Cardiff and Vale Advocacy Consultation

We are seeking your views to inform the development and quality of the draft Regional Strategy

Closing Date: 30 April 2021

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services they need. Advocates and advocacy schemes work in partnership with the people they support and take their side. Advocacy promotes social inclusion, equality and social justice. (Action for Advocacy, 2002).

The Code of Practice for Advocacy says the following principles should be reflected in arrangements for planning, commissioning, monitoring or review of advocacy services in the area. The process must ensure that people are empowered to express their own views, wishes and feelings and are able to participate fully as equal partners.

Advocacy services should:

• be led by the views and wishes of the individual  

• be champions of the individual’s rights and needs

• be well publicised and easy to use

• work exclusively for the individual

• be well managed, prompt, responsive and provide value for money

• respect confidentiality

• have effective, accessible Compliments and Complaints procedures

• promote and monitor equality