Unpaid Carers advocacy
Unpaid Carers advocacy is for people who are aged 18 or over, who are caring for an eligible adult or child.
Does someone in your family need support with their health and care? Do you live with someone, and help them with everyday tasks?
Even if you don’t think of yourself as a carer, you’re entitled to support.
What support can an advocate provide?
An advocate can support you and the person you care for to have your rights upheld. That might mean support with:
- Guardianships
- Mental Health Act tribunals
- Communicating with health and social care professionals, including by letter and at meetings
- Making a complaint, for example about a care provider, a care package, direct payments or healthcare
- Housing
- Resolving problems
- Signposting to other services
You can access advocacy without the role of ‘carer’ defining you. You’re not alone, you don’t have to be alone.
Make a referral
Request an unpaid carers advocate
Who can get unpaid carers advocacy?
You need to be 18 years or older.
The person you care for must be at least one of the following:
- they are subject to the Adult Support and Protection Act
- they have a mental health condition, or a substance use issue
- they have a learning disability or they are autistic
- they have a diagnosis of dementia, physical disability, sensory impairment, or an acquired brain injury
- they are a child or young person receiving services from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
VoiceAbility provides unpaid carers advocacy when the person you care for lives within the City of Edinburgh. Another organisation will provide this kind of advocacy if they live somewhere else.
Who can refer an unpaid carer for advocacy support?
You can refer yourself.
A friend or family member can make a referral.
Professionals such as care workers, social workers and health professionals can also make referrals.
Make a referral
Request an unpaid carers advocate
Find out more at a drop-in session
Meet an advocate to chat about your situation, and find out what support is available. You don’t need to make an appointment.
When: Every first and third Wednesday of the month 9am –11am
Where: Niddrie/Craigmillar Medical Practice, Edinburgh EH16 4DT
When: Every second and fourth Wednesday of the month 10am – 12pm
Where: McDonald Road Library, Edinburgh EH7 4LU
When: Wednesdays weekly 10am - 12pm
Where: The Salvation Army, 36 Wardieburn Drive, Edinburgh, EH5 1BZ
When: Wednesdays weekly 10am - 12pm
Where: Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Place, Edinburgh, EH10 5HF
When: First Thursday of every month, 10.30am - 12.30pm
Where: Food Facts Friends Community Pantry, 42 John Street, Penicuik, EH26 8AB
When: Second Tuesday of every month, 10am - 12pm
Where: Loanhead Library, The Loanhead Centre, George Street, Loanhead, EH20 9LA
When: Wednesdays weekly 9.30am - 11.30am
Where: Ayton Community Hall, High St, Ayton, TD14 5QL
When: First Thursday of the month, 10am - 12pm
Where: Oxgangs Library, 343 Oxgangs Road North, Edinburgh, EH13 9LY
When: Tuesdays and Wednesdays weekly 10am - 4pm
Where: Wester Hailes Job Centre, Murrayburn House, Westside Plaza, Wester Hailes Road, Edinburgh, EH14 2SP
When: First Tuesday of the month, 10am - 12pm
Where: Dalkeith Library, 1 White Hart Street, Dalkeith, EH22 1AE
When: Second and fourth Thursdays of the month, 1.30pm - 4pm
Where: Eyemouth Job Centre, Upper Houndlaw, Eyemouth TD14 5BS
When: Second and fourth Fridays of the month, 1pm - 3pm
Where: Eric Liddell Centre, 15 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4DP
When: Tuesdays weekly, 9am - 10am
Where: Coldstream Community Larder Church Hall, Coldstream Parish Church, High Street, Coldstream, TD12 4DH
When: Fridays weekly, 10am - 4pm
Where: The Thistle Foundation, Centre of Wellbeing, 13 Queen’s Walk, Edinburgh, EH16 4EA
When: Third Wednesday of every month, 9am - 11am
Where: Craigmillar Medical Practice, Niddrie Mains Rd, Edinburgh, EH16 4DT
Upcoming events
We’re holding a group advocacy session to hear about unpaid carers’ feedback on Low Emissions Zones. We’d love you to join us to hear about your experiences.
- 8 October 1pm-2:30pm at Central Library, Edinburgh, EH1 1EG
- 15 October 1:30pm-3pm at The Eric Liddell Centre, Edinburgh, EH10 4DP
- 25 October 3pm-4:30pm at The Melting Pot, Edinburgh, EH8 8DL
If you would like to be involved, please email groupadvocacyscotland@voiceability.org or call 03003031660 to register your attendance.
Feedback and complaints
VoiceAbility provides unpaid carers advocacy in Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership.
Who do I contact if I want to make a complaint?
You can access the Council’s complaints process and contact the Social Work Advice and Complaints Service by email on socialwork.complaints@edinburgh.gov.uk.
You can also contact them by telephone on 0131 553 8395.