Earlier this month, the team at CUBE HR exceeded their fundraising goal by more than double when they took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in order to raise vital funds for Advocacy Focus.
During this challenge, they walked 24.5 miles, climbed 5,000 feet, and took around 55,000 steps – finishing it in 8 hours 57 minutes.
“We love a challenge and most of us love walking, so we thought why not combine them” said Lisa Sourbutts, Managing Director at CUBE HR. “I think we underestimated how challenging it would be. We completed the first 2 peaks relatively easily but one of the team ended up with blisters on the soles of her feet. However, she would not give up so we took the 3rd peak (Ingleborough) quite slowly. That said we’re told under 9 hours is a phenomenal time so we’ll take it. The celebratory pint at the end didn’t touch the sides. We were sore and tired but when we checked the total we had raised we were delighted. Thanks so much to our generous supporters”
“We are honoured to have been chosen as CUBE HR’s charity of the year, and what a fantastic way to kickstart their fundraising! The Yorkshire Three Peaks is no mean feat, but every step they took was a step towards making sure that local people get the advocacy support they deserve for their care and treatment needs. Huge thanks to Team Cube. You are all amazing!” says Justine Forster, CEO at Advocacy Focus.
CUBE HR is a leading provider of human resources solutions, offering a range of services designed to empower businesses to manage their workforce effectively. With a focus on innovation and excellence, CUBE HR partners with organisations to deliver tailored HR solutions that drive success.
Are you a business looking to work with a local charity?
We would be happy to talk to you about Advocacy Focus becoming your nominated charity, either via a ‘one-off’ fundraising campaign or, like CUBE HR, as your ‘Charity of the Year.’
Advocacy Focus would be keen to meet you and to talk more about how we can work in partnership to extend the reach of our advocacy support, so that no one falls through the gaps because of overstretched services.
We can develop a tailored corporate and social responsibility support package in return for your help, which will benefit your team and business, whilst supporting the local community.
This Volunteers’ Week, we are delighted to shine a spotlight on Angela, who became an Independent Visitor in June 2023.
Angela has shown amazing dedication and creativity. Her visits have been wonderful experiences for the young person she helps, with fun activities like candle-making workshops, attending shows, and sharing coffee and cake. Angela always goes the extra mile to create fun and meaningful moments.
Angela was matched with Annabel, a young girl who had recently come to the UK after escaping the war in Sudan. Because of the conflict, Annabel hasn’t been able to talk to her family and is worried about her mum and siblings. Angela’s ability to speak several languages and her experience teaching English helped Annabel feel more at ease.
Angela and Annabel share interests in art, crafts, and reading. Angela found easy-read books for Annabel and gave her two at a time, helping her enjoy reading and learning. Despite the language barrier, they quickly formed a strong bond. Angela’s language skills and their shared hobbies helped them connect deeply.
Angela noticed changes in Annabel’s mood, which was understandable given her situation. She continued her visits, offering a listening ear and engaging Annabel in activities to cheer her up and help her focus. Angela’s dedication to Annabel’s well-being and her adjustment to the community has been truly inspiring.
Annabel’s Journey with Angela
Angela has been a constant support for Annabel, helping her feel more confident and comfortable in the UK. Annabel has learned new skills, like making art, practising English, and using public transport. Together, they have visited many places like Liverpool Cathedral, Manchester City, Rainhill, and Prescot. They have also joined community groups like Shakespeare North Theatre, ‘Everyday Art’ at Wigan Old Courts, ‘The Happy Place’ women’s group in Wigan, and Liverpool’s ‘Merseymade’ workshops.
Annabel often texts Angela after their meetings to thank her and share her enjoyment. She loves choosing from the activities Angela suggests and looks forward to the next set of easy-read books.
Angela’s View on Volunteering
Angela encourages others to consider volunteering as an independent visitor, saying, “One of the best things I did in 2023 was working with Annabel. Despite the challenges, it’s been a joy – very rewarding and life-affirming. I hope to continue in the role for a long time and hope Annabel achieves her goals and dreams.”
