Having someone to speak on your behalf to help you express your views, wishes and feelings is known as advocacy.

It enables people who feel that they are not being heard, or do not have a voice within a situation, to make informed choices and decisions about their own health and social care.

Put simply, if you think you are not being listened to, feel ignored, or don’t know what to say or who to say it to, and do not have an appropriate person who is able to support you, then Independent Advocacy can help represent your wishes.

How to get support

The council don’t offer advocacy services but there are local organisations that can act as independent advocates:

• Wigan Family Welfare – Offers professional advocacy services to support and represent individuals, families, young people and children. Telephone 01942 867888 or email  admin@wiganfamilywelfare.co.uk.
• Embrace – Supporting parents with learning disabilities who require early intervention and additional support. Telephone 01942 233323 or email info@embracewiganandleigh.org.uk
• S.E.N.D.I.A.S.S. stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Services - Offers information, advice and support for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In addition to this, the service is also offered to young people too
• My Life Advocacy – Assisting people who have difficulty understanding their social care assessment. Telephone 01257 472900 or email advocacy@my-life.org.uk

Find out more about different types of advocacy.