Advocacy

Walk supports people to advocate on behalf of themselves and on behalf of other.  For a short dvd of a presentation provided by the self advocates group please go to the self advocacy website page.

What is advocacy?

"Advocacy is defined as including services in which the interests of a person seeking a social service are represented in order to assist the person in getting entitlements to such service but does not include legal representation. Speaking on behalf of a person or empowering that person to speak for him or herself are the more popularly understood interpretations of advocacy". (Definition extracted from citizens information board website.)

Why does WALK encourage advocacy services?

Advocacy services are encouraged to ensure that all service users have a voice, to increase confidence of service users and enable them to lead self-determined lives as set out in the WALK mission statement.

Do people who use the services in WALK use the services of Independent Advocacy?

All service users in WALK are encouraged to use and are also provided with the use of an independent advocate if they so wish.

How do people know about Advocacy Services in WALK?

All services users are provided with advocacy training if they wish.There are advocacy sessions facilitated weekly in the Day service on 1 Longmile Road. Advocacy and Self-advocacy are also promoted through the service user representative system. Please click here for more information on the service user representative system.

"I collaborated with a group of self advocates on my primary research this year at the Day Service in WALK. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear their voices and get a true sense of their opinions and experiences of Human Rights. They welcomed me, shared their expert knowledge with me and showed deep understanding of Human Rights. We had a lot of fun along the way and it was an honour and a pleasure to work with the group. The WALK staff and independent advocate were very supportive and open to innovative ways of engaging self advocates in research. I had a very fulfilling and memorable time researching with the self advocates at WALK".

Student Researcher