Our Mission
" Our Voice provides independent, impartial and confidential advocacy support to people with disabilities. We believe that everyone’s voice needs to be heard "
Our Voice seeks funding from a variety of sources to provide independent advocacy services. At present funding is provided under the Big Lottery to provide paid advocates for d/Deaf people in Cambridgeshire. Funding via the government’s ‘Opportunities for Volunteering’ scheme provides volunteer advocates for people with disabilities.
What is Advocacy?
Advocacy is about enabling people to have a REAL SAY in what happens in their lives. Not everyone can express their needs easily - this is where an ADVOCATE can help. Advocacy aims to give people the skills and confidence to make informed choices and the power to make their voices heard.
The Advocacy Charter "Advocacy is taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain the services they need. Advocates and Advocacy Schemes work in partnership with the people they support and take their side. Advocacy promotes social inclusion, equality and social justice."
Our Voice is committed to upholding the Advocacy Charter in all its work
Developed as a set of core principles for advocacy, the Charter is designed:
- To inform advocacy practice and training
- To raise awareness of the value of Advocacy
- As a tool for negotiating with funding and commissioning bodies
- As a quality assurance mechanism
Comments from Our Voice service users
‘I am very happy with the help I’ve received from -------. They have helped me get my life together and put things into perspective.’
‘Thank you ------ for the help and support you have given me.’
‘I feel now very safe. If I need any help I know who to talk to.’
‘I am happy now because the DLA forms have been successful after second attempt.’
‘I am glad to have an advocate worker to support me.’
‘Just to say thank you for all the work and understanding that you and your colleagues gave me through this very trying time. Once again thanks ----- ’
‘Just to say a big thank ‘you’ to all at ‘Our Voice’ and mainly to ------ who was so understanding and helpful.’