Business Details
32 Years
experience
Your Voice, Your Rights - Advocacy Support in Edinburgh
Advocard is a dedicated advocacy organisation committed to empowering individuals facing mental health challenges, substance use issues, and systemic barriers within the justice and welfare systems. Established in 1994, we operate on a human rights-based approach, ensuring clients retain control over decisions affecting their lives. Our team of experienced advocates provides free, confidential support to help individuals navigate complex processes, from healthcare and housing to legal and benefits systems. We pride ourselves on fostering inclusivity and equality, as evidenced by our participation in the Equally Safe at Work Initiative and our status as a Fair Work employer. With offices in Edinburgh and a presence in HMP Edinburgh, we serve diverse communities across the region.Our volunteers and staff bring decades of collective experience in social care, education, and advocacy, ensuring clients receive informed, compassionate support. We prioritise client autonomy, offering tailored assistance through in-person meetings, phone calls, or video consultations. Our outreach programmes, including drop-in sessions and community workshops, further extend our reach to those in need. Recognised for our transparency and ethical practices, we continuously seek to improve our services through client feedback and professional development. Advocard remains steadfast in its mission to amplify voices often unheard, ensuring every individuals rights are respected and upheld.
Services
Mental Health Advocacy
Substance Use Advocacy
Prison Advocacy
Welfare Reform Support
Outreach Drop-Ins
Details
- Year established: 1994
Highlights and features
- We employ a human rights-based approach to advocacy, ensuring client autonomy.
- Our team has over 25 years of combined experience in social care and advocacy.
- We offer free, confidential services tailored to individual needs.
- We are a Fair Work employer committed to equality and ethical practices.
- Our outreach programmes ensure accessibility for underserved communities.
Associations and certifications
- Scottish Charity Regulator (SC023181)
What people say
Empathetic support
Empowering approach
Accessible team
Life-changing impact
Confidential environment
Services
Mental Health Advocacy
Our Mental Health Advocacy service supports individuals navigating mental health care systems. We help clients understand their rights, prepare for tribunals, and communicate with healthcare providers. By prioritising client autonomy, we ensure their preferences guide treatment decisions, offering accompaniment to meetings and access to critical information.
Substance Use Advocacy
Substance Use Advocacy assists individuals in recovery or active addiction to access appropriate care. Advocates clarify treatment options, accompany clients to appointments, and ensure their voices are heard in service planning. We focus on harm reduction and client-led decision-making, respecting individual choices while promoting safety.
Prison Advocacy
Prison Advocacy provides representation for individuals in HMP Edinburgh. We help clients address grievances, prepare for parole hearings, and access healthcare services. Advocates attend meetings with legal representatives and ensure compliance with human rights standards, offering confidential support to navigate institutional challenges.
Welfare Reform Support
Welfare Reform Support guides clients through benefits claims and disputes. Advocates assist with form completion, appeals, and communication with agencies like Social Security Scotland. We clarify eligibility criteria and ensure clients understand their rights, focusing on mental health and substance use-related claims.
Outreach Drop-Ins
Outreach Drop-Ins offer accessible advocacy in Edinburgh communities. These sessions provide informal advice on housing, healthcare, and social services without prior booking. Advocates use a rights-based approach to empower attendees, fostering trust through face-to-face engagement in welcoming environments.
People
Rebecca Barr
Chair
Rebecca Barr joined Advocard in 2020 as CEO before transitioning to Board Chair. With a 35-year social work career across UK local authorities and charities, she champions advocacy as a means to amplify marginalised voices. She resides in Edinburgh and enjoys walking in the Pentlands.
Lisa Nowak
Vice Chair
Lisa Nowak, Vice Chair, brings expertise in education governance from roles at Scotlands Rural College and NUS. Holding a PhD in Philosophy of Psychiatry, she focuses on mental health stigma reduction. A former volunteer, she now contributes to AdvoCards strategic direction while enjoying mountain biking in Scotland.
Karen Anderson
Board Member
Karen Anderson, a founding Advocard employee in 1994, returned as a board member after retirement. Her 25-year advocacy journey reflects commitment to client rights. Now based in East Lothian, she balances advocacy work with photography and countryside exploration.
Veronica Ferguson
Board Member
Veronica Ferguson, a project management veteran, supports AdvoCards strategic growth. Her career spans sectors, including enterprise advising at the University of Edinburgh. She mentors entrepreneurs and enjoys running, leveraging her experience to enhance advocacy service delivery.
Ben Baldock
CEO
Ben Baldock, CEO, has 14 years of Edinburgh-based advocacy experience, specialising in mental health legislation. Leading a skilled team, he ensures high-quality service delivery. Outside work, he hikes the Pentlands with his dog, reflecting his commitment to community engagement.
Questions
What areas does Advocard serve?
Advocard operates in Edinburgh, including HMP Edinburgh, offering in-person, phone, and video consultations.
Are Advocard’s services free?
Yes, all advocacy services are free and confidential, funded through charitable support.
Who can access advocacy support?
Anyone in Edinburgh facing mental health challenges, substance use issues, or welfare/prison system interactions.
What qualifications do advocates have?
Our advocates hold social work, legal, or mental health credentials, with decades of combined experience in client-centred advocacy.
Does Advocard offer emergency support?
While we don’t provide crisis services, we assist with urgent advocacy needs during standard operating hours.
