When Ellie* first met Claire, life felt overwhelming. She was living in a homeless shelter, feeling isolated, scared, and unsure of what her future would look like. With no clear pathway forward, Ellie worried she might not get the support she needed.
That’s when Claire stepped in as her advocate. Together, they worked through the challenges finding temporary supported living, arranging a Care Act needs assessment, and most importantly, making sure Ellie’s own voice was at the heart of every decision. Claire encouraged Ellie to share what mattered most to her: the freedom to go shopping locally, visit her family, choose her meals and clothes, and have a say in her daily routine.
After months of navigating a complicated system, Ellie finally moved into a residential placement where she feels safe, supported, and truly at home. In her own words:
“I love it here. I can’t thank Claire enough for helping me find my perfect home. It’s taken a while, but with her support the journey was less stressful. Now I feel more confident to speak up for myself when things get tough.”
Ellie now enjoys her independence in ways that once felt out of reach. She has made friends, takes part in activities she loves like diamond art and stitching and has decorated her bedroom in a way that reflects her personality.
She describes advocacy in her own simple, powerful words:
- What advocacy means to Ellie: “Having someone by your side when things get tough.”
- When advocacy helps most: “At times when you feel alone and no one is helping you but an advocate can be by your side.”
- What made Claire a good advocate: “She kept talking to me, kept me updated, and helped me tell others what was important to me.”
For Ellie, advocacy has been life-changing:
“I now have a home I can call my own, with amazing support where I feel safe. I’m grateful for Claire’s help we’ve been on a journey together, and I don’t feel alone anymore.”
And when asked if she’d recommend advocacy to others, her answer was simple:
“Yes.”
Below is a picture of the bracelet Ellie had made Claire as thank you gift.
* Names have been changed to protect privacy.
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If you would like to find out more about how our Care Act Advocates can help you, please read our 'Good to Know' guide here.
Care Act Advocacy is free, confidential and independent from health and care services.
If you think you are eligible for a Care Act Advocate, please reach out to your social worker or local Adult Social Care office.
If you have tried to contact your social worker or local office and have had difficulty, please contact us directly and we can help you.
- Call us on: 03003 038 037
- Email: hub@wearepeoplefirst.co.uk
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