Advocacy North East

Independent Advocacy in Aberdeenshire

News & events

Volunteer Friendly Award

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It’s all smiles and celebrations again as Advocacy North East (ANE) is presented with the Volunteer Friendly Award for sustained excellence in the support and management of our volunteer workforce.

Marilyn receiving her 10 year Long Service Award
Marilyn receiving her 10 year Long Service Award

Developed by Volunteer Dundee, this national initiative is designed to acknowledge organisations who can demonstrate that they have sound, robust systems in place to ensure that volunteers receive the training and support and they need to undertake their role and are properly recognised for the valued work that they do.

The award is for a three year period and this is the third time in succession that ANE has received this accolade. We were delighted to be able to continue to show our volunteers how much we appreciate them.

 

Breaking the Silence! Volunteer with Advocacy North East

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Volunteering in the third sector offers a number of benefits including the opportunity to work with a diverse group of people and the chance to make a difference to society.

If you are passionate about social justice, equal opportunities and inclusion then this may be the role for you.

We are currently looking to recruit volunteer Community Advocates in all areas of Aberdeenshire. With your help we can reach and empower the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our community.

We will provide training in Core Advocacy Skills so you will feel well informed, able and confident before you start. We will follow this up with a continuing programme of training/mentoring to support you to develop in your role.

Regular training events are held

Don’t worry if being an advocate is not your style we have other volunteering opportunities available. For example you could accompany our advocates on first visits to clients and if that’s not up your street how about helping with our new pilot project taking place in care homes across the Shire.

Interested?  Think you might want to join us?  Give us a call on 01467 651604 and our friendly admin staff will link you to the ANE Volunteer Co-ordinator who will be happy to provide you with more information.

Independent Advocate

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The closing date for applications has now passed.

Are you someone who has a passion for social justice and equality? Do you want to make a difference to your community? Then this may be the job for you.

Working in the third sector offers many great rewards, including a competitive salary, job satisfaction and the opportunity to work with a diverse range of people.

Advocacy North East (ANE) is an independent, charitable organisation that enables individuals in Aberdeenshire to make informed choices and have a voice when dealing with Health, Social Care and Social Work Services.

We are seeking to fill the following position which, although based at our office near Inverurie, will require extensive travel throughout Aberdeenshire and beyond to meet the needs of our beneficiaries.

Independent Advocate

20 hours per week – £24,337 per annum (pro rata)

We are looking for a highly motivated, positive individual to provide independent advocacy for our clients in Aberdeenshire and Royal Cornhill Hospital in Aberdeen.

Applicants should demonstrate experience of working alongside people who are often marginalised due to illness, disability or social and environmental factors that make them vulnerable, and have a broad understanding of the issues and barriers that they may face. Knowledge of legislation and social policy as it impacts on these individuals would be desirable

Candidates for the post must possess excellent communication, organisational and time management skills, be IT literate and have the ability to work independently with minimum supervision.

A valid driving licence and use of a vehicle is a requirement.

The post is deemed Regulated Work with Adults and recruitment is subject to PVG Scheme Membership and satisfactory references.

Closing date 27th of May at 10.00am

For further details/application pack please contact:

Advocacy North East, Dalfling Business Centre, Blairdaff, Inverurie AB51 5LA

Tel. 01467 651604 / Email [email protected]

Scottish Charity Reg no. SC024538

 

 

Moray Basic Core Skills

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They are 12th, 14th, 19th 21st and 26th April 2016 – 10.00am to 3.00pm each day.

Venue – Spynie Dental Practice ( Training Room ) Duffus Road, Elgin, IV30 5PW

Light lunch will be provided, liquid refreshments available throughout the day.

Contact ANE  Moray Office on 01343 559649 or Helen Patterson 07962811182

Community Advocates Training – Banchory

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We are hosting training in Banchory for people who may wish to volunteer as Community Advocates with the organisation, or for those who wish to further their professional development.

The course will run over five days: 19th, 20th, 26th, 27th April and 3rd May from 9.30am to 3pm at Hill of Banchory School, and cover Basic Core Advocacy Skills such as “what is advocacy?”, communication skills, discrimination and stereotyping, conflict resolution, Basic Child Protection, and Adult Support and Protection. Lunch and refreshments will be provided on each day.

Working as a volunteer Community Advocate is always inspiring, rewarding, interesting and at times challenging. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills, and put your existing talents and knowledge to good use. If this sounds like the sort of opportunity you would like to engage with, we would be delighted to hear from you!

Training is free for those who wish to become volunteers. A small charge applies to those who would like to access the course for continuing professional development purposes.

If you are interested in finding out more information about the course, and to book a place, please contact Laura Simmons (Training and Volunteer Coordinator) on 01467 651604 or email[email protected]

Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation

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Advocacy North East (Moray) has been awarded support from the Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation to revamp and update its ICT structure, equipment and materials

For 10 years, Advocacy North East (Moray) staff and volunteers have provided Independent advocacy for over 1000 individuals throughout the Moray area who, through mental illness, learning disability or challenged communication require support to make their views and wishes known to professionals in relation to their health and social care.

Polly Patrick, Advocacy Service Manager, stated … “Effective communication is at the heart of everything that we do at ANEM and we are delighted that the Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation is supporting us to remain at the forefront of technology. This financial award will enable us to develop a broad range of marketing materials to reach more people who may require our support as well as promote our service to a wider audience. As a result of this grant, our service, which is supported and promoted by the Moray Health and Social Care Partnership, will be enabled to maximise our available resources.

Service Co-ordinator Lesley Fraser said…  “Increasingly our clients are choosing to use technology to communicate with their advocates and, in addition, other professional organisations need to know that we have effective, efficient and secure communication management structures to handle the document traffic that passes between us and ensure the continued success of our operation. With this generous support from the Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation we will be able to meet these evolving demands”

Kay Jackson, Foundation Manager, reported … “the team at ANEM is providing a very valuable service to many vulnerable people in our local area.  We are pleased that the funding provided will help the team extend this support.”

This award could not have come at a better time as Advocacy North East prepares to celebrate its 10th year of operation in Moray, with an anniversary event being held in the Laichmoray Hotel, Elgin, 26th August, from 11am to 3pm, where the new marketing materials, supported by the Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation, will be launched.