Rights Based Advocacy Project – West Dunbartonshire
Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Service have established an independent advocacy service in West Dunbartonshire specifically for people with drug use issues. Prior to receiving the grant from the Corra Foundation, there was no rights-based advocacy service for people with drug use problems in this area. The grant allowed them to engage with people with additional mental health challenges, employing advocates whose core strengths, knowledge and experiences are particularly well suited to working with this community.
They reported ‘we are beginning to help those with need of support to articulate the barriers to recovery and have their voices heard. Along with attendance at projects or venues associated with recovery and support, together with our colleagues from Argyll and Bute, we organised a visit to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood (we were invited by Pam Ghosal MSP) where a number of those we support joined us. It was particularly moving to see people commonly stigmatised and excluded, included and their reaction to being seen and listened to and treated just as everyone else is, at such a “powerful” venue, and to sit and speak with MSPs and be respected as citizens, has been one of the highlights of the year.’
Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Service, who are delivering services in Argyll and Bute, alongside their work in West Dunbartonshire reported: “In Argyll and Bute, we have created a book of Hope Stories, sharing positive images of recovery and how advocacy can enable people in their recovery. We are keen that these books are offered to all the people who work with us, hopefully offering some insights into how other people have achieved their recovery, instilling a sense of hope and aspiration.” They apply a human rights-based approach within their advocacy work.
You can find this book of Hope Stories here.
A huge thank you to the Corra Foundation for providing LAAS with this grant to enable us to undertake this incredibly important work. You can find out more about them by visiting their website.
