Advocacy is a way of protecting and asserting your rights in dealing with large organisations. Advocacy is founded on the belief that people are of equal value regardless of ability, wealth or status and are therefore entitled to equal rights.
An advocate can
- listen to you.
- help you to plan any action you may need or wish to take.
- write letters and make telephone calls with you, or for you.
- make sure your views are heard by attending meetings/reviews with you.
- obtain information for you, or put you in touch with someone who can.
- spend time with you preparing for meetings.
- investigate alternative sources of support.
- increase communication levels between yourself and others.
- find out what your rights are.
- liaise with relevant agencies.
The Advocacy Network provides a Directory of Advocacy Services in Leeds Tel. 244 9045. If you feel advocacy would be able to provide you with assistance, please contact them in the first instance.
More specific advocacy may be available for specific client groups and their carers
- Age Concern provide an advocacy service for older people throughout Leeds. Age Concern Leeds, 188a Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9DX Tel. 245 8579
- Neighbourhood Network Schemes have a similar service for people in their areas
- The Advocacy and Interpreting Service provide an advocacy service, particularly for people from ethnic minority communities and aims to improve access to the Health and Social Services Tel. 235 1877
- The Leeds Mental Health Advocacy Group at Centenary House, 59 North Street, Leeds LS2 8AY provide advocacy support for people throughout Leeds with mental health issues or dementia - Tel 247 0452 or 247 0449
- The Leeds Black Elders also have an advocacy scheme - Tel. 237 4332.
- There are advocacy services run specifically for people with learning disabilities and they are based at Unity (formerly C.H.E.L.) 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 1AB Tel 244 0606
- There is an Advocacy Service for people who are deaf, deafened, deafblind or visually handicapped. Contact the North Regional Deaf Association and the North Regional Association for the Blind Tel. 01606 330362
Follow the links on this page for all web addresses, e-mail contacts and links to other relevant pages.