Author Archives: Kim Walsh

  1. Dazzle & Decadence: An Evening of Style, Sparkle and Stories 

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    This April, Advocacy Focus and Lancashire Women cordially invite you to an evening of glamour, fashion, and inspiration at Dazzle & Decadence. Hosted by Ainsworth Jewellers, this fundraising event promises a night of elegance, sparkle, and inspiring stories, all in support of local people across Lancashire. 

    Join us for a beautiful fashion show, exquisite jewellery, and stories that celebrate women. The event is the perfect opportunity to enjoy an evening of style and purpose while making a meaningful difference in your community. 

    • Thursday 30th April 
    • Highlights: Fashion, jewellery, and storytelling 
    • All proceeds go to Advocacy Focus and Lancashire Women 

    Launching on Galentine’s Day, this is the perfect opportunity to treat your friends to a sparkling evening of connection, glamour, and inspiration. 

    Tickets are available now — secure yours to be part of a night that combines style, sparkle, and stories for two great causes. 

    Get your tickets here: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/FYUN 

    Sponsorship Opportunities 

    Set in the heart of Lancashire’s thriving business community, Ainsworth Jewellers offers the perfect stage to shine a spotlight on your brand.  

    Sponsorship opportunities are available – contact marketing@advocacyfocus.org.uk to learn more. 

  2. Advocacy Focus Expands Services in Trafford with National Lottery Funding 

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    Advocacy Focus has secured 12 months of funding from the National Lottery to expand our community advocacy services in Trafford. 

    This funding will allow us to bring back a preventative advocacy service, building on the work we already do in the area. By addressing issues early, the service helps people with health and social care needs navigate complex systems with confidence and ensures they receive support before problems escalate. 

    To deliver this expanded service, we are recruiting a 21-hour Advocate to join our Trafford team. Full details of the role can be found here: https://advocacyfocus.org.uk/careers/community-advocate/ 

    This expansion will make a meaningful difference, helping even more people in Trafford to be listened to and supported in their health and social care journeys. 

    Justine Forster, CEO of Advocacy Focus, shared:  

    “With the support of National Lottery funding, we’re proud to launch a service that stands alongside people when they need it most. Together, we’re helping people live the lives they want to live by ensuring they can access early support and services that prevent issues from reaching crisis point – with tailored, timely help that enables people to get the right services when they need them.” 

    For more information about Advocacy Focus services in Trafford, please visit: https://advocacyfocus.org.uk/advocacy-services-in-trafford/.  

  3. Meet Abbie: Making a Lasting Difference in a Young Person’s Life

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    This Independent Visitor Day, we are excited to shine a spotlight on Abbie, who has been helping Elyssa* grow in confidence, try new things, and have lots of fun along the way.

    Abbie became an Independent Visitor in early 2025 and quickly built a strong, trusting bond with Elyssa. Their relationship is warm, lively, and full of shared interests and adventures.

    Together, they have tried lots of different activities – from outdoor water sports and indoor water parks to theme parks, inflatable obstacle courses, museums, restaurants, and orchestra performances. Every activity helps Elyssa feel more confident, independent, and happy.

    One moment that stands out happened during a water-sports session. Elyssa was nervous about swimming in deep water and said, “I can’t do this.” Abbie calmly showed her how to breathe properly and explained how the buoyancy aids would keep her safe. Step by step, Elyssa held onto the dock, floated gently, and finally swam across to the obstacle course. What started as fear turned into excitement—Elyssa was jumping, slipping, and splashing with confidence. Later, she even tried paddleboarding on her own for the first time, which Abbie celebrated.

    Their adventures continue to help Elyssa grow braver. At an indoor water park, she tried slides she had once been scared of and ended up laughing, saying they were “not fast enough!” On a trip to Southport’s Adventure Coast, Elyssa rode a big rollercoaster despite feeling nervous. Even after fainting briefly, she chose to ride again so she could enjoy the whole experience.

    Abbie also supports Elyssa in everyday life. They talk about friendships, birthdays, social media safety, and music. Elyssa has even asked Abbie how to become an Independent Visitor herself, surprised to learn how much of Abbie’s care is voluntary. Their thoughtful gift exchanges show just how important their friendship has become.

    Abbie on Being an Independent Visitor

    Abbie describes their bond as “fun, active, and wonderfully silly.” She often talks about the joy she gets from their growing sister-like connection and looks forward to many more years of helping Elyssa explore new experiences.

    Abbie’s story shows the difference an Independent Visitor can make. These relationships help young people feel more confident, independent, and resilient – and they create strong connections that last.

    *Name changed to protect the identity of the people we support.  

