Advocacy
Alternatives’ Family Advocacy service empowers women to better understand and negotiate the complex systems of support in the UK. It helps them gain the skills and resilience they need to speak up for their and their children’s rights.
Yetunde and Emi (seconded from Shpresa) are our Family Advocates. They support women to: understand their problems and what help is available to them; gather documents; complete forms and online applications, send emails, and attend appointments. Childcare and translation can be provided for appointments if needed.
The Family Advocates don’t do the work for clients but help them to understand the systems and learn the skills to access what they need. Their encouragement and example help them overcome their fears and give them confidence to move forward. They’ll also refer or signpost to other services.
Impact
With the support of our Family Advocates, families can access housing; healthcare; benefits if they are entitled to them; nursery places and support for their children; training, volunteering or work. In 2024 our advocacy service helped 51 families. 22 of them found better housing and four started work.
Even while waiting for problems to be resolved, just knowing there is someone to help can make a big difference.
In our 2024 client survey, 100% of parents responding agreed (60% strongly) that Alternatives staff had helped them with their stresses and 100% said “I can cope better with life’s challenges since coming to Alternatives”.