{"id":1025,"date":"2021-11-26T13:48:29","date_gmt":"2021-11-26T13:48:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.advocacy-highland.org.uk\/?page_id=1025"},"modified":"2026-07-14T12:35:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T11:35:52","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.advocacy-highland.org.uk\/index.php\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"

Established in 2003, Advocacy Highland is a registered charity providing independent advocacy for individuals identified under The Mental Health Act throughout the Highlands.\u00a0 Our main office is in Inverness, but we have independent advocacy workers all over the Highland Council area.<\/p>\n

We provide one-to-one, person-centred advocacy to individuals aged 16 or over to help them speak up about current specific issues.\u00a0 We are independent from all other organisations like NHS or Social Work.<\/p>\n

Referrals are accepted in an issue-based manner, so we help with a specific issue then close that referral.\u00a0 You can re-refer yourself or someone else to us, if they need advocacy again.<\/p>\n

We can only work with people who reside in the Highland Council Area, who are over 16 years old.\u00a0 We cannot consider historical issues.\u00a0 If your issue isn’t considered an advocacy issue, we will try and signpost you to an organisation who can help.<\/p>\n

Our core funding is provided by NHS Highland and is to provide advocacy under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.\u00a0 We focus on the support of key priority groups; those with mental ill health, personality disorders, learning disabilities, ASD and dementia.<\/p>\n

People often seek out advocacy services when they are having difficulty with aspects like communication, a lack of understanding, if they feel they aren\u2019t being listened to or respected, or if they simply don\u2019t feel confident enough to speak up alone.<\/p>\n

Our advocacy is independent, free\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0confidential.\u00a0<\/strong>Our role is to support people to speak up for themselves to help them have a stronger voice and to have as much control as possible over their own lives.\u00a0 We help to ensure their voice is heard, their views are taken seriously, their rights are respected and upheld, and that they are involved in decisions that are being made about them.<\/p>\n

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Advocacy Highland may be able to help with many issues, for example:<\/p>\n