  4. Advocacy Focus Chosen as NWEEG’s Charity of the Year

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    Advocacy Focus is delighted to announce that we have been selected as one of NWEEG’s Charities of the Year for 2026. This recognition from the North West Employee Engagement Group highlights our continued commitment to improving the lives of people across the region, and it marks the beginning of an exciting new partnership for the year ahead.

    NWEEG brings together organisations who are passionate about creating thriving, supportive workplaces. In November, Advocacy Focus was named NWEEG’s Employer of Choice, celebrating our dedication to team wellbeing, development, and positive workplace culture. Being chosen as a Charity of the Year further strengthens this relationship and reflects our shared values of empowering people, building community connections, and making meaningful, measurable change.

    Throughout 2026, NWEEG will champion our work across their extensive business network, giving us valuable opportunities to raise awareness of Independent Advocacy and the life-changing impact it has on people and families. As part of this partnership, NWEEG will:

    • Showcase our mission across the NWEEG community
    • Provide platforms at events to highlight the importance of advocacy
    • Support our fundraising efforts throughout the year
    • Create volunteer opportunities for members who want to get involved
    • Explore joint projects that make a real difference
    • Bring their network together to shine a spotlight on causes that truly matter

    We are honoured to stand alongside Aphasia Support as one of the chosen charities and look forward to working closely with NWEEG to champion the rights of people across the North West. This partnership marks an exciting step forward for Advocacy Focus, and we can’t wait to share more in the coming months.

    The North West Employee Experience Group (NWEEG) has the overarching purpose of helping make the North West of England the very best place to work. They do this by presenting evidence, skills and real-life practical experiences of how business leaders have successfully engaged with their teams and subsequently improved their businesses as a result.

  5. Advocacy Focus Awarded Warm Spaces Grant to Support Community Focus Hub

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    Advocacy Focus is delighted to announce that our Community Focus Hub in Burnley has been awarded a Warm Spaces grant from Lancashire County Council. This funding will help us continue to provide a welcoming, safe, and supportive  space for local people who may be feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure where to turn.

    The Community Focus Hub is open to anyone seeking information, guidance, or a friendly place to connect with others. Visitors can drop in for support, access resources, or simply enjoy a cup of tea in a warm and inclusive space.

    Warm Spaces is a Lancashire County Council initiative supporting local organisations to keep community venues open and accessible, particularly for people most in need. Grants like this ensure that spaces such as our Hub can continue to offer opportunities for connection and most importantly, a safe space where local people can relax for a short while.

    Since opening, the Hub has become a vital community resource. Whether someone needs assistance completing forms, a calm space to talk through personal challenges, or simply a welcoming environment to spend time in, the Hub and our friendly team is there to help.

    We are grateful to Lancashire County Council for recognising the importance of safe and welcoming spaces, and for supporting our ongoing work to ensure people across our communities are listened to, understood, and supported.

  6. Advocacy Focus Named Employer of Choice at NWEEG Employee Voice Awards

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    We are delighted to share that Advocacy Focus has been named Employer of Choice at this year’s NWEEG Employee Voice Awards. This recognition means so much to us because supporting our team is at the heart of everything we do. We came first in the ‘under 150 employees’ category, with an overall score of 86%, Anthem Engagement,  described this as an, “amazing achievement”.

    The award is based entirely on anonymous team feedback gathered through an independent survey by Anthem Engagement. Hearing directly from our people about their experience at Advocacy Focus helps us understand what we are doing well and where we can continue to grow. To know that this feedback led to an Employer of Choice award is something we are incredibly proud of.

    Here are some of the key takeaways in the survey that contributed to the win:

    • Top words used to describe working at Advocacy Focus: “rewarding”, “fulfilling”, “caring”, “supportive”, and “enjoyable”
    • 100% of our team understand and align with our values
    • 97% feel able to be themselves at work

    Some anonymous feedback from our team:

    “Best organisation I have ever worked for.”

    “I feel valued, trusted and motivated. The flexibility and wellbeing support make a huge difference.”

    “Advocacy Focus genuinely cares about staff wellbeing. I’ve never known an employer like it.”

    “The flexibility allows me to have a proper work-life balance that I couldn’t get anywhere else.”

    “I would 100% recommend Advocacy Focus as an employer, it’s a place where people truly thrive.”

    Our team works tirelessly to support the people and communities who rely on us. Making sure our team feel supported in return is essential to the work we do. This award celebrates every member of the Advocacy Focus team and the positive, caring, professional environment they help to create every day.

    Thank you to NWEEG and Anthem Engagement for recognising our commitment to employee wellbeing, and a huge thank you to our brilliant team for their honest feedback and ongoing commitment to supporting people to live the lives they want to live.

    Together, we will continue building a workplace where people can thrive, feel valued, and feel listened to.

