What is advocacy?

Advocacy is taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services they need. Advocates and advocacy schemes work in partnership with the people they support and take their side. Advocacy promotes social inclusion, equality and social justice.

Taken from the The Advocacy Charter (2002), this is the basic statement which sums up what independent advocates do today.

It is the basis of the Advocacy Code of Practice, and all of our staff adhere to this Code.