What is Independent Advocacy?
Safeguarding Human Rights Since 1995
Independent advocacy means having someone who empowers you to be heard, speaks up for you and supports your decisions without being influenced by anyone else. This person is not connected to any organisations or groups that might have their own interests. Their only job is to help you express your views, understand your rights, and ensure your voice is heard.
Independent advocacy is especially important for individuals more likely to be treated badly, either because of structural barriers, discrimination and prejudice, and/or because of their own vulnerability.
In simpler terms, imagine an independent advocate as a dedicated helper whose job is to stand by your side and make sure your opinions and wishes are clearly heard, without being influenced by anyone else's interests.
You can find out more about who we support and how below or on our homepage.
Support Available For Those in Need
We call those that use our service our “Advocacy Partners”. Our independent advocates are truly there to work alongside those they are supporting.
Anyone can make a referral to independent advocacy – an involved professional, friend or family member, as well as the individual themselves.
An advocacy partner can opt out of independent advocacy anytime they choose.
An advocacy partner can re-refer to independent advocacy whenever needed.
Though we focus on only providing independent advocacy, this can come in different forms.
We mainly provide One-on-One Advocacy. This is where an independent advocate supports an individual and advocates for them on a one-to-one basis. This support can be short or long term. This is also sometimes known as "Professional Advocacy"
Some people need an independent advocate but cannot directly tell the advocate or express their views of what they want. This is where Non-Instructed Advocacy would come in. An independent advocate would find alternative ways to gather views in this circumstance, such as:
- Using communication methods such as alphabet and white boards, Talking Mats, blinking and/or buzzers.
- Notice if a partner has habits that suggest certain interest, such as small movements, facial expressions or heavy breathing.
- Inquire with appropriate professionals, friends, and family to gather overall context.
We also provide Collective Advocacy for New Scots in Perth & Kinross, where independent advocacy is provided as part of a group. A collective voice can help reduce an individual's sense of isolation when raising a difficult issue and can help policy makers, strategic planners and service providers know what is working well, where the gaps are, and how best to target resources.
We will be uploading some video case studies based on real advocacy work in November 2025.
"In order to be able to ensure that the individual's views are heard and understood, and that they receive support to ensure their rights are not infringed, it is important for advocates to be as free as they can be from conflicts of interest"
Independent Advocacy Guide for Commissioners, The Scottish Government, 2013.
There are three main pathways we focus on to ensure we are independent:
- Structurally: An independent advocacy organisation is a separate organisation in is own right. For example, they are registered as a charity or company and have their own management committee or Board of Directors. Everyone involved in the organisation recognises that they are separate and different from other organisations and services.
- Financially: An independent advocacy organisation has its own source of funding that does not cause any conflicts of interest and that does not comprise the work that it does.
- Psychologically: An independent advocate will provide independent advocacy for anyone, regardless of a partner’s background or views and how this may conflict with the advocate’s personal outlooks. An independent advocate’s primary source of information will also be the partner themselves, rather than official reports, to avoid any possible biases and/or labelling.
Independent Advocacy Perth and Kinross adheres to the ‘Principles, Standards and Code of Best Practice’ produced and published by the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA, 2019). For more information, please visit: www.siaa.org.uk/publications