South West Advocacy Network (SWAN) has announced that they are now providing free self-advocacy training sessions permanently. The ‘Be Heard’ programme is designed to help people stand up for their rights and resolve issues that they are facing by teaching them how to advocate for themselves. Self-advocacy means standing up for your rights and ensuring that your voice is heard. Many people find this difficult especially when dealing with various professionals, such as NHS or council workers. We want to ensure that more people feel confident when explaining their needs. From now on, SWAN will be running Be Heard sessions each month, except for August and December. The sessions will be held at the Riverside Centre on The Quay in Newport. Each session will last 2 hours and 30 minutes and will include the following:
- Self-Advocacy Toolkits
- Group self-advocacy training with your peers – an interactive course
- One-to-one self-advocacy training and coaching
Advocates will also be present to discuss how to approach any issues attendees are facing and to support them when advocating by themselves. The sessions and resources provided are completely free of charge. SWAN is commissioned by the Isle of Wight Council to provide several independent services on the Isle of Wight including Health Complaints Advocacy, Care Act Advocacy, Mental Health Advocacy and Mental Capacity Advocacy. If you would like to know more about the service the Isle of Wight team provide, visit: https://swanadvocacy.org.uk/iow/ If you are interesting in attending a Be Heard session, contact SWAN to book your space on 03333 447928 or at [email protected]. Spaces are limited so it is advised to book early to avoid disappointment.
