After 6 years of Lottery Funding, our current Advocacy scheme is funded by Comic Relief until July 2011. We are commited to meeting the following objectives: Helping older people to know their rights and be supported to use them, assisting them to gain the services they need to improve the quality of their life. Helping vulnerable older people over 60, and especialy those over 75, to become actively involved in influencing decisions that affect their lives. Since 2002, we have built up a reputation for the reliability and quality of our local Advocacy service which makes a growing demand upon our resources. The service is managed by our Advocacy Coordinator, Caroline Young with the support of office backup provided by Oma Watkins and Gill Thompson operating from our office in Lydney. This is open to the public on weekday mornings and by appointment in the afternoons. Apart from reacting to the high level of enquires from the public in person, by telephone and email, we are endeavouring to be more proactive by reaching out to more people in the community who are not aware of us. This is being acheived by making visits to our local hospitals, sheltered housing sites, residential care homes and focus groups across the Forest of Dean. We are ably supported by a small but effective team of volunteer advocates who are there to: Support and help older people to speak about things that effect their lives Help older people to make choices Seek out options and relevent services Write letters or make telephone calls for older people Be present at meetings Ensure individuals are treated with respect, dignity and consideration At a very personal level, the service aims to empower vulnerable older members of our community who, as we read so regularly in the press or hear through radio and television, are often the subject of abuse, marginalisation or neglect.
|
 |
| HOME |