Angela’s words capture the essence of being an Independent Visitor:
“It’s very rewarding to be an IV looking out for a young person; I think the independent, voluntary nature of the role makes you more approachable. For me, the role is like being both a friendly advisor and a caring auntie.”
We are incredibly grateful for Angela’s dedication and the positive impact she has made in Annabel’s life. Her story inspires us all to see the difference one person can make through empathy, creativity, and genuine care for our next generation.
By Jason Cherry, Advocacy Co-Ordinator at Advocacy Focus
In March I had the amazing opportunity to join Sara Britcliffe, MP for Hyndburn, in Westminster. A very early start but well worth it.
I arrived in London and after visiting all the usual tourist attractions, I went to meet Sara and her team at Westminster. Here, I had a tour of Westminster Hall, The House of Commons, where I stood, where the PM stands and The Houses of Parliament. I even went into The Chapel of St Mary’s where Emily Davison hid (Google her…. girl power before the Spice Girls!). What a beautiful hidden church and on set days they hold services there.
Westminster Hall is steeped in history. The most recent is a plaque of where Queen Elizabeth II lay in state, not to mention plaques for where Nelson Mandella and Winston Churchill stood.
I was lucky enough to take part in a Question-and-Answer session held in one of the committee rooms off Westminster Hall, I even saw Jeremy Corbyn!
I finished on The Terrace with Sara and her lovely team, where I took the opportunity to have a photo.
What a fantastic day and a fabulous experience.
Thank you to Sara and her team for an unforgettable trip.
Thank you to Advocacy Focus for believing in me and for being a very inclusive place to work.
Advocacy Focus is thrilled to announce that CUBE HR has picked us as their charity of the year for 2024.
CUBE HR is a leading provider of human resources solutions, offering a range of services designed to empower businesses to manage their workforce effectively. With a focus on innovation and excellence, CUBE HR partners with organisations to deliver tailored HR solutions that drive success.
“We are delighted to partner with Advocacy Focus as our charity of the year,” said Stuart Wright, HR Consultant at CUBE HR. “As a small business, we think it is important to give something back to our community, so we choose a local ‘charity of the year’ each year. We love the work that Advocacy Focus does and want to help in some way, to make sure this work continues.”
To kickstart the partnership, CUBE HR has launched a fundraiser to take place on Monday 3rd June 2024 in which employees from both CUBE HR and Advocacy Focus will be taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks. This walk is not just a physical challenge, but a real chance to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Donations to this fundraiser can be made through the JustGiving page. All funds will go towards ensuring Advocacy Focus can continue to provide advocacy services to people within the community. Every donation counts, no matter how big or small.
“We are so grateful to CUBE HR for choosing us as their charity of the year,” said Justine Forster, CEO at Advocacy Focus. “This fundraiser will make such a difference to the lives of people we support and help us to continue our vital community advocacy work. Every donation we receive will go straight into our services and will support people that need our help when it comes to their health and social care needs.”
CUBE HR has invited people and businesses alike to join them in supporting Advocacy Focus by taking part in their fundraising efforts throughout 2024. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Are you a business looking to work with a local charity?
We would be happy to talk to you about Advocacy Focus becoming your nominated charity, either via a ‘one-off’ fundraising campaign or, like CUBE HR, as your ‘Charity of the Year.’
Advocacy Focus would be keen to meet you and to talk more about how we can work in partnership to extend the reach of our advocacy support, so that no one falls through the gaps because of overstretched services.
We can develop a tailored corporate and social responsibility support package in return for your help, which will benefit your team and business, whilst supporting the local community.
“So today is about finding solutions so that people can access the care and support they need.”
– Justine Forster, CEO at Advocacy Focus
Thursday 21st March 2024 saw the return of our long-awaited Breaking Barriers conference. With over 100 attendees, the day featured ground-breaking talks and workshops from leading sector experts and professionals from health and social care and beyond.
Our Breaking Barriers conferences are dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of the importance of advocacy and the impact it has on our communities.
Sharing knowledge and experiences through events such as this is key to breaking down the barriers that stop people from receiving the right care and treatment.
