Independent Advocacy North East (IANE) provides a range of advocacy services, they focus the work with people living in or belonging to North Tyneside and the surrounding areas. 

IANE work to empower vulnerable people to have their voices heard, to be properly involved in their own care, to have information about their rights and to access the services they need. IANE aims to continuously deliver high quality services that are accessible, responsive and appropriate to the diverse needs of different groups. 

Their mission statement is: “To enable the voices of vulnerable people to be heard through the provision of a range of independent advocacy services, tailored to the needs of individuals.” 

IANE currently facilitate the following projects: Learning Disability, Physical Disability, Mental Health, Dementia, Independent Mental Health Advocacy and Black and Minority Ethnic. Advocacy is providing the support someone needs to be able to express their views, to communicate their choices and to receive services or to participate in decision making. It can enable people to take more responsibility, have choice and control over the decisions which affect their lives.

Advocacy is not new. It is something which many people do without realizing it. You probably had to stand up for rights at some time in life. As a parent, neighbour or friend you may have spoken up or acted on behalf of someone else. What is new is that advocacy is happening in a more organized way to make sure that people who may face unfair treatment can get independent support.