    The North West Employee Experience Group (NWEEG) has the overarching purpose of helping make the North West of England the very best place to work. They do this by presenting evidence, skills and real-life practical experiences of how business leaders have successfully engaged with their teams and subsequently improved their businesses as a result.

  7. Advocacy Focus Turns Annual Report into Video Series

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    Advocacy Focus has done something different this year. Instead of publishing a traditional written annual report, they’ve created a series of short videos that show their work and what they’ve achieved. The charity believes everyone should be able to understand what they do, so they’ve made their annual report more accessible by putting it on video.

    Why videos?

    CEO Justine Forster explains: “We want everyone to know about our work. It’s really important that we’re open about what we do, both with our supporters and the people we help. Videos make it easier for people to see and hear about our impact and understand what we’re all about and more importantly, how we can help.”

    You can find the videos on a dedicated YouTube channel. Each video looks at the different parts of Advocacy Focus, so viewers can choose what interests them most.

    This approach fits with how Advocacy Focus works. The team believes that transparency and accessibility go hand in hand. If you’re trying to help people to access services and support, your own communications should be easy to access too.

    Get involved

    If you like what you see in the videos, there are so many ways to get involved. Head over to the Advocacy Focus website to find out how you can support the charity’s community advocacy work – whether that’s sharing the videos with family and friends, volunteering your time, or helping to raise funds. Every bit of support makes a real difference to the people we work with.

    Watch the full video series on YouTube

  8. My Journey as an Independent Visitor with Advocacy Focus

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    By Deborah, Independent Visitor with Advocacy Focus

    Since August 2023, I’ve been a volunteer with Advocacy Focus as an Independent Visitor. That means I meet up with a young person once a month to go on days out together. This has included going to pantomimes, the circus, the theatre, painting pottery, visiting Chester Zoo, seeing Christmas lights, going to the cinema, and going to the park.

    Spending time together has helped us become good friends. We’ve built trust, and now they know I’m someone they can talk to and have fun with. It’s not just about the trips – it’s about being there and making them feel important and listened to.

    What I’ve loved is how much I’ve learned from them too. They’re really smart and full of energy. Every time we meet, I see things in new ways and even learn new words!

    Being an Independent Visitor is something I really enjoy. It’s shown me how important it is for young people in care to have adults they can count on – people who will listen, support them, and just enjoy spending time together.

    Make a difference by becoming an Independent Visitor with Advocacy Focus. Click here to learn more.

  9. What It Means to be an Independent Visitor

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    By Beverly, Independent Visitor with Advocacy Focus

    I really enjoy being an Independent Visitor. It is such a rewarding experience. I met Jake* 18 months ago shortly after his 15th birthday and I think both of us were a little unsure as to what to expect and what, if anything, we would have in common given our age difference of 46 years!

    However, we have built a strong, trusting relationship which is based on fun but also allows us to talk about the issues of the day and what is going on in his life and his future aspirations. Our shared adventures have ranged from Go Karting, indoor climbing, attending a pottery class, and going to the theatre to see the play he is studying for GCSE. Or a simple dog walk and catch up over a coffee! I see Jake once a month and it is very easy to find times to meet that work for both of us.

    It has been an absolute pleasure to see his confidence grow and his willingness to trust and educate me on the issues facing young people in care today. Being an Independent Visitor has reinforced my belief that the best thing you can give young people is your time and consistency.

    I would encourage people of all ages to consider volunteering to be an Independent Visitor. It’s truly life changing for both you and the young person you support.

    *Name changed to protect the identity of the people we support.

    Make a difference by becoming an Independent Visitor with Advocacy Focus. Click here to learn more.

  10. Advocacy Focus wins ‘Most Flexible Workplace’ award at the Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards

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    We are delighted to share that we have won the ‘Most Flexible Workplace’ award at the 2025 Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards. 

    The awards took place on Thursday 20th March at Grosvenor House Hotel in London. The event was not just about celebrating, but also about learning and sharing ideas about how companies can make workplaces a happier place for everyone. 

    At Advocacy Focus, we believe it is important to help our people work in a way that works for our charity, whilst giving people that much-needed life balance. This means being flexible with things like working hours, working from home, unlimited annual leave, and supporting each other. Winning this award shows that we are on the right track. 

    We were also finalists in three other categories: 

    • Wellbeing Team of the Year (SME) 
    • Most Inspiring Leadership Visionary 
    • Most Inspiring Wellbeing Champion 

    We are so proud of what our team has achieved. Creating a supportive workplace where our people can truly thrive is at the heart of what we do, and this recognition means a lot. 

    A huge thank you to the Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards and to everyone who helps make our workplace so special! 

    To learn more about the awards and other winners, you can visit the official website.