How to Contact us

Independent Advocacy
90 Tay Street
Perth PH2 8NP

Tel: 01738 587 887

Who do we support?

Mental Health

We support people suffering from Mental Health difficulties who feel they would like advocacy support. These people may or may not be detained in hospital, and there are a range of issues which our advocates can support them with. People suffering from mental health problems may find it difficult to express their views, to take in all the information they are bombarded with, or to consider their options. An independent advocate can help them to say what they want, without being influenced by other people. Independent Advocacy can support individuals at mental health tribunals and case conferences and can ask questions or request information on the person’s behalf. [more]

Learning Disability

We support people with a learning disability who may not have the understanding, the vocabulary or the communication to participate in decisions being made about their lives. We can help them to understand the information that is given to them and then support them to put forward the points that they wish to make. We help people to communicate in the way that is best for them including easy read information, pictorials or Makaton.

• Collective or Group Advocacy - This is when a group of people with the same problem or issue get together to support each other. This means that their voice is stronger and they can decide together how to tackle the issues that affect them. We support self advocacy groups, centre committees, advo-cafes and community councils and peer support groups to take their views forward. “Not being able to speak is not the same as not having anything to say”.
• Non-instructed advocacy - For people who cannot give instruction because they have complex communication needs or long-term illness or disability, advocates take time to get to know that person and the significant others in their lives, so that their views can be safeguarded and represented.

Children & Young People

We support children and young people under 25 years of age who have either a learning disability or a mental health condition who feel they would like advocacy support. Children and young people often want to tell someone how they feel but are afraid or don’t know how, or don’t know how to take issues forward through adult systems. We can support a child or young person by speaking for them or being by their side while they speak, to make sure their views are heard and they understand the information being given to them. [more]

Carers

We support family carers for those over 16 years old. These must be unpaid carers who look after someone who through illness, disability or frailty of old age need extra help. Carers can be supported to access information about their rights and entitlements as a carer including care packages and respite. Carers may also be supported to get their views across in a range of settings as they often have to juggle communicating with a large number of other professionals in their caring role. [more]

Dementia

We support those who are suffering from dementia to express their wishes. People with dementia may wish advocacy support to make arrangements for the future, to prepare a will, to arrange a power of attorney or to make their wishes for their own care and treatment in the future known. An advocate will help them to make known what their own thoughts and wishes are, without being influenced by other parties. For people who cannot give instruction because of their dementia, advocates take time to get to know that person and the significant others in their lives, so that their views can be safeguarded and represented.

Physical Disability

We support people with a physical disability who are experiencing difficulty in getting their voices heard, or getting information to be involved in decisions which affect their lives. In addition to coping with their illness or disability, it can be very stressful to have to deal with official situations or to find out all the information available on options. We provide an advocate to support someone with a physical disability to understand and find their way through these systems.

Older People

We support those who are frail through older age to express their wishes. Older people may wish advocacy support to make arrangements for the future, to look at options for care in the community or a residential home, or to make their wishes for their own care and treatment in the future known. An advocate will help them to make known what their own thoughts and wishes are, without being influenced by other parties. We support older people either in their own homes or in care homes.

Examples of some of the situations or issues we have supported people with:

We will support people in whatever situation they wish, or with whatever issues they want us to, unless it is illegal or causing harm to self or others.