That little bit extra support

There are times when we all need a little support, this may be at a meeting that you are very anxious about, or an assessment, perhaps for a benefit application.

Having support will help to relieve your anxiety and help you to be more relaxed; this will enable you to get your points across to the other party, so expressing your points of view. It will also allow you to explain what you would like the outcome of the meeting to be. 

This is where an advocate comes in, to meet you beforehand to discuss your case, the outcome you would like to see and to help you stand up for your rights.  Sometimes organisations send a number of people to a meeting and this is very difficult if you are on your own, an advocate balances it out.

The meeting may be about your housing, finances, health, care or in fact any part of your life.

Meetings can be a very anxious time, so an advocate helps to keep everything calm, support you, but also to speak on your behalf if you are struggling to do so. 

An advocate takes time to understand your case, help you to discuss it, find out what you would like the outcome to be and make a plan to achieve it. An advocate never judges you, does not tell you what to do and always supports your decision. 

It is your case and your life.

I support my clients by meeting them beforehand to discuss their case and then attending meetings with them, for example, a housing officer, medical staff, debt organisations and so on. I also attend Personal Independence Payment assessments and Universal Credit assessments, both by telephone and face-to-face, as well as Tribunals. Anywhere in fact that someone requires support.

If this is something you would like to discuss, please telephone me, Sally Hamilton -

07464 106903. 

One Stop Advocacy