About Us
Advocacy Matters (Wales) provides Independent Advocacy for adults with a learning disability in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
We also provide independent Taking Part Work for other organisations.
The organisation was set up in 1989 in the Ely area of Cardiff, looking for volunteer Citizen Advocates to speak up for the people who lived in Ely Hospital. We changed our name to People in Partnership in 1996, and, so people could easily understand what we do, we became Advocacy Matters (Wales) in 2003.
Over the years we have had some wonderful volunteer Citizen Advocates doing some really valuable advocacy, but we discovered that more and more people wanted advocacy help with more urgent problems.
In 2000 we got the money to employ our first two Casework Advocates. We now have six Casework Advocates working for us and last year they supported 117 people with a learning disability in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, approximately 60 people in Independent Hospitals, and 15 people with Asperger syndrome.
What is Advocacy?
Advocacy is helping a person to say what they want, and making sure that person’s voice is heard by the right people.
Why do people want advocacy?
Sometimes people don’t feel like they can speak up. Advocates help people to speak up.
Sometimes people feel like they are not being listened to. Advocates can help make sure people are listened to.
Some people don’t realise they have rights like everyone else. Advocates help people to know what their rights are and get what they are entitled to.
Some people have important decisions made for them. Advocates help people to make their own decisions.
Advocacy Charter
Advocacy Matters (Wales) is signed up to the Advocacy Charter which was produced by ActionforAdvocacy (A4A). View the charter here.