Hosted by Jake Mills, CEO of Chasing the Stigma, the day featured the following speakers and topics:
Our headline speakers:
Neil Allen from 39 Essex Chambers discussed ‘Making the best use of Deprivations of Liberty Safeguards’.
Laura Ingham from Armed Forces HQ raised awareness on ‘Advocating for the armed forces community’.
Darren from Mission Impossible, Trafford Self-Advocacy Group talked about ‘The Importance of Self-Advocacy.’
Justine Forster and Leanne Hignett from Advocacy Focus discussed ‘The Six Ps’ and the importance of self-advocacy and prevention.
Ellie Bradley from Advocacy Focus shared ‘Reflections a year on: Advocacy for Autistic People in Mental Health Inpatient Settings’
Our workshops:
Philippa Curran from Odonnells – ‘Welfare Matters’
Sophie Maloney from Stephensons Solicitors (our headline sponsor) – ‘Capacity, social media and the internet’
Malcolm Johnson from Lime Solicitors – ‘The Rights of Looked after Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children’
Demi Houghton from Advocacy Focus – ‘Challenging Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards’
Kate Mercer from Kate Mercer Training – ‘You can’t do mountaineering in your lunch break; what it takes to deliver awesome advocacy’
Helen Barker and Faye Doherty from Irwin Mitchell – ‘Capacity to sexual relations’
Barriers Broken
The core mission of Breaking Barriers has always been to ignite lasting change well beyond the event’s conclusion.
Reviewing the feedback we have received from attendees, we have done just that.
Keeping up to date with legislation, championing fairness, and amplifying the voices of those who often go unheard are vital steps in realising our vision. And how barriers are easier to break when we work together.
Our Breaking Barriers events serve as a timely reminder of this.
“We need to give people straightforward access to advocacy and wider services. If we can’t help people, we will partner with someone who can.”
– Justine Forster, CEO at Advocacy Focus
*Images courtesy of Liz Henson Photography.
Give a #cuppakindness and support our Community Cuppa campaign.
We are currently running a fundraiser for our Community Focus Hub in Burnley to provide a warm space where people can visit our team and volunteers, grab a free cuppa, information, and advice, and most importantly stay awhile in a safe space free from judgement.
We have a recommended donation of £5, but any amount would be appreciated. Please help us by sharing this with your networks if you can.
Our awesome Independent Advocate, Pauline, has won the award for Outstanding Advocate at this year’s National Advocacy Awards.
Below is the nomination for the award (written by Leanne Hignett, our Services Director) which gives you an insight into the support that was given by Pauline to Milly.
I am thrilled to nominate Pauline for this award in recognition of her unwavering dedication, fearless passion, and steadfast commitment to advocacy since 2007. If I had to pick one (of many) scenarios in which to highlight Pauline’s ability to overcome adversity to make a real difference to another person’s life, it would be in the case of Milly.
Pauline supported Milly on an advocacy journey like no other, beginning as her community advocate over 10 years ago before going on to support with a range of statutory advocacy approaches, many of which Pauline delivered simultaneously.
It was strongly suspected that Milly had high functioning autism and, having spent most of her life in the care of her mother, her passing meant that Milly sadly found herself living alone in the decommissioned council flat they had once shared. Milly desperately wanted support and was articulate when contacting other agencies however, her diagnosis of agoraphobia meant she would not leave her home and would rarely let others in. This led health and social care services to dismiss Milly’s calls for help, as they simply felt she was choosing not to engage.
Pauline saw beyond this, recognising that Milly’s conditions were likely having an impact on her executive functioning. Milly began sharing with Pauline and her GP that she was experiencing heavy bleeding and pain. Pauline recognised that the way other professionals were dismissing Milly meant that she was going a prolonged amount of time without investigation or treatment. Pauline tenaciously battled with other agencies to urge them to adapt their standard ways of working to ensure Milly’s situation was escalated. Pauline also shared Milly’s communication needs, using this to promote the increased engagement professionals could have with Milly if they altered their approach. Pauline’s tenacity eventually resulted in Milly’s admission to hospital and, following a series of tests, Milly was sadly diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Milly’s expressed wishes were conflicting with her views and hopes for the future. Despite stating she did not want to die, Milly refused to consider any treatment for her cancer. Pauline pressed for a specialist to assess Milly’s capacity, someone who would consider her complex communication style. Pauline managed to do this by advocating the views Milly had shared herself, relaying a statement Milly made that,
“My brain doesn’t always work – it’s like I am working with only half a brain. I misunderstand things. I get things wrong, and I need someone to help me make the right decisions.”
