Advocacy Support

Advocacy support for parents and carers of disabled children and children with learning difficulties.

Parents and carers often find it difficult to speak up for themselves or their child and a voice their opinions, concerns or express their point of view. They maybe in a stressful or difficult situation with no one to support them or they maybe un-sure about what to do about something.  ‘Caring Today’ offers advocacy support to parents and carers to ‘stand by them’ and help and support with many different things.

Advocacy is about supporting and empowering parents and carers too:

• Express their views, feelings and opinions and be listened to and treat with respect by others.
• Have the right to make informed choices.
• Have their say and get their message across to others – it is everybody’s right!
• Gain access to their rights and appropriate services and support for themselves or their child.
• Find out and understand information.

How does advocacy work?

The advocacy worker will meet with you and discuss your situation and the support Caring Today can offer.

This advocacy support will be: 

On a one-to-one basis.
From the advocacy worker or a volunteer advocate.

You may want support with:

Making decisions or informed choices.
Trying to get services for yourself or your disabled child.
Dealing with services.
During meetings.
Finding out about and applying for benefits.
Making a complaint or challenging a decision.

 An advocacy will:

Listen to YOU
Establish what your views and wishes are
Translate and support you to understand official jargon
Respect your confidentiality
Respect you and treat you with dignity
Support you at meetings, to make phone calls and to ask questions where appropriate
Support you to look at your options
Translate in Urdu, Punjabi or Gujarati if required.