Advocacy should be available for any person feeling excluded or vulnerable but the reality is provision of advocacy is at best patchy and generic advocacy (open to anyone) is almost non existent - why, funding! Halton Citizen Advocacy has closed after nearly twelve years serving the community. At the only public meeting to discuss advocacy every other group there supported Halton Citizen Advocacy and wanted us to be supported (funding wise). Unfortunately we did not win the local tender, funded by Neighbourhood Renewal money, the organisation that did has not provided a generic service before and will only take referrals from Health and Social Care - so public money is being used to support local authority services - what about the public who do not have a social worker - for them, after all these years, now there is nothing.

How short sighted the commissioners were - Halton Citizen Advocacy has always supported the most vulnerable groups in the area - without us they have no one to turn to and will not use social services , even if they could, because authority can be very intimidating. In nearly twelve years Halton Citizen Advocacy is proud that they have only sought legal advice on seven occassions - the rest of the time negotiations have been enough. Without us the most vulnerable have only legal support - many people do not realise that if they do not own their own property, have limited savings and live on benefits they can have legal aid to challenge community care decisions made by others on their behalf.

If there is an independent advocacy group near you - please support it - you never know, one day you too may need some impartial advice or support to challenge statutory services being given to you.