As a result, a specialist assessment was commissioned and Milly was found to lack capacity regarding the decision to have treatment for her cancer. Unfortunately, the time that had elapsed meant that there was no longer an option to pursue treatment. Pauline began supporting Milly to advocate for where she wanted to spend her final weeks and eventually Milly moved to a hospice by the seaside she had always loved to visit as a child. The hospice were immensely grateful for the support Pauline provided during the transition, as this enabled them to provide greater person-centred care to Milly in her final weeks.”
“Pauline provided amazing support for one of our patients who was admitted for end-of-life care. From the very moment the patient was admitted Pauline was actively seeking out ways to work with us and support the patient. Pauline had known the patient for many years, and we found it invaluable that she knew how to best communicate with her and what her preferences were. The patient told us how much Pauline had done for her, how much she trusted her and wanted her to be fully involved in supporting her with her decisions and wishes. Pauline’s involvement helped the team here to fulfil some of the patients end of life wishes which was so important, she provided a great deal of emotional and psychological support, and even after the patient died, Pauline was advocating for her wishes to be upheld. Pauline was pivotal to the care this patient received and her experiences at the end of her life, she was amazing.”
Unfortunately, where a local authority arranges a public funeral, it does so at minimal expense. This meant that despite Milly’s dying wish to be buried in her hometown, a decision was made for a non-attendance cremation with no service. This was unacceptable to Pauline, who took it upon herself to advocate for Milly’s wishes after her passing. Pauline tenaciously challenged the council’s decision, going as far as to make a FOI request to enquire under what circumstances the council utilised its power to make discretionary decisions about public funerals. Pauline’s challenge did not go unnoticed, and Milly received a beautiful service and burial, which her advocate and other professionals devotedly attended.
Following her death, Milly’s story was heard by the national safeguarding group of NHS England. Both Pauline and the remainder of the MDT were nominated and subsequently won an NHS Safeguarding Star Award. However, knowing Milly’s views on the matter and not wanting to jeopardise her independence, Pauline decided to decline the award. Though I have no doubt she deserved the recognition.”
Some of the additional feedback given for Pauline and her support of Milly …
Here at Advocacy Focus we are so proud to have had 3 of our advocates be chosen as winners over the years for this highly regarded award.
We are pleased to announce that we will be delivering the St Helens Adults Advocacy Hub from the 1st April 2023.
Advocacy Focus already provides the Children’s Rights, Advocacy and Independent Visitor service in St Helens, which means we can now provide seamless advocacy support to people of all ages. The service will be known as ‘The All-Age Advocacy Hub’, as we will be able to follow the people of St Helens through all stages of life, without having to pass people on to different services or providers for their support needs. This will be especially beneficial to young adults who transition from Children’s Social Care to Adult Social Care. It will allow them to be supported by advocates who are familiar to them and already know the issues they are facing.
So, what does this mean for St Helens? We will be delivering a range of non-statutory and statutory advocacy to ensure as many people are able to get the support they need. We have a team of multi-skilled Independent Advocates who can support people across all statutory advocacy provisions. This allows for a person-led service, and no matter what the issue or strand of advocacy people need, we have someone on the team who is equipped and ready to support.
As part of our extended offer, we will also provide student placements, work experience programmes, apprenticeships, and volunteering opportunities. This will help us to sustain and deliver meaningful services and provide unique opportunities for the residents of St Helens that are seeking employment or want to get involved at a community level.
