advocacy resources

This resource contains advocacy services, which are an excellent way to gain the knowledge and support needed to make informed decisions about personal care and support.

Minutes

At akt we understand the stress and difficulties faced by LGBTQ+ young people trying to gain access to resources and services.

Advocacy services are an excellent way to gain the knowledge and support needed to make informed decisions about personal care and support, and to ensure that your voice is heard by professionals.

There are many different forms of advocacy services for specific purposes including medical, work and legal representation, amongst others. The charity Mind have a resource breaking down the different forms of advocacy so you can seek out what is best for you.

general advocacy

The following are general advocacy services that can offer advice, support, and guidance for a range of issues:

National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)

are an organisation that offers safeguarding and support for all areas of life for children, young people and vulnerable adults. They are independent and will not make decisions for you or offer legal advice. Your advocate can help explain what choices and legal rights are available to you, help you have a say (this may be through attending meetings alongside you or helping draft written communication). They will help you set up a plan to achieve the goals you are seeking.

The Advocacy People

are another charitable organisation offering general advocacy and advice from NHS complaints, mental health, to Social Care complaints advocacy and much more. They also have a list of Self-Advocacy groups which help bring people together to share ideas and support. Many of these are specifically for people with learning disabilities across the UK.

Advent Advocacy

are an organisation that offer generic, children and young people’s advocacy and health advocacy, as well as independent university and workplace advocacy.

POhWER

are a charity that offer a range of advocacy services throughout England such as NHS Complaints Advocacy, Community Care activity and a range of mental health and mental capacity advocacy.

children’s social care advocacy

The following are a few notable examples of children and young people’s social care advocacy. Search here to find your local youth advocacy service:

Coram Voice

offer advocacy for children and young people who are in care and care leavers.

VoiceAbility

have an advocacy service for children and young people to ensure their voice is heard.

Just for Kids Law

are a charity that provide youth advocacy, legal support and run youth projects to help further support young people.

medical advocacy

General Medical Advocacy is incredibly important for understanding your rights, and the NHS has a resource to explain how advocacy may help you. Many of these organisations will offer Independent Care Act Advocacy (ICAA) allowing you to find the best care you can, Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) and Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) which are more specifically tailored to mental health issues:

Mencap

are an advocacy and advice service that focus on people with learning disabilities.

VoiceAbility

are a charity that can advocate for a variety of medical issues, ensuring your voice is heard.

The Advocacy Project

have teams ready to help anyone seeking advocacy, specialising in NHS complaints advocacy, ICAA, IMHA and more.

QueerCare

network are an organisation that provides advocates and community support around all aspects of navigating primarily healthcare, though some of their advocates may be able to help with issues of criminal justice, welfare, and youth and social services.

legal aid

Legal Aid and advocacy are crucial in knowing the legal rights and protections you have. Legal services can be expensive, and the following organisations all provide free legal aid and advocacy to those in need (depending on income):

Youth Legal

are a community resource providing services for young people in the London area. They offer services from debt and money advice to immigration and welfare benefits

Advocate

are a charity that finds free legal assistance from volunteer barristers across England and Wales.

Law Centres Network

defend the legal rights of people who cannot afford a lawyer. They are throughout the UK and Northern Ireland and can help on a variety of issues.

Shelter

offer advice and advocacy services for any homeless or potentially homeless person in the UK.

Citizens Advice

have many resources and support workers to help knowledge of legal rights throughout the UK, as well as offering some general legal advocacy services.

LawWorks

are a charity solicitor group who provide legal advice for individuals and groups through free advice clinics, and legal aid eligibility calculator as well as offering their own legal aid services.

employment advocacy

Making sure you have an advocate in your place of work is essential in making sure you are being treated correctly and have access to the right pay and employee rights that you are entitled to. One of the quickest ways to get employee advocacy is to join a union as their purpose is to ensure your rights as an employee. The following are other independent organisations that offer employee advocacy.

Able Futures

are a charity that focus on mental health support at work, making sure that you are able to work on the good days and supporting you on the bad days.

Shaw Trust

are a charity that helps find employment for disabled people by offering work skills support, mental health and well being, and social enterprises through many government and large organisation contracts.