Advocacy

Advocacy is one way in which people can be supported and encouraged to strive for their basic rights and needs. The council works in partnership with a range of voluntary organisations that provide advocacy services in Tower Hamlets.

An advocate's task is to represent an individual’s views and interests, whenever necessary, as if they were their own. Advocates offer support and understanding which sometimes enables and encourages the individual to speak for themselves. Advocates also gather information which allows the individual to make informed choices.

The relationship between an individual and their advocate will vary according to the individual’s needs. Sometimes an individual will need an advocate over a short term period to help them through a crisis situation and other times support and help will be needed from an advocate over a longer term period.

Advocates can help individuals in a range of ways, including:

• Supporting the individual and assisting them to have a say in their life
• Accompanying the individual to meetings, reviews and appointments
• Ensuring that the individual receives everything to which they are entitled.

Advocacy organisations

For further information and to find an advocacy organisation that is right for you, please refer to the following useful website:

• The Community legal service
  The Community legal service ensures that people can get information and advice about their legal rights and help with enforcing them. The Community legal service brings together legal aid solicitors, Citizens' advice bureaux, law centres, local authority services and other organisations in local networks which is an important part of the government's fight against social exclusion.

Complaints & further information

If you are dissatisfied with a council service, you can voice your complaint either directly or through an independent advocate, friend or family member.

To make a complaint, please contact the council's Corporate complaints team using the contact details below:

Tel: 020 7354 4161 (English and Bengali are spoken.)
Fax: 020 7364 4300
Minicom:020 7364 4853
E-mail: complaints@towerhamlets.gov.uk

If the complaint is about Social services, the council can arrange for an independent advocate if required. Please contact the Social services complaints department to arrange this by calling:

Tel: 0800 374 176

For further information, please also refer to the section on How to complain.

Pid No: 645