Development of new resources
Do you want to input into our development of new resources supporting best practice in independent advocacy to people with a learning disability and autistic people in inpatient mental health settings? If you commission, deliver or support access to independent advocacy for people with a learning disability and autistic people in an inpatient mental health setting, we want to hear from you! Focus groups dates are: Tuesday, 19 March & Wednesday, 20 March. Find out more and sign up to join our focus groups here
Last chance to book your place on our free webinars
In 2023 we published an independent Review of Advocacy for people with learning disabilities and autistic people in mental health settings We are hosting a series of free webinars over the next couple of weeks to share the findings and recommendations from the review. The webinars will support you in thinking about changes and improvements that can be made so that people get access to the advocacy they need, when they need it.
– People with a learning disability/autistic people and their families – Monday 11 March, 10am-2pm
– Commissioners of independent advocacy for people with a learning disability and autistic people in mental health settings – Wednesday 6 March, 10am-2pm
Find out more and register to attend
New Research Projects
Research into the provision of Independent Care Act Advocacy
The Disability Law Service is doing a research project into the implementation of the Care Act 2014, specifically the provision of Independent Care Act Advocacy (ICAA). The project is the first step in tackling this complex issue and assessing how to best advocate for effective changes to the provision of ICAA. There is a short survey to gather information on the barriers to ICAA and the issues that disabled people, as well as advocacy providers, are facing. Access the survey here or find out more about the Disability Law Service and the work they do here.
IncludeAge Project
The University of Dundee, Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Hertfordshire are running the IncludeAge project. This project aims to discover the community spaces that older people with learning disabilities and LGBTQ+ older people use in their everyday lives. This includes the offline and the online places that people use. They are looking for people aged 40 and over to participate in a study exploring their experiences of inclusion, belonging, and community. Find out more here
Advocates supporting people with ISFs
Researchers from the University of Sheffield are looking for Independent Advocates who have experience of supporting people with Individual Service Funds (ISFs) for adults with a learning disability. The research involves an interview, which will last up to an hour at a time convenient for you. Interviews will be online or over the phone, whichever you prefer. You will receive a £25 voucher as a thank you for taking part. Find out more here
Other News
#AAW24! This year’s Advocacy Awareness Week #AAW24 will run from Monday, 14 October – Friday, 18 October. The Advocacy Conference, run by Black Belt Advocacy, will take place on Thursday, 17 October.
The British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) is offering free introductory, awareness-raising human rights workshops for community groups. Find out more here
If you know someone who employs a PA, Skills for Care is offering funding to cover training costs. More information can be found here.