Rights Based Advocacy Project
Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Service have established an independent advocacy service in West Dunbartonshire specifically for adults with substance use issues.
Previous to 2022, there was no rights-based advocacy service for people with substance use issues in this area. The Corra Foundation provided a grant to LAAS, which 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.
“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.”
Our advocates: Jane and Pauline – contact details 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.
