Advocacy and Legal Support

Advocacy

England

PohWER

PohWER provides free, independent and confidential advocacy to people in England who need help to express their views. Their community advocacy service, for those aged 18 and over, is only available in certain regions. They also offer support to children and young people who are receiving support from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

https://www.pohwer.net/

The Advocacy People

The Advocacy People offers free, confidential and independent advocacy to people living in certain regions in the south of England. They provide a Children and Young Person’s Advocacy service to those with additional needs and a Community Advocacy service

https://www.theadvocacypeople.org.uk/

VoiceAbility

VoiceAbility provides advocacy services for children and young people with special educational needs and those who are in transition to adult services. This service is currently only available in Bolton, Hampshire and Lincolnshire.

https://www.voiceability.org/

Scotland

Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance

The SIAA website has a search function to help you locate appropriate advocacy services in your area. The services cover a range of topics.

https://www.siaa.org.uk/find-an-advocate/

The Advocacy Project

The Advocacy Project provides free confidential advocacy to people aged 16 and over in Glasgow and East Renfrewshire. People can self-refer through their website.

https://www.theadvocacyproject.org.uk/

Wales

Advocacy Matters Wales

AMW provides free, independent and confidential advocacy to adults with a learning disability. People can self-refer through making a phone call to the number on their website.

https://www.advocacymatterswales.co.uk/

SNAP Cymru

SNAP Cymru provides independent advocacy to children and young people with ALN. They can help people to make decisions during transition after school. To request advocacy, there is an enquiry form on the website which can be completed.

https://www.snapcymru.org/our-services/advocacy/

Northern Ireland

Disability Action

Disability Action provides a few advocacy services across Northern Ireland. The services and eligibility differs between the areas, so if you are looking for advocacy support, it is important to check what service is available in your area. One service available is Transition advocacy for young people moving to adult services.

https://www.disabilityaction.org/pages/category/advocacy

Inspire Wellbeing

Inspire Wellbeing provides a free advocacy service for people over 18 living in Northern Ireland. Contact details are available on their website:

https://www.inspirewellbeing.org/advocacy-for-all/

Legal Support

Finding Support (Unique guide)

Unique have produced a helpful guide to finding legal support and advocacy, with suggestions for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is called ‘How to get legal help and advocacy’ and can be downloaded here:

https://rarechromo.org/practical-guides-for-families/