address barriers and imbalances of power, and
- ensuring that an individual's human rights are recognised, respected and secured.
Independent advocacy can have a preventative role and stop situations from escalating. It can help assist individuals and groups to develop the skills, confidence and understanding to speak up for themselves in the future.
Independent advocacy is especially important when individuals are vulnerable, or at risk of being discriminated against.
To find out more about Independent Advocacy, please vist the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance website.
Who can access Independent Advocacy?
- older adults
- LGBTQIA+ community
- people with mental health issues
- people with a learning disability
- people with autism
- people who’ve had a stroke
- people who use drugs/alcohol
- people with a physical disability or acquired brain injury
- adults experiencing an eating disorder
Individual and Collective Advocacy
Individual Advocacy
Is provided on a one-to-one basis. An Advocacy worker will:
- assist people to represent their own interests
- represent the views of individuals if the person is unable to do this themselves
Collective Advocacy
Collective advocacy happens when a group of people with similar issues or experiences get together to raise issues and try to change things.
It enables people to find a stronger voice, to campaign and influence issues and decisions that shape and affect their lives.
Signposting to Advocacy Services
Working professionals have a duty to inform eligible individuals of the availability of Independent Advocacy services, and it is up to the person to make the decision if they wish to access them or not.
An independent advocacy worker can be particularly helpful to both parties in the following situations:
- if the wishes and needs of an individual are unclear.
- if the person is likely to experience difficulty in understanding or retaining the information being presented to them.
- if the person has difficulty expressing their needs and wishes.
East Lothian Advocacy Providers
There are several independent advocacy organisations in East Lothian who provide a free and confidential services that aims to help people to speak for themselves, express their views and enforce their rights. These organisations are listed below.
CAPS Independent Advocacy
CAPS is an Independent Advocacy Organisation which provides Individual Advocacy for:
- people from East Lothian and Midlothian who have mental health issues or are using drugs and alcohol.
- children and young people going through the Children’s Hearings process in East Lothian and Midlothian.
- adults, children and young people experiencing Eating Disorders who live anywhere in Lothian.
We additionally provide Collective Advocacy to groups of people across Lothian with mental health issues, and to Veterans across Scotland, so they can come together and voice their experiences in order to bring about change for others or improvements in services.
The main purpose of CAPS’ work is to assist people, through advocacy, as individuals or as members of a group, to set their own agenda, make their wishes known and to have a say in how they live and what services they use.
CAPS Independent Advocacy Website
Individual Advocacy for Adults:
Tele: 0131 273 5118
Email:advocate@capsadvocacy.org
Individual Advocacy for Children:
Tele: 0131 273 5236
Email: ypadvocacy@capsadvocacy.org
Old Stables, Eskmills Park, Station Road, Musselburgh, East Lothian EH21 7PQ.
EARS Independent Advocacy Service (SCIO)
EARS Independent Advocacy Service (SCIO) assists a variety of individuals including older people, people with a physical disability or acquired brain injury as well as people who have had a stroke.
Specifically this includes:
- Older people (65+) in East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian
- Adults (16+) with physical disabilities and/or acquired brain injury in East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian
- Adults (16+) who have survived a stroke in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian
EARS Independent Advocacy Service Website
Tele: 0131 478 8866 or Tele: 01506 205840
Email: info@ears-advocacy.org.uk
Unit 14 Grampian Court, Beveridge Square, Livingston, EH54 6QF
Partners in Advocacy
Partners in Advocacy provide independent advocacy for adults with learning disabilities in East Lothian. They provide individual independent advocacy for adults with learning disabilities and autism, as well as collective advocacy for the same group. Additionally, they offer independent advocacy to children and young people aged 12 - 15 who want to challenge decisions made by education authorities across Scotland.
Tele: 0131 478 7723
Email edinburgh@partnersinadvocacy.org.uk
G1 Links House, 15 Links Place, Edinburgh EH6 7EZ.
View East Lothian's Independent Advocacy Leaflet and Strategic Plan here.