dorset

advocacy

What is Advocacy?

 

As an Independent charity, Dorset Advocacy is able to offer advocacy which is free from conflicts of interest. We are not part of any organisation providing services to the people that we support such as the NHS or Social Services.

 

At Dorset Advocacy we aim to help individuals who are struggling to speak up for themselves. They might be in a crisis situation, or they might want to bring about some sort of change in their life.

 

An example might be someone who is unhappy where they are living and would like to move, but is not being given the support they need to do it. An advocate could help them to look at the choices that need to be made, and get other people involved so that the move becomes possible.

 

Another example might be someone who is admitted to hospital and is not getting the care they need. An advocate could challenge hospital staff and highlight the patient’s needs while providing a valuable support for the person.

 

As part of our work we try to influence and challenge services in order to make people’s lives better.

 

Advocates can visit people wherever suits them. This might be at home, in the pub or at our offices in Dorchester and Poole.