At Advocacy Focus our starting point is always self-advocacy and helping people to become their own best advocate. We know that people are the experts in their own lives and we help support them to live the lives they want to live. Therefore, to give the people of St Helens the best possible chance of being seen, heard and listened to when it comes to making important decisions about their lives; we will be providing free training, tools and resources via our website: www.advocacyfocus.org.uk
“We already have a brilliant working relationship with the people and professionals of St Helens and cannot wait to provide a seamless all age advocacy hub, for all the communities’ advocacy needs. Advocacy Focus has been providing high quality advocacy for over 25 years and we are passionate about positive outcomes for people going through challenging health and social care matters. We are a free and independent service, and we are on your side. We cannot wait to extend our services in St Helens and help anyone we work with to achieve the life outcomes they are hoping for.”
Comments Off on Advocacy Focus successfully secure Salford Children’s Rights, Advocacy and Independent Visitors contract.
We are delighted to announce that we have successfully secured the Salford Children’s Rights, Advocacy and Independent Visitors contract. The service will launch on the 1st April 2023 and will run for the next five years. Our Advocates and Independent Visitors cannot wait to work with the children and young people of Salford.
Advocacy Focus will provide support to children and young people who are known to Childrens Social Care. For these children, it can feel like decisions are being made about them, without them, but Advocacy Focus will be there to make sure that important decisions are being made in partnership with children and young people. Advocacy helps people to understand their rights, put forward their views and wishes, and explore the different options that are open to them.
As part of the bidding process, Salford Childrens Social Care worked with children and young people to identify and select the best organisation to support them. Which makes our team particularly proud to win this contract and deliver meaningful advocacy for the children and young people of Salford. Our team of Advocates will help put the power back into the hands of young people, promote their voice when they feel unheard, and help them to understand their situation.
We also promise to offer wider benefits for the children and young people of Salford. We will be going into schools to support careers advice and talk to young people about working in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors and helping them to prepare for their next steps.
So committed are we to increasing the life choices of young people leaving care, we will be ensuring that those using our service can seek support from someone with lived experience. That’s why we have pledged to offer two Salford care leavers an apprenticeship with Advocacy Focus, so that they can help others make sense of their situation. We will also provide business placement opportunities for young people with additional needs to help them begin their journey into the world of work.
It is essential that children and young people in care are supported by someone independent from health and social care services. Advocacy Focus has been delivering advocacy services for 25 years and we know that the more we help young people to be their own best advocate, the better chance they will have as adults to live independently and thrive.
“We’re delighted to be chosen as the new provider for Salford Children’s Rights, Advocacy, and Independent Visitor Service, especially as the children and young people of Salford were involved in the selection process. We cannot wait to deliver our services and work with children and young people in Childrens Social Care and help them to achieve better life outcomes, whatever they may be facing or dealing with. Advocacy is all about being seen, heard and listened to and our service will do just that for the young people of Salford, helping them stay in control of their own lives.”
Comments Off on Advocacy Focus Once Again Wins QPM Award!
The Quality Performance Mark (QPM) is the only quality mark for organisations that deliver Independent Advocacy. The National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) is responsible for assessing and awarding organisations with QPM status. Being awarded the QPM is confirmation that an organisation is delivering the gold standard of advocacy- you are amongst the crème de la crème of advocacy services. It is widely recognised and respected across the advocacy sector. It demonstrates that an organisation is delivering advocacy in line with the Advocacy Charter. Here at Advocacy Focus we pride ourselves on quality, so much so it is included as one of our organisation’s core values. So, achieving QPM status is a huge deal for us!
The purpose of a QPM assessment is to make sure that our advocacy policies are up to date, we are following best practice, and all our delivery is in line with the QPM standards that are required to gain and hold the award. The QPM assessment gives us an opportunity to showcase to an industry expert all the work that we do, who then examines how we are delivering our advocacy services in line with the QPM standards and the Advocacy Charter. We’re then given useful feedback that we can use to shape and develop our services further.
We have proudly held QPM for many years, and every 3 years we undergo further assessment to hold our QPM status, which ensures that we continue to meet the standard. We recently underwent our assessment for QPM once again and are happy to confirm that we achieved our QPM status once more!
