WARNING - By their nature, text files cannot include scanned images and tables. 
The process of converting documents to text only, can cause formatting changes and 
misinterpretation of the contents can sometimes result. Wherever possible you 
should refer to the pdf version of this document.


FRONT COVER

Image:  partners in advocacy logo


Advocacy 

a guide.... 


Image:  Two characters walking through a maze


PAGE TWO

What is advocacy ? 

Advocacy is a way to make people’s voices stronger and 
to try to ensure that they have as much control as possible 
over their lives. 

Advocates add weight to people’s views, concerns, wishes 
and rights by: 

• Helping people to make decisions about what they want 

• Making sure they have the information they need and 
understand the options and their consequences. 

• Making sure that people listen to them and take their 
views into account. 

• Speaking up for them or helping them to speak up 
for themselves. 

• Standing up for them if things are not right or need 
to change. 


Advocacy is not 

• Giving people advice or persuading them or telling them 
what to do. 

• Getting them to do what other people want them to do 

• Complaining, although we may support people to make 
effective complaints themselves. 

• Providing social support such as managing people’s 
budgets or taking them on outings. 


Contact us for more information about how to get an advocate. 
Details of how to get in touch with us are on the back page of this leaflet. 



PAGE THREE

What can we do? 

Advocates can support people on a wide range of issues 
such as social or health care, housing, education, transition, 
legal issues, employment and tribunals. They may attend 
meetings or reviews, make phone calls, write letters, make 
sure that things that are agreed are followed up, encourage 
people to advocate for themselves, help them make plans 
and support them through changes. 

Types of Advocacy 

Short-term professional advocacy: Paid or volunteer 
advocates who work with a caseload of clients on particular 
issues for a few weeks or months. 

Citizen advocacy: Unpaid advocates matched one-to-one 
with a partner whom they support on a variety of issues on 
a long-term basis. Citizen advocates may also help their 
partners to develop social networks and be included in their 
community. 

Self-advocacy groups/collective advocacy: People are 
supported to come together to explore issues of common 
concern and support one another to make plans and take 
action. 

Image:  character in red shirt


BACK PAGE

Partners in Advocacy 

Partners in Advocacy provides advocacy in Edinburgh, 
Midlothian, East Lothian, Dundee, Glasgow and East 
Renfrewshire. Advocacy may be long-term citizen advocacy, 
short-term issue-based advocacy, or self-advocacy groups. 
Some advocacy is for adults who use learning disability 
services and some is for children and young people with 
additional support needs and mental health problems. 
For details of which kinds of advocacy are available in your 
area, contact one of the numbers below. 

Some of our advocates are paid and some are volunteers. 

We welcome volunteers to become involved in our work, 
as advocates or supporting us in other ways. 

Image:  character in blue shirt  holding a card with contact details as follows:

Edinburgh&Lothians 
0131 478 7723 

Glasgow&EastRenfrewshire 
0141 847 0660  

Dundee
01382 305715 




Partners in Advocacy 

...........Advocacy is free and confidential........................ 


Please call 


Image:  partners in advocacy logo