Advocacy Explained

Non Statutory Self & Group Advocacy is about taking control of decisions about yourself and telling others what you want.

At Equality Together, our aim is to help you speak up and have your voice heard. We’ve got a few ways of doing this.

Equality Together hosts several User Groups and Forums. You can come to these groups and meet other people who also want their voice to be heard. You might feel nervous or uncertain at first, and want to get to know the group before you speak up. That’s fine – we’re here to help you feel comfortable.

The User Groups and Forums talk about a lot of different things. There is normally a topic for each meeting. Some might affect you and others might not. They may be supported by member of Equality Together staff or run themselves. The people there will discuss the topic and use their experience to share opinions, discuss issues, and suggest solutions.

If you’re struggling to sort out emotional issues, for example coming to terms with your disability or condition, and need to speak to someone about it, you can see one of our 1-2-1 advocates. They are people with lived experience of disability who have been specially trained to listen to you and suggest ways in which you can move forward.

People facing disabling issues or concerns sometimes need help and support. Our 1-2-1 advocates provide an opportunity to enable you to highlight and prioritise your issues and through a process of empowered support enable you to make decisions leading to positive solutions.

For help and advice call 01274 594173.

We do not provide statutory advocacy. This is provided by Voiceability. If you need help with:

• Independent Mental Health Advocacy
• Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy
• Care Act Advocacy (For people who will find it very hard to be fully involved in the care process, advocacy can help understanding and making decisions about the care and support they need)

Please call Voiceability on 01274 888017.

Our 1-2-1 advocates work across the District and we always use accessible rooms. We do not pay travel costs but we do have limited funds for sign language translation and translation for people whose first language is not English. We also work with other organisations whenever possible to share resources and make sure that access issues do not prevent someone receiving support.

We believe that there is something very powerful about disabled people receiving support from another disabled person.

To become a one-to-one support worker, you must first take part in the training courses that we run. Our courses are checked by CERTA (formerly Open College Network), to make sure we are working at the right standard. People who complete one of our courses get a certificate showing what they have learnt and achieved. These certificates will help you go on to further courses, volunteering or work opportunities.

For more information please contact Jane Wheildon on 01274 594173.

The Groups we currently support are:

• BMDC Health & Wellbeing Service Users Involvement Group
• Black Health Forum
• Bradford & District Disabled People’s Forum (BDPF)
• Ladies Together Group
• Bradford Association of Visually Impaired People (BAVIP)
• Bradford & District Older Peoples Partnership
• Talk Together Peer Support Group (Through Zoom)

We have a number of experts, with lived experiences that represent people who are facing disabling barriers, at various strategic and operational working groups and networks, based within the Bradford Metropolitan District area. These include the following subject areas:

• Employment/Employ-ability
• Safeguarding
• Housing
• Poverty (Anti Poverty)
• Health & Social Care
• Equality & Diversity
• Safer & Stronger Communities

For Group Advocacy help contact Sandra Brown on 01274 594173.