Change that leads to better lives

A new representative membership body for advocacy providers

We are delighted to have been awarded funding from the Henry Smith Charity to explore the development of a sustainable, representative membership organisation for advocacy providers across England and Wales.

The ambition is to create a representative membership body that can offer support and networking for advocacy organisations, while strengthening the collective voice and quality of the sector. This is an exciting next step to expand the existing Leaders in Advocacy Network and create a sustainable future.

Shaping your membership body

We believe it is essential that this new representative membership body is coproduced and codesigned with and by the sector itself. That’s why we want to hear directly from you: advocacy providers of all shapes and sizes, and individual advocates, about what you need and want.

There are several ways to shape and design your new membership body:

1. Complete our survey

Share your views on all aspects of the membership body:

  • What benefits and activities would encourage you to join?
  • How much should it cost?
  • How can we be inclusive? Click here to start the survey.


2. Speak up at a focus group

Focus groups will allow us to have conversations in smaller groups and explore membership options in more depth. These online meetings have different themes to accommodate diverse perspectives, but if a particular date does not work, you are welcome to attend any session.

Wednesday 2 July, 2-3:30pm | small advocacy organisations

Thursday, 3 July, 2-3:30pm | large advocacy organisations

Tuesday, 8 July, 10-11:30am | non-statutory advocacy

Tuesday, 8 July, 2-3:30pm | statutory advocacy

Wednesday, 9 July, 10-11:30am | CEOs and managers of advocacy providers

Thursday, 10 July, 2-3:30pm | individual advocates

Wednesday, 16 July, 10-11:30am | statutory advocacy

Wednesday,16 July, 2-3:30pm | non-statutory advocacy

Tuesday, 22 July, 10-11:30am | children and young people advocacy

Tuesday, 22 July, 2-3:30pm | learning disability advocacy

Thursday, 24 July, 10-11:30am | mental health advocacy

Sign up to attend a focus group here.

Get others involved

Perhaps you could help spread the word? Share this webpage with other advocacy providers or individual advocates you know, or post it on LinkedIn.

Get in touch with us

Contact us if you have any questions, comments or would like to have a one-to-one conversation.

What does NDTi hope to find out from the survey and focus groups?

The survey and focus groups are designed to help NDTi and the Leaders in Advocacy Network to:

- Confirm whether a membership body is desired

- Establish what the membership body should offer

- Assess the impact of different models of operation for the membership body

- Decide how the membership body should operate

- Agree on fees and an inclusive fee structure

- Decide on names and branding.

What happens after I complete the survey or attend a focus group?

Your feedback and participation will shape the development of a representative membership body for advocacy providers. NDTi will work with the Leaders in Advocacy Network Steering Group to review the survey responses and focus group conversations to make decisions about what the membership needs to offer and whether this is feasible.

  • About the Leaders in Advocacy Network

  • How can I join the Leaders in Advocacy Network?

  • Why is NDTi developing a membership body for advocacy providers?

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