Independent advocacy charity, AdvoCard, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special exhibition and a series of events highlighting its work and its impact from 1994 to 2024.
The exhibition will be held at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall from Tuesday 8th to Saturday 12th October 2024, running from 10 a.m. daily (end times may vary).
30 Years of Advocacy
The journey of AdvoCard began in the early 1990s when a steering group formed to explore the need for independent advocacy services in Edinburgh.
By 1994, with funding from Edinburgh City Council, the organisation was officially established, led by a small team of three part-time staff, including founding member Karen Anderson, and a small group of dedicated volunteers.
By 2001 they had moved to their first office in Leith and began expanding their service into the South East Locality of Edinburgh, becoming city wide in 2003.
In 2009, they expanded again, opening a second site at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital to complement the original office in Leith and have continued to grow to meet the increasing demand for services.
Today, AdvoCard operates from two main offices: the Duncan Place Community Hub in Leith and the Andrew Duncan Clinic at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Morningside with a team of 20 staff and 18 volunteers.
Over the years, they have expanded their original remit to include advocacy for people with problematic substance use, outreach services, a welfare and benefits advocacy worker, prison advocacy and a volunteer team who support people navigating complex challenges related to health and social care, medical treatments, and decision-making processes.
Independent Advocacy focuses on ensuring that people can have their voices heard in decisions impacting their health and well-being, providing an essential service to those often left unheard. In todays current climate of reduced funding for health and social care services, AdvoCard are playing an increasingly vital role in helping individuals understand and assert their rights.
Celebrating 30 Years with Community Events
AdvoCard’s 30th anniversary will be marked with an exhibition at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall from 8th to 12th October. This exhibition will showcase the organisation’s history, its evolution, and its impact on the community over three decades. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with staff and volunteers, learning more about the vital role independent advocacy plays in empowering individuals.
AdvoCard workers will also be celebrating with a special event on Thursday 3rd October from 3pm at its former offices on 322 Leith Walk (now home to the Indigo Hair and Beauty Salon), where the salon has generously donated eight free treatments for AdvoCard’s staff and its volunteers.
AdvoCard invites the media and the public to join in these celebrations, meet the team, and learn more about the crucial services they provide.
Karen Anderson, founding member of AdvoCard and current board member, reflects on the organisation’s milestone: “That AdvoCard has grown and developed so much over the years is a testament to the hard work, commitment and dedication of the many staff, volunteers and board members who have been involved over the years.”
Advocacy partners (service users) have shared how AdvoCard has positively impacted their lives:
– “AdvoCard took the time to listen to me, which helped me regain my confidence and self-esteem. They couldn’t change my issues, but they empowered me to face them.”
– “My advocacy worker has been amazing. I feel that I’m taken more seriously now and am regaining power I felt I had lost.”
– “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of AdvoCard.”
Volunteers also speak about the significance of independent advocacy:
– “It’s important to help people voice their opinions when they are struggling. I want to make sure they are heard while maintaining their agency.”
– “Making a difference by challenging unfair systems is incredibly rewarding.”
– “Helping someone resolve issues affecting their daily lives is why I volunteer.”
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