Some of the glowing feedback from NDTi demonstrates exactly how we are delivering quality advocacy services in line with the principles of the Advocacy Charter:
Clarity of Purpose – “Advocates had an impressive understanding of the importance of being clear about their roles, remits, and professional boundaries and how to communicate the purpose of advocacy to people who use their services and to professionals. They were clear about the purpose of all the types of advocacy they offer. This was reflected throughout the organisation.”
Independence – “Advocates and Mangers clearly prioritise their independence from service providers, funders, commissioners, and other stakeholders. They gave excellent examples of how they maintain their independence in practice and how important it is to demonstrate independence to people who use their services.”
Person-led and empowerment – “This is an outstanding area of good practice. Advocacy Focus supports self-advocacy with toolkits and other resources, such as the Justice for LB Toolkit available on the website. Advocates were clear about ways in which they work in a person-centred way and how they support people to get their voices heard. Advocacy Focus has co-produced excellent easy read guides and documents. There was a clear commitment to encouraging self-advocacy wherever possible. Advocacy Focus has a commitment to learning from people who use the services, for example using feedback from its RPR service to create a new RPR fact sheet.”
Accessibility – “Easy read options and a very clear website ensure that services are accessible, along with use of translations and interpreters when needed. The website has an excellent video: ‘What is advocacy and how can we help you to self-advocate?”
Supporting Advocates – “This is another outstanding area of excellence at Advocacy Focus. Staff report feeling very well supported and staff wellbeing is clearly prioritised. There is an open, trusting culture of honesty, peer support, managerial support, enquiry and reflection, teamwork, personal and organisational development. Staff reported manageable workloads, autonomy, and good communication. Staff and volunteers appreciate outstanding and positive leadership around wellbeing.”
As part of the assessment process the QPM assessor speaks to people who have worked closely with Advocacy Focus, including people our Independent Advocates have supported, and external professionals in the health and social care sector. Some of the wonderful feedback we received from our stakeholders included:
“My advocate understood my needs and wishes, we had rapport straight away…I’d still be there now if it wasn’t for them. There’s nothing they could have done better, she was superb. The outcome was exactly what I wanted, largely due to the advocate.” – Person who has used services
“She had a lovely manner, very skilled, very person centred.” – Person who has used services
“I could always get in touch (with the advocate), messages were always passed on and responded to. The whole services was excellent, really welcoming, nothing was too much trouble.” – Person who has used services
“(The advocate was) helpful, listened to me and what I was dealing with, help with paperwork, even though the outcome was not what I wanted, her help was phenomenal, she went above and beyond. The advocate and the company, no-one else has ever helped me like that.” – Person who has used services.
“They provide a very clear voice for the individual, their reports are very thorough with detailed evidence of what the person is saying, next steps and any action.” – Health and social care professional
“Advocates create and maintain positive working relationships whilst also being very forceful on the side of the child or young person they are working with.”– Health and social care professional
“The quality of their reports is excellent. They are like a dog with a bone, they are persistent… I have confidence that they do the job properly, they know DOLS inside out. They have the confidence to challenge where they need to. 10 out of 10.”– Health and social care professional
Hearing feedback like this makes us so proud to have an amazing team who are dedicated to going above and beyond to deliver quality advocacy worthy of the QPM award. Here’s to another 3 years of being a QPM awarded advocacy provider!
We are completely humbled by the glowing assessment, and we have big plans for the charity over the next three years, with a continued commitment to young people and adults across the North, helping people live the lives they want to live!
Are you interested in becoming a Trustee of a leading advocacy charity and Top Employer in Mind’s Workplace Wellbeing Index, 2022? We are especially keen to hear from people within underrepresented groups.
Over 12 months we supported 6381 people with complex advocacy issues.
What skills could you help us with?
Lived experience of advocacy or health and social care issues
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Fundraising and business development
Local government policy and procurement
Who we are:
We have provided person-led advocacy across the North of England since 1998
Our advocates support people to understand their rights, options and enable people to make informed decisions about their health and social care.
Simply put: we help people live the lives they want to live.
If you are interested in becoming a Trustee or would like more information, please email admin@advocacyfocus.org.uk
