Pears Magazine issue 41

Page 22

ONSIDE Advocacy ONSIDE is a local charity working across Worcestershire & Herefordshire to provide a wide range of services that aim to ensure fairness and equality, improve physical and mental health and wellbeing, and give people a voice in decisions that affect them. ONSIDE work with people who may be vulnerable disadvantaged or simply finding life`s challenges difficult to help them live the best life possible. ONSIDE services include Advocacy, Social Prescribing, Lifestyle advice, Wellbeing coaching, Community Mental Health Transformation, Dementia Support and the PLUS service which helps people who are experiencing loneliness or isolation.

totally independent from the local authority and remain unbiased to ensure clients are treated fairly and with respect. So often the parents we support need help accessing a solicitor, are unsure about their rights and where to get information, feel overwhelmed and/or confused about their situation and simply find it hard to say how they feel. Our advocates play a key role on many levels from supporting the parent to understand and uphold their rights, helping them to understand the relevant information, provide independent advocacy and ensure their views and wishes are represented. We even accompany clients to meetings, court

In 2021 we were delighted to be selected by Worcestershire Law Society as their charity of the year and are extremely grateful for the support and fundraising that has taken place. It will make a huge difference to the people in our community that we support. We would like to take the opportunity to share with you some information on one of our projects and demonstrate to you just how much of a difference your support can make to some of the vulnerable and disadvantaged people we support. ONSIDE Parents Support Advocacy ONSIDE provide a free advocacy service for parents to support them during assessments and proceedings. We are

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www.worcestershirelawsociety.com

hearings and other appointments related to the care of their children – so often this can make a huge difference. A recent case study highlights just how much of a difference we can help in supporting the parents when they need it most: Caroline’s mental ill health had a significant effect on being able to protect her children and keep them safe from domestic violence in the home, resulting in the children being placed in foster care. She was allocated an advocate before the Issues Resolution Hearing (IRH) in summer last year and a home visit was needed to support Caroline in attending the


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