What is the Derbyshire Advocacy Service?

The Service

The Derbyshire Advocacy Service is a voluntary independent organisation with charitable status, which is run by a Management Board, who are themselves volunteers. The Service aims to recruit and support volunteers to advocate on behalf of adults who have learning disabilities.  The Service staff also provide advocacy support.

The service provides this support in 5 different ways:

Ø     Citizen Advocacy Partnerships,

Ø     Group Advocacy

Ø     Crisis/Short Term Advocacy.

Ø     Peer Advocacy

Ø     Promotes self-advocacy

Background

The Derbyshire Advocacy Service has been established for 14 years. The service is a registered charity, which is run by a board of directors and receives significant support from Health via Primary Care Trusts in Southern and North Derbyshire, Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council.

The service has also received grants from the Community Fund, and the TSB Bank. This funding has allowed the service to expand further.

Six Advocacy Co-ordinators have been employed each covering a specific area of Derbyshire:

Amber Valley
Derby City
South Derbyshire/Derbyshire Dales
Erewash
Chesterfield
North-east Derbyshire and Bolsover

With the support of the Service Manager, Assistant Service Manager and an Administrator.

How many people do we help?

During April 2002 to March 2003 (figures published in our Annual Report) 623 people received some form of advocacy from the service thanks to the support of 83 volunteers and staff. 223 people still require our services, for Citizen Advocates, so you can see how important it is for us to have more volunteers.

How is the service funded ?

The Advocacy Service is supported by grants and service agreements with Community Fund, Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council Social Services.

The need for advocates in Derbyshire is especially important at this time mainly due to the changes that are happening with people moving from long stay institutional settings such as Aston Hall Hospital into the community.