The Stoneleigh charity that helps others to help themselves

Independent Advocacy helps guide people with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and mental health problems through the application forms, questionnaires and appeals that could stand between them and vital benefits or medical treatment.

Chief executive Chris Bratchie, who used to be involved with the charity Age UK (formerly Age Concern), set up Independent Advocacy in 1999 and ran it on her own with the help of just a few volunteers.

She said: “We have grown considerably. There has always been a need, but what’s happened is that people have recognised that this type of support is here.”

Largely funded by health and social services, the organisation deals primarily with people who are referred by these services, but anyone who does not have a referral can also seek support that they pay for. The profits then go back to the charity.

Chris said: “We always visit people in their homes and hospitals if that’s what they prefer, but sometimes we meet them on neutral ground.

“The key is that we provide them with somebody who is neutral. We make it clear to the client that we are independent.

“We are not working for social services or through an agency.”

Mental health advocate Neil Allison said: “Particularly in the current climate, people are experiencing more difficulties with debts and changes to benefits. That can impact on their mental health.

“You will get a situation where somebody who is in receipt of a benefit is then asked to fill out a medical questionnaire in order to continue to receive that benefit. We will help them through that process.

“They can also appeal and we will help them through that as well. It’s very much led by the client. We speak up on their behalf.”

A former mental health nurse, Neil says he can appreciate the need for such an organisation as Independent Advocacy because the type of support provided is totally separate to that provided by the health sector.

He said: “It does make a real difference to their lives. To have someone help them through these processes - it’s a big weight off their shoulders.

“In a ward situation, there are sometimes major changes in care and treatment which can take place and the patient won’t know how to deal with that.

“For example, under the Mental Health Act, patients can be detained and they have a right to appeal against that.

“The role of Independent Advocacy would be to support them through that process. We can make the language easier for them to understand or speak on their behalf because they may be unwell or overwhelmed.

“It’s a way of helping that’s different to how nurses can help.”

Neil has recently set up a business development team that has begun to make links with Warwickshire-based firms.

He said: “We recognise that in the ever-changing climate, we need to look at ways in which we can diversify a little. We are looking at new services and ways in which we can fund those services.

“Corporate sponsorship will help provide funding opportunities and raise the profile of our organisation.”

But it is not just sponsorship the organisation is looking for.

Chris said: “We do pieces of work with other charitable organisations - we are doing one at the moment with Age UK. We can help support other organisations if they can help support us.

“The way forward is to work with companies who might donate to us and who might like us to work with them, providing a source that they need.

“There are a number of people out there who do not have a health or social services referral because they don’t want to go down that route. We would like to be able to get the funding we need to fill that gap.”

Neil added: “As a charity, we want to get our voice heard. We can work together. We are a success story and we want to shout out about it.”

Independent Advocacy has vacancies for paid sessional advocates with skills and experience in mental health, learning disability and British sign language. Further details are available online or by calling 024 7669 7443.

Any firms wishing to contact the organisation’s business development team should call Neil on the same number or email [email protected]

The charity also has volunteering opportunities. Call Shirley Morris on the same number or email [email protected]

To donate to Independent Advocacy, text WIAA12 to 70070, specifying the amount to be donated, call the office or go online.