Support and advocacy

What is an advocate?

At times, we all can find it difficult to speak up for ourselves and somebody else, like an advocate, might be able to help by speaking up on your behalf. An advocate will act as your mouthpiece.  An advocate’s job is to represent your views, your needs and your rights by speaking or writing on your behalf.  An advocate can attend meetings with you or instead of you and they can help you get your entitlements.

Many advocates are people who have experience of mental health or learning disability services themselves and may have used the services in the past, so they’re well-placed to understand what you’re going through.

How to get an advocate

All patients are allocated a care co-ordinator who will know about advocacy services. Or, you can contact one of the advocacy and support services in our area, using the list below.

Support Groups and Organisations

• Rethink Help & support for people affected by mental illness: 0300 5000 927
• LAMP (Leicestershire Action for Mental Health Project): 0116 255 628
• Alzheimer’s Society Advocacy, information and support for people with dementia and carers: 0116 251 0366
• Focusline Leicestershire For people experiencing mental distress, and their carers: 0800 027 2127
• Savera: For Asian people with mental ill-health, and their carers: 0116 261 2837
• Samaritans Available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts:116 123
• Sane improve the quality of life for anyone affected by mental illness, including family friends and carers: 0300 304 7000
• Mental Health Foundation improves the lives of those with mental health problems or learning disabilities through research, service development and information: 020 7803 1100
• Help for living a healthier lifestyle 
  • Quitting smoking: City team: 0116 295 4141; Leicestershire & Rutland team: 0845 045 2828
  • Healthy eating: Leicestershire Nutrition & Dietetic Service – 0116 222 7170
  • Fitness: Leicestershire & Rutland Sports Partnership
  • Clubs, societies & community organisations: Infolinx

  Help with benefits, money and debt

  • Leicester Welfare Rights Service: 0116 454 5570
  • The Community Advice and Law Service (CALS) Money and debt advice: 0116 242 1120
  • Disability Benefits Centre Disability benefit advice. Born on/before 8/4/1948: 0345 605 6055. Born after 8/4/1948 0345 712 3456
  • Age Concern Leicester: Welfare Rights Officer: 0116 299 0555
  • Age Concern Leicestershire & Rutland: 0116 299 2233
  • Age Concern Lutterworth: 01455 557116
  • Age Concern Oadby & Wigston: 0116 288 5203
  • Age Concern Hinkley & Bosworth: 01455 619519
  • Direct.gov.uk Government information website.
  • Citizens’ Advice Bureau see advice below for more details.

  Help with getting the right equipment 

  If you are not an inpatient, call your local social care department for help getting equipment such as stair rails, stair lifts, tap turners and jar openers.

  • Blaby, Oadby & Wigston: 0116 278 7111
  • Market Harborough: 0116 305 0170
  • Charnwood: 01509 266641
  • Melton Mowbray: 01664 564698
  • Hinkley & Bosworth: 01455 636964
  • North West Leicestershire: 0116 305 4400
  • Rutland County Council: 01572 722577
  • Leicester: 0116 253 1191

  Or try:

  • British Red Cross Disabled Living Centre: 0845 373 0217
  • British Red Cross Independent Living Shop: 0116 244 9049
  • British Red Cross Leicester branch: 0116 270 0210
  • Disabled Living Foundation

  Help for carers

  • CLASP For carers in Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland: 0116 251 0999
  • Crossroads Mental Health Outreach Support.

  Advice

  Citizens’ Advice Bureaux provide free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities.

  • Leicestershire Citizens’ Advice Bureau (serving Blaby, Coalville, Hinckley, Leicester, Market Harborough, Melton, South Wigston, Loughborough and Lutterworth): 0300 330 1025
  • Shepshed: 01509 506 663
    
  • Rutland: 01572 723494
  • For benefits advice for people with cancer, call Macmillan: 0300 456 8400
  Mosaic: Shaping Disability Service deliver information and services that promote inclusion, equality, independence, choice, empowerment, respect and dignity: 0116 231 4425 
  Voluntary Action Leicester (VAL) is a charity that gets people into volunteering, helps community groups and organisations thrive and provides essential services: 0116 257 5050
  • Voluntary Action Blaby: 0116 272 7669
  • Voluntary Action Oadby & Wigston: 0116 257 5050
  • Voluntary Action South Leicestershire: 01858 433232
  • Voluntary Action North West Leicestershire: 01530 510515
  • Voluntary Action Charnwood: 01509 631750
  • Voluntary Action Melton: 01664 483043
  • Voluntary Action Hinckley & Bosworth: 01455 633002