We all need an advocate at some point in our lives. It helps to have someone around to make a difficult phone call, someone who can write a letter or someone to go with you to a difficult meeting.
In many cases, the advocate is a friend or a family member; in others it is a teacher, nurse or social worker. This is fine, but what if we don’t have any of these people around? Or, what if the problem relates in some way to your family, teacher, nurse or social worker. This is where independent advocacy can help. This is when people are supported to speak up for themselves by a person who is only there for them and has no ties to the other agencies or people in their lives.
