Many of our service users have learning disabilities and our advocates have a wide range of skills in recognising and responding appropriately to their needs. In Learning Disability Week we’d like to give you an example of the advocacy we provide – read Jennifer’s story

We are keen to make all our services accessible and responsive to people from LQBTQ+ communities and in Pride Month we’d like to give you a flavour of the advocacy support we provide. Read about Chris who has experienced discrimination and hate crime as a result of their intersectional identities of gender and disability.

In Volunteers Week Gill Edgar, Senior Advocacy Coordinator, tells the story of her journey through volunteering to becoming an Independent Advocate.

Worldwide, June is LGBT+ Pride Month - although locally, Northern Pride takes place in July - and we think it’s a great time to reflect on our values. We’re also excited to unveil a special Pride Month logo and series of blogs to draw attention to our services that are here to support LGBT+ people and communities.

The LGBT+ Northern Social Group (NSG) began as a Facebook group in 2017. It was set up to provide a safe space for LGBT+ people to meet up and connect without experiencing the pressures, expectations or prejudices that they might encounter in other meeting spaces for LGBT+ people and communities. During Pride Month we asked LGBT+ Northern Social Group to talk us through their journey so far and how Connected Voice Support and Development has guided them in becoming a registered charity.

Whilst there is much to celebrate during LGBTQ+ History Month and it is important to mark how far we have come in protecting the rights of people from LGBTQ+ communities, it is also a time to remember that there is still work to be done to ensure no-one is discriminated against or subject to Hate Crime. Sherene Meir, our Hate Crime Advocate, interviewed George

December 10th is Human Rights Day and a time to reflect on how human rights and advocacy go hand in hand.

Connected Voice is hosting a 'Doing Things Differently' event on 2 December, which includes the Albert Kennedy Trust talking about meeting the hidden needs of young LGBTQ homeless people as demand for their services has soared. Here we tell the story of one of our service-users from the LGBTQ+ community and how we supported them.

During National Safeguarding Awareness Week (16-22 November) we want to focus on the support our Independent Advocates provide under the Care Act 2014.

In National Safeguarding Awareness Week (16-22 November) Jane Kingston gives an overview of safeguarding,  explains how advocacy supports people going through safeguarding processes and what to do if you suspect someone is at risk and unable to protect themselves.

From Monday November 2nd it’s National Trustees week – and it’s good to take some time each year to reflect on Trustees.  There are about one million charity Trustees in the UK, providing governance to organisations which, by some estimates, contribute £200 Billion of economic value each year.