Our service empowers individuals to make informed decisions, advocate for themselves, and obtain the necessary support to achieve their goals.
Based at Bolingbroke Road – Digital, Creative & Advocacy Hub, HF Mencap’s Community Advocacy Service provides specialist, independent, rights-based support to help people understand their rights, express their wishes, and navigate complex systems confidently.
Who the service is for (Eligibility)
The Community Advocacy Service is funded to provide advocacy to adults aged 18+ who live in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and meet one or more of the following criteria:
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People with learning disabilities and/or autism
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People with mental health problems
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People with a brain injury
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People with physical disabilities
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People with sensory impairments (sight and hearing problems)
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Older people and people with dementia
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People with a long-term illness
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People with profound and multiple disabilities or complex health needs
Specialist expertise: We have particular experience supporting adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults, including people facing complex, multi-agency situations.
Download our advocacy information in PDF format
What advocacy is (and how it helps)
Advocacy helps people to be heard when decisions are being made about their life, safety, health, or independence. Our advocates support people to understand what’s happening, explore options, and communicate what matters to them.
An advocate CAN support someone to:
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Understand their rights
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Understand any processes and decisions they are subject to
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Understand their options
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Communicate their views, wishes, and feelings
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Make their own choices and challenge a decision
An advocate DOES NOT:
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Offer legal advice
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Offer counselling or befriending
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Tell the people they support what decisions to make
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Tell health or social care professionals what decisions to make
Even when someone can’t tell their advocate their views, our advocates use a range of communication methods to establish their views and wishes as far as possible, in order to secure their rights.
What we can help with
This service is helpful for people who need support to deal with an issue they are facing—for example, if they are finding it difficult to put their views across, don’t feel listened to, feel vulnerable or at risk of abuse, need help to access services relating to their health, lifestyle or independence, or are struggling with an issue and would benefit from support.
People come to us for support with areas such as:
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Housing and tenancy
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Health access and communication
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Social care and support planning
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Safeguarding concerns
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Financial exploitation and protecting finances
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Benefits and entitlements
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Court of Protection-related issues (support to understand processes and be heard)
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Multi-agency coordination
We don’t provide legal advice, but we can support you to understand information, prepare for meetings, and make sure your views are heard.
How referrals work (and what happens next)
How do I get support from an advocate?
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You can be referred to us by a health or care service professional.
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In some cases, a carer or family member can also make a referral.
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Or you can contact us yourself.
Our advocate will aim to acknowledge a referral within 5 to 7 working days. Due to high demand, cases are assessed according to our priority policy. Whilst we aim to avoid waiting lists, at times they may be unavoidable. If a client is added to a waiting list, they will be given regular updates as to when their case may be taken on.
How to make a referral
Download and complete our referral form: Community Advocacy referral form
You can make a referral by contacting our Community advocate: [email protected] 07496418892
If you have questions about eligibility or referral types, contact Sophie.
A trusted, high-quality advocacy team
Our Community Advocacy Service is independent and conflict-free. We work in partnership with NHS services, adult social care teams, housing providers, solicitors, community organisations and families to help ensure people receive appropriate, rights-based support.
Staff are supported through supervision and strong safeguarding processes — foundations essential to delivering safe, ethical advocacy.
Quality, safeguarding and continuous improvement
We’re committed to safe, ethical, rights-based advocacy, supported by strong safeguarding processes and management oversight.
As part of continuous improvement, we are working towards the Advocacy Quality Mark (AQM) to strengthen consistency, learning, feedback, and quality assurance across the service.
Advocacy impact (Nov 2023 – Mar 2025)
- 68 referrals received
- 29 cases opened
- 20 cases successfully resolved
- 26 referrals received in the first quarter of 2025 alone (increasing demand)
This demonstrates both the scale of local need and the trust placed in HF Mencap by the community and professional partners.
Check out our 2024 to 2025 annual review
Case study — restoring independence (anonymised)
One adult had experienced long-term inappropriate financial and personal control by relatives. With support from HF Mencap’s advocate:
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Power of Attorney was revoked
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Safeguarding concerns were resolved
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Benefits and finances were restored
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The individual regained autonomy and stability
He said:
“You have helped me get back on my feet and regain my independence.”
This story represents the type of life-changing support advocacy delivers every day.
Co-production in advocacy
Our advocacy service is shaped with clients and families through:
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case feedback sessions
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client involvement in planning support
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family and carer input
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surveys and annual reviews
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service shaping within the Bolingbroke Road hub
Clients and families help us identify advocacy needs, set priorities and refine the support we deliver.
