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1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

1993

The first staff are appointed, and our citizen advocacy programme begins.

2001

Successful bid to Comic Relief and Lankelly Foundation (now Lankelly Chase) to create Supporting Parents Advocacy Network (SPAN)

1992

A steering group registers Dorset Advocacy as a charitable association.

1996

Around 60 volunteer advocates now supporting people with learning disabilities.

1997

Successful bid to National Lottery to create Dorset Self Advocacy Project.

1998

Around 80 people supported at any one time by the citizen advocacy programme.

2002

Dorset Advocacy represented on national steering group for Department of Health investment in citizen advocacy.

2004

10th anniversary celebrated with a national conference in Bournemouth. The Advocacy for You shop front opened in Poole, and the Dorset Self Advocacy projects became independent organisations.

2006

Dorset Advocacy pilots Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) service for Dorset.  One of seven pilots in England, funded by the Department of Health.

2007

Dorset Advocacy wins tender to provide IMCA in Dorset, Poole and Bournemouth.

2008

Dorset Advocacy commissioned to provide advocacy for many people with learning disabilities affected by the closure of NHS Campus provision.

2009

Dorset Advocacy opened new headquarters at Poundbury, Dorchester.

2010

Awarded the Quality Performance Mark (QPM) by Action for Advocacy. Start of Your Voice advocacy scheme for older and disabled people in Dorset, in partnership with Help and Care and DOTS Disability.

2011

Award of Transition Funding by HM Government.  Dorset Advocacy is creating further opportunities for volunteers, working towards Investors in People and Investors in Volunteers accreditation by the end of the year, and establishing its fundraising programme.  Around 400 people benefit from the support of an advocate at any one time.

Dorset Advocacy was founded in 1992 to meet the advocacy needs of the people of Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole.  It was established by a group that consisted of disabled people, voluntary sector representatives, and health and social care personnel who shared an understanding that advocacy support is essential to ensuring that choice and high standards are a reality for many users of health and social care services.

Dorset Advocacy started at a time when the old long-stay hospitals for people with learning disabilities were closing down.  Our founders believed that advocacy had a key role to play in moving away from institutional models of care, towards support that is community-based and genuinely person-centred.

Founded to develop citizen advocacy with people who have learning disabilities, the organisation was committed to quality and innovation from the outset.  Original staff member Sylvia Lacy was responsible for developing a number of successful self advocacy projects, which subsequently became independent groups in their own right in 2004.  

Dorset Advocacy now supports around 400 people at any one time, helping them to take control of their lives by increasing their access to opportunity and high quality support services.  Advocates also provide vital support to those who are or may be at risk of harm.

Look at our tieline to see how far Dorset Advocacy has come in the last 21 years!