Two individual stories of advocacy having an impact from Your Voice Counts.
As part of our Advocacy Awareness Week 2024 series, we’re sharing examples of how #AdvocacyWorks and makes an impact on people. The following articles share the stories of Joe and Steve who are supported by Your Voice Counts.
Your Voice Counts provides independent advocacy services in Newcastle, Gateshead and South Tyneside.
Joe's story
Joe has learning disabilities and mental health issues and was referred to our specialist health and wellbeing team for help to manage his health needs.
Our team works closely with the people we support, getting to know them and building up trust. This led to our Senior Health and Wellbeing Facilitator, Karen becoming aware that Joe was very vulnerable to exploitation. Joe’s instinct was to view everyone as a friend and struggled to say no to people, which caused frustration for his parents and was negatively affecting their relationship.
Karen had some concerns that his parents’ efforts to keep him safe were depriving him of his independence. She was worried that Joe’s voice wasn’t being heard and that he wasn’t in control of his own life. Our advocacy team are experts in helping vulnerable people to speak up and have a say, so Karen contacted them for advice and to make a referral for Joe.
Our advocate, Denise, began working with Joe, meeting with him and Karen to understand his situation and explain his rights and the help that was available to him. Denise spent lots of time with Joe, getting to know want he wanted and talking though ways he could achieve his aims.
Joe is now living in his own flat and is receiving support from our Community Connector, Heather, who is helping Joe to become more independent.
#AdvocacyWorks and can have an impact on all areas of a person’s life especially when we join together, see the person as a whole, and put them at the centre of our work. Our Communities and Advocacy teams provide specialist, tailored support and ensure people get the help they need when they need it.
Joe’s story on the Your Voice Counts website.
*Some names and details have been changed for anonymity
Steve's story
Steve has a learning disability, autism and mental health needs and lives in a 24-hour supported residential care setting. He receives regular visits from Terri, a Your Voice Counts advocate, who acts as Steve’s Relevant Person’s Representative (RPR) while he’s subject to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
Not just an RPR
During their time together, Terri became aware that Steve had a reoccurring eye condition that needed surgery to resolve. Work to support him had been attempted previously but Steve had found this overwhelming and scary. The impact of this was continuing to reduce his quality of life so Terri asked for this to be investigated again and made an Independent Mental Capacity Act advocacy referral which resulted in Tracy stepping in to help Steve to be involved in decision-making around his treatment options.
Support from our Communities team
Our advocates work closely with the people they support and take care to get to know the person as a whole so they can make sure they’re getting the help they need in all areas of their life. The staff were worried about Steve’s finances and raised this with Terri who referred Steve to our communities team where he was supported by our specialist learning disability and autism case worker, Gary. Gary provided a one to one service to help Steve claim the money he was entitled to.
A huge positive impact on Steve
Through our financial health service, we helped Steve to apply for all of the benefits he’s entitled to, meaning his monthly income has increased from £104 per month to over £900 per month! Following Terri’s and with Tracey’s support, Steve has also recently undergone eye surgery. Our support has had a huge positive impact on Steve who is now enjoying much more independence thanks to his improved sight and being more confident and financially able to take part in activities he enjoys.
#AdvocacyWorks and can have an impact on all areas of a person’s life, especially when we join together, see the person as a whole, and put them at the centre of our work.
Steve’s story on the Your Voice Counts website.
*Some names and details have been changed for anonymity
