Promoting Independent Advocacy

Advocacy is about standing up for and sticking with an individual, taking their side and helping them get their point across. Advocacy adds weight to a person's views, concerns and rights. Collective advocacy is about groups and communities understanding their own right to speak out and be heard.

HUG

• played an active part in the debate about sections of the new Mental Health Act and collaborated with national mental health groups and advocacy agencies
• played a key role in the steering group which established Advocacy Highland
• published reports on Respite Care, Current Issues in Mental Health in the Highlands, Discharge from Hospital
• made videos with members about advocacy services and used these to support presentations to the Scottish Executive
• gave presentation at the Mental Welfare Commission Conference

Local Forums

• Local Forum workers trained in Advocacy Awareness and offer individual and group support e.g. Young Carers Project in Skye and Lochalsh, individuals in Gairloch and East Sutherland
• training course for people with learning disabilities in Badenoch and Strathspey promotes the service users voice for independent living

Highland Carers Project

• carers requested advocacy support for 106 issues - an increase of 22% over the previous year
• created new post of Volunteer Co-ordinator through Unemployed Voluntary Action Fund - five volunteer advocates now trained and working
• published reports on advocacy services for carers - Generic Advocacy Annual report and New Craigs Carers Advocacy Report
• New Craigs Carers Advocacy Project provided a listening ear for vulnerable carers at a time of great upheaval and change in their lives and supported relatives on an individual basis to look for answers and solutions
• developed information packs on the New Craigs resettlement programme and on relatives' rights and distributed them to all carers affected by the programme
• strengthened the voice of New Craigs relatives through relatives' meetings to ensure questions and concerns were listened to by the agencies involved

People First

• People First spoke out about stigma, harassment and bullying in HCCF's publication Highland Conversations
• People First made their points about problems with transport, inequalities, poor consultation, hospital appointments and limited employment opportunities in HCCF's Election Checklist

HCCF and its network worked with others in Highland to develop Advocacy Highland, the new Highland Advocacy Agency

Annual Report 2003
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• Annual Report 2003

• Annual Report 2001
• Annual Report 2000

• Back

• About HCCF
• Chairman's Report
• Introduction
• Influence
• Communication
• Advocacy
• Awareness
• Exchanging Ideas
• Publications
• Income
• Staff