VoiceAbility

2,000+ people with a learning disability and autistic people are being detained in mental health hospitals. The average stay is 5 years. This is leading to trauma and loss of life. #UseYourPower to change this. Sign to call on @DHSCgovuk and @NHSEngland to improve support 👇

We're wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone here at VoiceAbility! ❄️🎉🌟 We hope you're able to find some joy and comfort at this time — but if you need support, advice is available on our website 24/7. Our lines reopen from Friday 2 January.

Our phone lines and web chat are open today (Wednesday 24 December) from 9am-5pm — but will be closed at certain times over the holiday period. Advice is available on our website 24/7 if you need support: voiceability.org/support-and-he…

Fantastic to see so many VoiceAbility colleagues at the National Advocacy Conference today in Birmingham - kicking off Advocacy Awareness Week in style 👏💜👏 So many good conversations. Big thanks to @KMercerTraining for hosting 🙌 #AAW25 #WhyAdvocacy #AdvocacyWorks

@a057806096593 your location or if you contact our helpline on 0300 303 1660 they'll be able to help you straight away. Let me know if you need any further help. Take care. Best wishes 2/2

@a057806096593 Hey, thanks for getting in touch. Yes, we do provide mental health advocacy - you can find out more information here: voiceability.org/about-advocacy… However it depends on where you're located as to whether we would be the right organisation to support you. Can you possibly please DM 1/2

@VoiceAbility Do you provide advocacy for mental health assessments? 🤔Would an advocate be able to support me during an assessment with a medical professional? Would they be able to discuss my options before the assessment and work out what I would like to do afterwards too?

The event brought together people with lived experience, and health, social care, and education professionals. This is a key step towards improving outcomes, strengthening access and building more inclusive services for adults with learning disabilities. voiceability.org/news/co-produc…

We recently delivered a #CoProduction workshop to support the development of a new person-centred community model for people with #LearningDisabilities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Find out more below 👇 #Inclusion #LivedExperience #ExpertsByExperience

Find out more about advocacy for children and young people: voiceability.org/about-advocacy… #Advocacy #AdvocacyAwareness #AdvocacyMatters #HumanRights #ChildrenAndYoungPeople *To protect people's privacy, we sometimes don't use their real names, but their stories are genuine.

With Eve’s help, Tori was able to understand her rights and have her wishes respected in decisions around her discharge. Read Tori’s full story: ow.ly/PihK50WMf8Q

17-year-old A-level student Tori was detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act for her own safety, when self-harm became a threat to her life. She asked for advocate Eve’s support, because she was worried that the hospital would discharge her before she felt ready.

Fantastic news, and well deserved! It was great to work with Professor Lobo and others on a self-advocacy toolkit to support people living with inflammatory bowel disease 💜

"When you see someone has been through challenging times, if I can do something to address that in any small manner to have a positive impact on their development, confidence, and emotions, then that is a great feeling." Read our full interview with Don: voiceability.org/news/when-you-…

"It's like a big buddy scenario, I can talk to him from a different angle — not as a parent, but as a mentor." We spoke to Don, who volunteers with us as an independent visitor — a role for adults who are able to offer long-term support to a child or young person in their area.

"Many schools say they have no young carers" ⁉️🫢 Our very own Dominic, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, joined the BBC Breakfast sofa to discuss 🎥

You can also read more in our news article: ow.ly/ypOq50Wzizx If you need support to access Social Security Scotland benefits, then please make a referral on our website, call us free on 0300 303 1660, or email helpline.scotland@voiceability.org.

The service provides free 1-1 support to help anyone who identifies as disabled access benefits from Social Security Scotland. It's also available to parents, guardians or carers accessing benefits for a disabled child. Watch the full video interview: ow.ly/vh9I50Wzizy

'Breaking down barriers – that's what we're here for.' Advocate Linda Maguire was recently interviewed by Clydesider Magazine about our #SocialSecurityScotland benefits advocacy service. #SocialSecurityScotlandBenefits #DisabilityBenefits #DisabilityRights

@QuantumStrikeX Great, thank you, we'll take a look.

We're in London today with Speak Out Leader Sean Nightingale at the @candsalliance's #ShowUsYouCare parliamentary event. People with lived experience of adult #SocialCare have been speaking to the govt about the reality of the system: the good, the bad, and what needs to change.

@QuantumStrikeX advice. Best wishes, 2/2

@QuantumStrikeX Hello there, Thank you for getting in touch. Can you possibly please send us specific details of your request by direct message, and we can look into helping you. Or you can always contact our helpline on 0300 303 1660 or helpline@voiceability.org for help, support and 1/2