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Advocacy in the London Borough of Sutton

In the London Borough of Sutton, we provide:

• Professional Community Advocacy
• Citizen Advocacy. 
• 2 self advocacy groups

You can find out more about each service below.

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Professional Short Term Advocacy Service

Our professional advocacy service is available for adults between 18 years of age and 65 years of age with a learning disability, a physical disability and/or a sensory impairment. You must be living in, or funded by, the London Borough of Sutton to receive our advocacy services.

What does our advocacy service do?

We work with people who want support from us about a particular issue or situation. We will work with someone to:

• Have greater autonomy, choice and control over personal decisions
• Be able to express their views about the support they require from health, social care and housing services
• Be able to access health, social care, or housing services or to make changes to or between services
• Have greater opportunities for social involvement and inclusion
• Be able to make complaints or feedback comments
• Have increased protection from abuse

If you would like an advocate, or would like further information about the service please contact Ella Pobee on 020 8330 6644 or email ella.pobee@voiceability.org

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Citizen Advocacy Service

Our volunteer Citizen Advocates work with adults with a learning disability living in or funded by the London Borough of Sutton.

What is a Citizen Advocate?

A Citizen Advocate is someone who volunteers their time to get to know a person with a disability. They are someone who will be on the side of that person when they want to say something.

You can learn more about what Citizen Advocacy is and how important this role is on our Citizen Advocacy page.

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User Involvement Groups

VoiceAbility provides support to and facilitates user involvement advocacy for people with learning disabilities in Sutton.

We have two self advocacy groups in Sutton. One is called ‘The Citizens Group’ and the other is called ‘The Self Advocacy Group’

Who are the Citizens Group?

The Citizens Group is made up of people with learning disabilities who use services within the London Borough of Sutton.

The group looks at issues that affect people with learning disabilities in the Borough. The group is supported to attend the Sutton Learning Disability Partnership Board as Service User representatives.

Members of the group are also representatives on the LDPB subgroups including:

• Employment
• Housing
• Multi-agency Leisure Group
• Quality Network
• Health

The group produces accessible information for people with learning disabilities. They also look at a variety of issues affecting their lives on a daily basis.

The Citizens Group is always looking for new members to attend meetings and share information.

If you would like to become a member of the Citizens Group or would like further information please contact Ella Pobee on 020 8330 6644 or email ella.pobee@voiceability.org

Who are the Self-Advocacy Group?

The Self-Advocacy Group is made up of people with learning disabilities who used to attend Hallmead Day Centre prior to its closure within the London Borough of Sutton.

The group meets regularly to look at issues that affect their own lives and those of others in the area. The group is represented on the Learning Disability Partnership Board via the Citizens’ Group

The self-advocacy group is open to members who previously used Hallmead Day Services who are now accessing or would like to access community based support.

The group meets each week at the Sutton Centre for Independent Living and Learning.

If you would like to become a member of the self-advocacy group or would like further information please contact Ella Pobee on 020 8330 6644 or email ella.pobee@voiceability.org

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If you would like to speak to someone about any of these services, or if you have a query about other services you have heard about in Sutton, please contact the Service Manager, April Clifford, on the details below.