A history of advocacy

After the Second World War, people were hoping for peace and stability after so many years of conflict and hardship. In response to this, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. This was an important step in setting global standards for human rights. The UDHR aimed to ensure that everyone, no matter their nationality, race, or religion, would have basic rights like the right to life, freedom, and safety, as well as protection from torture, slavery, and discrimination.

In 1953, the European Court of Human Rights was established to allow people to challenge violations of their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, enhancing the protection of human rights across member states.

In the 1950s and 1960s, there was growing attention on mental health and learning disabilities, as society began to recognise the need for better care and understanding of these issues. During this time, Wolf Wolfensberger, a renowned advocate, played a key role in pushing for greater rights and inclusion for people with mental ill-health and learning disabilities. His work focused on advocating for the dignity and rights of people, promoting the idea that everyone, regardless of ability, should have access to the same opportunities and respect in society.  

In 1979, citizen advocacy was introduced as a movement aimed at empowering people with disabilities and mental ill-health by providing them with personal, one-on-one support. This approach focused on matching people with volunteers, known as ‘advocates’, who would stand by them, ensuring their rights were respected and their voices heard. 

The Mental Health Act 1983 was introduced in the UK to create a clear framework for the care and treatment of people with mental health conditions. It ensured that people could only be admitted and treated in a hospital under certain conditions, with protections in place to safeguard their rights. 

In the 1990s, community advocacy grew as more focus was placed on the rights and inclusion of marginalised groups, especially people with disabilities and mental ill-health. The movement shifted towards empowering people to live independently and participate fully in their communities. 

Advocacy groups worked to help people access services, housing, and employment, while self-advocacy became an important part of the movement, encouraging people to speak up for their own rights and make decisions about their lives. 

It was in 1995 Cloverleaf Advocacy was founded. 

In the 2000s, statutory advocacy began to take shape in the UK, marking an important shift towards ensuring people had access to professional advocacy services provided by law. This period saw the introduction of laws requiring public services to offer advocacy support, especially for vulnerable groups such as people with mental ill-health, people with learning disabilities, and those under the care of social services. 

The Advocacy Charter was introduced in the UK to set clear standards for advocacy services, ensuring they were accessible, effective, and focused on people’s needs. It aimed to guide professionals and organisations in providing advocacy that respected people’s rights and choices. 

The charter emphasised that advocacy should be independent, confidential, and help people make informed decisions. It also stressed the importance of equality and making sure marginalised groups, such as people with disabilities or mental ill-health, had their voices heard. The Advocacy Charter played a key role in improving advocacy practices and supporting people’s rights and inclusion in society.

In 2003, Independent Health Complaints Advocacy (IHCA) was introduced in the UK to provide support for people who wanted to make complaints about the care or services they had received from the NHS. The service was designed to help people navigate the complaints process, ensuring they understood their rights and had someone to support them through the procedure. 

The Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) service was introduced in the UK in 2007 under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. IMCAs were established to support people who lack the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, particularly in relation to healthcare, accommodation, and major financial decisions. 

The Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) service was introduced in 2009 in the UK, following the amendments made to the Mental Health Act 1983 by the Mental Health Act 2007. IMHAs were created to provide advocacy support to people who were detained under the Mental Health Act or subject to certain other legal restrictions, helping them understand their rights and make informed decisions about their treatment and care. 

In 2010, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) were introduced in the UK as part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. These safeguards were designed to protect people who lacked mental capacity and were being deprived of their liberty in a care setting, ensuring that any such deprivation was lawful and in the person’s best interests. 

The introduction of DoLS provided a legal framework to assess and authorise situations where people might be detained in care homes or hospitals for their own safety, while protecting their human rights. It also established the role of an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) for people who were subject to DoLS, ensuring they had someone to represent their interests during the assessment and authorisation process. 

In 2015, the Care Act introduced provisions for advocacy services, requiring local authorities to provide independent advocates for people who had difficulty being involved in care decisions. This was particularly important for those with mental ill-health, learning disabilities, or dementia. The Care Act aimed to ensure these people had support to understand their rights, express their wishes, and participate in care planning, promoting their empowerment and protection within the care system.